A Historical Review of Urban Cooperative Extension in the United States

Origin, Evolution, and Outlook

Abstract

The United States is increasingly urbanizing, and the communities served by Extension look different today than in 1914 when the nation’s Cooperative Extension Service was established. Many communities are generally more diverse than ever before and face complex challenges unique to urban environments. These factors have led to an ongoing discussion among Extension professionals regarding what form Cooperative Extension programs should take in the future and how strategic approaches to Extension may be different in urban contexts. This debate, however, is not a new one; the trend toward urbanization has been an issue since the early years of the Cooperative Extension Service. Using historical research methods, we analyzed the discussions around urban Extension nationwide from 1914 to the present-day and suggested implications about its future.