How many are familiar with the "Company Towns" that were a big part of Western Pennsylvania coal towns? If you are then you know The Villages is the "Up Scale" Company Town. They were run by the Mine Owners and a lot of times when they were to get paid they received a small paycheck as they had to buy everything from the Company Stores, and their children went to Company Schools. As the Owner/Developer of The Villages this is just another Company Town and the big difference is over time the Owner/Developer has become much more educated as to how to set up a Company Town and where they can control the residents lives. We love The Villages and enjoy the life style but do not lose tract that we are in an upscale Company Town. In the old Company Towns the Mine Owners also controlled the politics and were able to control the politicians through "money". Does anyone doubt the Developer/Owner can and has applied financial leverages to get when he wants? There was a small town in Pennsylvania that was like a Company town. On the internet you can look up "Star Junction" in PA and if they still exist look at the old "Tract Houses" that were the homes of the Company Town Residents.
