In the popular imagination, small towns across the nation- and the earthy, hardworking sorts who populate

Straight from the Heartland Coming of Age in Ellis, Iowa Patrick Carr, Department of Sociology Rutgers University Maria Kefalas, Department of Sociology Saint Joseph’s University May 16, 2006 Network on Transitions to Adulthood Research Network Working Paper These working papers have been posted to stimulate research and policy analysis on issues related to the transition to adulthood. The papers have not been formally reviewed by members of the Network. The papers reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the views of the other members of the network nor of the MacArthur Foundation. This work has been supported by the Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Grant No. 00-00-65719-HCD. 1 Acknowledgment This research was made possible with a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Discussions with members of the MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood and Public Policy have been integral to developing the ideas presented in this piece. Detailed comments on the paper were provided by Barbara Ray and Sheldon Danziger. Additional research support came from Jessica Keating and Laura Napolitano. The authors’ names appear in alphabetical order.] 2 Life Magazine recently photographed the residents of Greensfield, Iowa (population 2100) for a cover story ...