The persons and groups who held lead roles in the development of an electricity generating plant near Craig, Colorado, and/or aided in problem solving activities are the concerns of this examination of boomtown studies in which field theory is employed as a framework for assessing Craig's community structure characteristics. The usefulness of field theory is assessed in regard to enhancing a locality's capacity to deal with the boomtown phenomenon. A segmented community structure in Craig is exposed by an analysis of the actions taken by various persons and groups (including constructing new schools); and a common theme is revealed by a review of other boomtown studies, namely, that managing rapid change in a community is possible if local residents and groups can work cooperatively in identifying and solving common problems. It is concluded that field theory can provide a framework for the development of a local structure which can effectively plan for change, a structure that establishes programs which are comprehensive as to interests and coordinated as to effort. It is also concluded that if Craig and other boomtowns could have developed this type of coordinated local structure, the negative consequences of the boom on the host community would have been minimized. (AN)