COMMUNITY CENTRES, a phrase used in the United States to describe rooms or buildings, often public school build ings, in which all residents of a village, small town, or neighbour hood of a city may meet for entertainment, recreation, educational pursuits, cultural, civic, or other activities. Groups of women, agricultural organizations, religious associations, or community societies representative of the major social groups in the com munity, administer the buildings not owned by governmental agencies.
Community centres have developed largely in the United States since 1910 and are steadily increasing in number. Community solidarity became a matter of public interest during the World War, but in general the complexity of group organization and differentiation in social, civic and industrial life have created a feeling of need for co-ordination and common understanding among the residents of a district. Community centres are the chief result of this desire for neighbourhood unity. Thirty-two States and the District of Columbia have laws providing for community use of school buildings. Community centres are encouraged by State departments of education, university exten sion departments, farm organizations and at least three national associations. (L. E. Bo.)