Kohler, Wisconsin: Planning and Paternalism in a Model Industrial Village

Abstract

Although it never achieved the infamy of Pullman, Illinois, nor the size of Gary, Indiana, the company town of Kohler, Wisconsin, stands out as an interesting example of community planning and corporate paternalism. Walter J. Kohler, Sr., the company president from 1905 to 1940 and the primary force behind the model village, hired several nationally known planners to guide the early development of the community. These activities brought a consider-able amount of fame to Kohler, but two bitter strikes (1934 and 1954-1960) tarnished the image of systematic order and seeming harmony which the company sought to maintain. While the company still plays an important role in community affairs, current residents appear to be quite satisfied with village-corporate relationships and evaluate the community's physical planning features highly.

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