地方學為一九九○年代開始興起，以臺灣各地行政區域為範圍，對其進行歷史社會等相關面向之研究，為近年來臺灣地方文史研究熱潮之一。其與傳統地方研究最大之不同，在於地方學崛起時，受到臺灣史開始被重視，以及社區營造運動影響，因此有許多社造精神注入其中，也帶來臺灣地方文史研究的新面貌。本文回顧地方學發展至今的過程，發現地方學之推動，以地方政府、大學、社區大學、民間團體為主力。其中具有社造精神之社區大學與民間團體，因缺乏專職師資及學員參與，成績並不理想，反而是地方政府因其文史業務與地方學相符，與大學、社區大學、民間團體等大量合作，採用研討會及出版方式，如今已成為地方學發展之主力，更讓許多地區的地方學成為一年一度的學術研討會大拜拜，也使地方學最初之理想喪失，更與傳統地方研究不同之界線模糊。此亦成為地方學要持續發展，所面對的最大挑戰。

The rise of local historical studies happened at around 1990s, with
its research focuses on the socio-economical development of each local
administrative area in Taiwan. Unlike traditional local studies, the new
wave of local historical studies was very much supported by Taiwan
historical academia as well as influenced by grass root movements of
community building, which in turn brought new energy into historical
studies in Taiwan.Looking back at the boom of local studies in recet years, this essay reveals that in almost every county and town, there are various institutions devoted to this filed, and the most important ones include local governments,universities, community colleges and civil society organizations. The later two, while closely involve in grass root movements of community building, do not yield fruitful results as compared with local governments and universities due to limitations in resources. The main player of local studies had been shifted to local governments, who very actively organize seminars on a yearly basis per the needs of its policies. This has gradually smother the zeal and enthusiasm of local historical studies and become a great challenge for its long-term development.