Maryville, The Audacity of a People tells the story of how people who would be described as essential workers were able to buy land, organize themselves to create a formal government with a charter and elect officials in the era of Jim Crow. Yearly elections in February were held to elect the Intendant/Mayor, wardens, Board of Health, policemen, and a Postmaster/Postmistress. The story also emphasize the connection of Maryville/Ashleyville to the founding of Charleston, South Carolina in 1670. The book describes two extraordinary women, one white, Mary Richardson Moses Bowen Taft, who provided the land for what became the town and one African American, Mary Matthews Just, who became the soul of the Town.
In order to provide for their needs, some persons operated stores and those with large amounts of land would rent a portion to others for farming. Societies such as The St. Andrews Improvement Mutual Society were established to assist its' members with resources during times of need such as illness or death in the family along with emotional support.
While the larger community still searched for a way for all people to live and work together following the American Civil War, the Town of Maryville was an example of a place where an African American government presided over a community which also contained a few Caucasians and two Asians.