Southern states are calling
By By Leada Gore, Editor
It appears that phrase is becoming reality for more and more people.
A new study by U-Haul International shows Alabama is among the states showing positive migration in 2009. That means Alabama had more people moving into it than moving out last year. Alabama ranked sixth among states reporting more than 20,000 people moving in last year. Kentucky was number one, Florida number two and Georgia number three. Louisiana ranked eighth.
Among states reporting 5,000 to 20,000 movers, Mississippi ranked sixth.
See a trend here? It appears the South is truly rising again.
The positive news doesn’t end there. U-Haul – which after all does provide moving trucks – also ranks the cities where the most people are moving.
Houston ranked first with Orlando, Austin, San Antonio and Atlanta all in the top 10.
Other top cities include Las Vegas, Chicago, Sacramento, Kansas City and Denver. No, they’re not Southern but I guess even a true Dixie devotee has to find some cooler weather every now and then.
To what do all the experts attribute all this in-migration? They point to all sorts of things, such as lower taxes, affordable housing, excellent quality of life and stronger-than-average economies.
Maybe.
There are some other things, of course.
First, there is sweet tea served in large Mason jars. Sweet tea isn’t routinely offered up North and don’t even ask for a gallon of it to be served in a canning jar because all you will get are some strange looks.
Then there’s football. It may be important in other parts of the country, but only in the South will you attract 10,000 to a high school game and rabid fans start scouting players when they reach fifth grade.
And, of course, there’s the weather. Southern temperatures are wonderfully moderate. There are exceptions, of course, as any one who’s ever been to a family reunion held under a carport in August, armed only with a paper fan can tell you.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad all these people have landed here. Southerners are gracious, welcoming people and, as long as you go to church, say ma’am and sir and ask about your mama and ‘em, we will be happy to have you. So y’all come, ya’ hear?
