Overview

Nearly 400 Utopian communities were started in this country since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock; however, most of these communities (over 200) saw the light of day as the result of the Industrial Revolution.

The evolution of America (and the rest of the world) from a rural economy to one of industry created a massive upheaval in peoples' lives, both economically and socially. Most of the country's wealth and, consequently, power, was in the hands of the few, and this situation took its tool on the workers. There were no laws to protect people or their children from 16 hour work days; there was no minimum wage; no Social Security; there was no sick leave, you'd lose your job; no regulations for safety in the workplace or in the foods we ate. Anyone who dared speak of making changes in these areas was fired and blacklisted from future employment. Such dependency and fear in the workplace broke down the social fabric that held families together and many people sought relief. Some joined the fledgling labor unions and new political parties (the Republican Party, when it started, was the radical party of its day); and some created communities of their own design.

Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony, founded by a group of Socialists, was America's longest lived socialist utopia. For a generation Llano Colonists praciced what the rest of the American Left preached -- years before Roosevelt's New Deal made such social reforms acceptable. The colony provided free room, board, health care, educational and cultural activities to all members in exchange for a day's work. Among Llano's accomplishments was one of the most successful publishing empires of any cooperative colony. In its 25 years, over 10,000 poeple from all over the country and around the world, called Llano Colony 'home.' Its history, like most secular Utopian communities, is virtually ignored and forgotten. The program American Utopia brings to light Llano's own remarkable story.