Blue Collar Commuting: Toronto Auto Workers in the 1920s

Abstract

<p>Working-class suburbanization was taking place in early twentieth-century North American cities such as Toronto. The impact of industrial decentralization upon the suburbanization of workers is examined with reference to automotive workers in Toronto in the 1920s. The main focus question is whether industry or workers suburbanized first. Labour turnover is examined, as well as the distance of the journey to work, the location of the workers by type of worker, and differences between the four companies -- Dodge, Durant, Ford and Willys-Overland.</p> <p>The methodology involves using Toronto city directories to map and measure the commuting patterns of auto workers, and to infer patterns of suburbanization of auto workers. Few researchers have used city directories as a source of commuting data. It is argued that directories would be useful in the analysis of commuting and suburbanization in other North American cities.</p>