Let G be an abelian group, and let S be a subset of G. Necessary and sufficient conditions on G and S are given in order that there should exist a Dedekind domain D with class group G with the property that S is the set of classes that contain maximal ideals of D. If G is a torsion group, then S is the set of classes containing the maximal ideals of D if and only if S generates G. These results are used to determine necessary and sufficient conditions on a family {Hλ} of subgroups of G in order that there should exist a Dedekind domain D with class group G such that {G/Hλ} is the family of class groups of the set of overrings of D. Several applications are given.