Pages and Pages of Listings The main section of a directory lists all the individual businesses in a city, by category. The listings for physicians, attorneys and grocers sometimes go on for pages. Searching for a hotel? You can't get phone numbers, price ranges or customer ratings, but at least you'll find addresses. Some states also publish state-wide business directories, often combined with geographical gazettes. Some states also publish state-wide business directories, often combined with geographical gazettes describing natural features, state history and county government services.

	Business Listings Businesses are often small and local, like doctors, grocers, restaurants and druggists, but a range of equipment manufacturers are also represented. Large cities often have their own directories, but state-wide directories are also sometimes published, especially where cities are relatively small and scattered (center).
	Civic Institution Listings The bigger cities offer impressive listings of services and civic institutions, including churches and benevolent societies.
	Society Listings The special societies in many locations include Masonic Lodges, Temperance Societies and a whole array of lesser organizations catering to surprisingly specific groups.
	Municipal Listings Municipal services include street rail, hospitals, fire departments, asylums, government and post offices, and much more.
	Trade Unions and More Trade Unions are well represented in major city directories, while states sometimes include listings of every town, with town officers and related information. Note that Cleveland's directory (center) lists 50,000 separate businesses, of which 200 are incorporated companies.