company town

noun

1. a town whose inhabitants are mainly dependent on one company for employment, housing, supplies, etc.

company town

noun

1. a town built by a company for its employees

Word History and Origins

Origin of company town¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

Pocahontas Fuel bought 1,000 acres and built a mine and mine camp that was a quintessential paternal company town.

From Salon

But unlike the other two, Seattle and San Francisco, Washington is not a technology hub but a company town that relies on a single employer to a degree not seen elsewhere.

From New York Times

To put it mildly, Plymouth Valley is a company town on steroids.

From Los Angeles Times

“L.A. is so much of a company town, but there is really an audience for movies that may not be traditionally commercial,” agreed Winshall.

From Los Angeles Times

A company town, Moncton, was established in 1906 by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad while carving its transcontinental line through Snoqualmie Pass.

From Seattle Times