A local community (Tullahoma, Tennessee, in this case) can serve as a good example to students of how a given locale fits into a geographic region and exhibits characteristics which are both typical and atypical of the region in general. Tullahoma typifies the rapid social and economic change which has characterized the South since the 1930s. In 1930, Tullahoma was a sleepy southern town, and by 1960 it was the 17th largest city in Tennessee. Particular agents of change in Tullahoma include the Tennessee Valley Authority, development of recreation areas, establishment of military bases in the area, growth in social service and cultural sectors such as schools, hospitals, and cultural activities, and increased industrial growth in metals and power industries. These and other similar agents affected Tullahoma and other southern communities by encouraging contact between southerners and people from other areas of the United States, paving the way for racial integration, and speeding the trend toward urbanization. By integrating a case study of a community such as Tullahoma into the curriculum and by using sources in other communities similar to those used to investigate Tullahoma, teachers can help students gain cultural and historical awareness of various eras and regions. (DB)