Local Organizations

In beginning my research for our next group project, I have come to the realization that Northfield is chalked-full of organizations! Between the town itself, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College, there are more than enough clubs for people to participate in. Learning this information reminded me of DeAne informing us earlier in the semester about a study of the hundreds organizations that were found in one Chicago neighborhood. She said that the people from the neighborhood were quick to ask the question "...And where is my organization?"... Needless to say, my group has had a parellel with our findings in Northfield and absolutely no problem finding service organizations. With both St. Olaf and Carleton boasting dozens of clubs/organizations despite their relatively small enrollment sizes, one begins to question if the excess of organizations in Northfield is unique or not for a "college town". For having only 20,000 residents, Northfield alone was lousy with organizations. Learning whether or not there are a higher number of organizations found (outside of the colleges) in "college towns" would be an interesting question. Does having a university/college in a town positively affect the number of organizations in that town? How does Northfield's number of clubs compare with other towns of similar size? Does the midwest contain generally more organizations than U.S. coastal regions?

Just another way to possibly prove Putnam wrong in his early 21st-century findings of the decline in volunteer organizations across America.