How was the town of Pullman, Illinois, organized for company workers?

The town of Pullman, Illinois, was a company town established by George M. Pullman in 1880 to house his workers. While it featured amenities like parks, a library, theaters, and shopping areas, it was not a municipality in the traditional sense; rather, it was a controlled environment designed to solve labor unrest and poverty.1

The town’s organization reflected a strict social hierarchy:
* Housing: Executives lived in freestanding homes, skilled workers in row houses, unskilled workers in tenements, and common laborers in rooming houses.1
* Governance: George Pullman maintained absolute control, prohibiting independent newspapers, public meetings, and open discussion. Company inspectors regularly entered homes to monitor cleanliness, and leases could be terminated with only 10 days' notice.1
* Economic Control: Although living in the town was not mandatory, it was strongly encouraged. The company operated the town for profit, and on payday, workers were required to immediately endorse and return their rent checks to the company.1

Ultimately, the community functioned as a feudal system where the company dictated nearly every aspect of the residents' lives.1