Otis Singleton
The 1920s was a decade of rapid change in the United States, with the country's urban population surpassing 50% for the first time. This shift had a significant impact on the adoption of electricity, which was slow to reach rural areas and farms. In 1920, only 35% of American households had electricity, with most still relying on gas lamps for lighting. However, by 1929, this number had increased to nearly 68%, with 85% of non-farm homes having electricity by the end of the decade. Despite the many promises of Science and Invention, electricity was slow to reach farms, with only about 10% of American farms electrified by the end of the 1930s. This disparity between urban and rural areas is a notable aspect of the electrification of the United States in the early 20th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of American households with electricity | 35% |
| Number of American farms with electricity | 3% |
| Common electrical items | Electric lamps, dishwashing machines, radios, electric stoves, and ovens |
| Common electrical appliances in rural homes | Floor lamps, fans, and radios |
| Wiring used for electric installation | Knob and tube wiring |
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What You'll Learn
- Urban-rural divide: 35% of US homes had electricity in 1920, but mostly urban
- Electric gadgets: urban dwellers loved new tech like electric lamps and radios
- Farm electrification: electricity was slow to reach farms, despite clear benefits
- Electric appliances: appliances were expensive, but some middle-class homes had them
- Power market: utilities had an incentive to expand quickly to claim territory
Urban-rural divide: 35% of US homes had electricity in 1920, but mostly urban
In 1920, only 35% of American households had electricity. This figure, however, masks a significant urban-rural divide. Electricity was slow to reach rural communities, including farms, which were often in remote locations far from the power plants in cities. By 1922, only about 3% of the roughly 6.3 million American farms had electricity.
Urban areas, on the other hand, were quick to adopt electricity. The 1920s saw a boom in the economy, and modern electrical devices like electric lamps, dishwashing machines, and radios were in high demand in cities. The electrification of urban areas was also fuelled by a competitive power market, with utilities incentivised to expand quickly to claim territory and customers.
The rural-urban divide in electrification was not just a matter of demand but also of infrastructure and cost. It was estimated to cost up to $2,000 per mile (over $30,000 in 2020 dollars) to build transmission lines out to farms. Utility companies were reluctant to bear these costs. The high costs and lack of competition in rural areas meant that private utilities were initially slow to extend their services to these regions.
It wasn't until 1935 that the US government addressed this disparity with the formation of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The REA worked to reduce costs for rural electric customers by negotiating with utilities and, if needed, funding the construction of co-op-owned power sources. The REA also standardised equipment and used assembly-line methods to build transmission lines, further reducing costs. These efforts greatly accelerated the electrification of rural areas.
While the 1920s saw a significant urban-rural divide in electrification, the 1930s brought progress in bringing electricity to rural America, with communities banding together during the Great Depression to electrify farms and rural homes.
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Electric gadgets: urban dwellers loved new tech like electric lamps and radios
In 1920, only 35% of American households had electricity, with rural communities being much slower to adopt it than urban areas. By 1929, nearly 68% of American homes were electrified, and by the end of the decade, 85% of Americans had electricity if farms were excluded.
Urban dwellers in the 1920s eagerly embraced new electric gadgets, such as electric lamps and radios. The boom economy and easy credit fueled the rapid spread of these modern devices. Electric lighting had been available in some cities since the 1880s, but it wasn't until the 1920s that the poorer sections of towns were illuminated. The decade saw the emergence of a new profession: the illuminating engineer, who focused on creating a high degree of illumination that was helpful rather than harmful.
Radios, or "wireless telegraphy," as Marconi called it, were a breakthrough in the development of human communication tools. People rushed to buy them, and businesses and social structures adapted to the new medium. Universities offered radio-based courses, churches broadcast their services, and newspapers created tie-ins with radio broadcasts. Radio installations became common in hotels and apartments, and by 1922, there were 576 licensed radio broadcasters.
Electric lamps also became popular in the 1920s, with push-button switches being the most common at the time. Floor lamps were a common feature in middle-class homes, as seen in family photos from the late 1920s. Other electric gadgets that gained traction in the 1920s included dishwashing machines, electric stoves, and ovens.
While electric gadgets captivated urban residents, rural areas lagged in their adoption of electricity. Farms, in particular, had a very low rate of electrification, with only about 3% of American farms having electricity in 1922. It wasn't until the formation of the Rural Electrification Administration in 1935 that the government addressed the significant rural-urban electric divide.
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Farm electrification: electricity was slow to reach farms, despite clear benefits
In 1920, only 35% of American households had electricity. By 1929, this number increased to 68%. However, if farms are excluded, about 85% of Americans had electricity by the end of the 1920s. This disparity highlights the slow pace of farm electrification during that decade. Of the approximately 6.3 million American farms in 1922, only around 3% had electricity.
The slow adoption of electricity in rural communities, including farms, stood in stark contrast to the rapid technological advancements in urban areas during the 1920s. Urban centres witnessed a booming economy, with residents eagerly embracing modern conveniences and the latest electrified gadgets, such as electric lamps, dishwashing machines, and wireless telephones. Despite the clear benefits of electrification, farms lagged behind in accessing these advancements.
Several factors contributed to the slow electrification of farms. One reason was the high cost of appliances and equipment. Even in areas where electricity was available, appliances were expensive, and individuals were unlikely to own many of them. Additionally, the formation of cooperatives, which played a crucial role in initiating rural electrification, was a gradual process. These cooperatives, where farmers joined forces to purchase bulk power or build their own generating stations, gained momentum over time and eventually compelled governments to address rural electrification on a national scale.
The benefits of electrification for farms were significant, particularly in terms of increased efficiency and productivity. Electrification could revolutionise various farming tasks, such as cutting down trees, planting and cultivating crops, and automating milking processes. The use of electric motor-driven machines and equipment could drastically reduce manual labour and improve output. Despite the promises and potential of electricity on farms, it was not until 1935 that the U.S. government actively addressed the rural-urban electric divide with the establishment of the Rural Electrification Administration.
While the 1920s envisioned a future where farms were transformed by electricity, the reality was a slower process. The electrification of farms eventually contributed to tremendous growth and increased crop yields, but it took time for these advancements to reach rural communities. The story of farm electrification in the 1920s highlights the challenges of ensuring equitable access to modern infrastructure and the potential for transformative change in rural areas.
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Electric appliances: appliances were expensive, but some middle-class homes had them
In 1920, only 35% of American households had electricity, with rural communities being much slower to adopt it compared to urban areas. Despite electricity being uncommon in the early 1920s, electric appliances were already being advertised as essential for a prosperous life. Companies marketed these appliances to women, who were seen as the principal audience for an electrified domestic sphere.
Electric appliances were expensive, so even those who had access to electricity were unlikely to own many of these appliances. However, some middle-class homes did have electric appliances. For example, family photos from the late 1920s show a living room with floor lamps, a fan, and a radio in a middle-class home in Colorado, where electricity was normal by 1915 due to the presence of mines and mills. Electric stoves and ovens were also becoming more common in middle-class homes.
While refrigerators were still a luxury in the early 1920s, they were quickly becoming more accessible. By the late 1920s, refrigerators had become standalone appliances resembling modern ones. However, only 8% of American homes had a mechanical refrigerator in 1930.
Homes with electricity in the 1920s generally had fewer outlets, usually mounted in the baseboards or floors. Push-button switches were common, although toggle switches started to appear in the 1920s and became more prevalent in the 1930s.
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Power market: utilities had an incentive to expand quickly to claim territory
In 1920, 35% of American households had electricity. By 1929, this number rose to 68%. However, electricity was slow to reach rural areas and farms. By 1930, about nine in ten urban and nonfarm rural homes had access to electricity, but only about one in ten farms did.
In the 1920s, when cities were being electrified, the power market was highly competitive. Utilities had an incentive to expand quickly to claim territory and customers. At that time, electricity was still a novelty for the rich, but utility companies were finding ways to take advantage of economies of scale in power generation and distribution, making it more affordable and accessible. As a result, by the end of the Roaring '20s, most American cities were electrified.
The competition over territory was heightened by the creation of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The REA was established as a government agency in 1936 and was authorised to make loans to wire homes and outfit them with lights and appliances. The entry of the REA into the market incentivised private power companies to expand their territories and customer base quickly.
Initially, private utilities were reluctant to work with the REA due to unfavourable loan terms and restrictions on their operations. However, as the REA turned to rural co-ops, private utilities faced increased competition and pressure to expand into rural territories. By the 1930s, many utilities had consolidated under large holding companies and faced less pressure to expand, especially into rural areas, unless the profitability was guaranteed.
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Frequently asked questions
In 1920, 35% of American households had electricity.
In the 1920s, electricity was very slow to reach farms. By the end of the 1930s, only about 10% of American farms had electricity.
Yes, by 1925, half of American houses had electrical power.
Yes, by 1929, nearly 68% of American homes were electrified.
Yes, by 1930, nearly nine in 10 urban and non-farm rural homes had access to electricity. However, the cost of connecting remote farms to the grid meant that only about one in 10 farms had electricity by 1930.
