The bilateral links existing in a given social formation bet\veen the organization of the political system and the economic fabric shed light on the process of local economic development. The article emphasizes the structuring of economic space by local socio-cultural elements, in a context of industrialization in a rural setting, according to the model of industrial districts. Northeastern Vendée provides an interesting example of a fragment in which local synergies facilitate the emergence of an industrial system characterized by the endo-geneity of its mode of development and the growth of a neftvork of small — and medium — sized companies. These local synergies range from the penetration of traditional agricultural organization to the vitality of a religious culture oriented toward the renewal of local elites.