Unit VIII Discussion Board Question CG

UNIT 111 CG 1

Unit III Essay

Justin Erby

228342

SOC 2010-18K-3A22-S1

Cultural Geography

UNIT 111 CG 2

Internal migration in Alabama

Alabama is a state in the United States with 67 counties and 5.10 million in 2021. It is the

24th most populated state and the fifth most migrated to in the country. It had a net gain of

25,000 people regarding internal migration from other states within the United States. It owes

its slow but steady population growth to domestic migration. Otherwise, its population would

be shrinking.

How the population has changed in Alabama over the past five years

The population in Albama has been growing at a slow but steady rate .It had total of 4.874

million people in 2017, recording a 0.20 % increase from 2016.The population increased by 0,

29 % in 2018, 0.30% in 2019, 2.47% in 2020 and 1.51% in 2021.

Is Alabama state gaining or losing residents?

Alabama has been witnessing a net gain in the population .47 of the 67 counties in Alabama

had an influx of residents from other states compared to the outflux .statistics reveal that

Alabama has had a net gain of 25,000 people, with Tuscaloosa recording the highest gain of

domestic immigrants(Ramsey,2020). The high population influx to Tuscaloosa is accredited to

the University of Alabama, recruiting thousands of students from other states. Other counties,

such as Lee County, also recorded a high net gain due to Auburn University registering an

influx of students from other states (Ramsey, 2020). While some counties are gaining residents,

some Mobile counties are losing population. Mobile County is the only county in Alabama that

has recorded an annual net loss of 1,400 people. However, the net gain still surpasses the net

loss, indicating that Alabama gains residents due to domestic migration.

Where the residents are mainly coming from or going to

UNIT 111 CG 3

Domestic immigrants mainly come from Florida, Texas, California, and

Tennessee.According to a 2019 census ,approximately 15,000 people moved from

Florida ,10,000 from Tennessee ,8,400 from Texas and 3,700 from California .It also gains a

significant population from Indiana, Utah, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Rust Belt State. Alabama

loses most of its population to Florida; it lost 15,000 of its population to Florida in 2019. Also,

Indiana had a net gain of 2000 people from Alabama, as it lost only 1500 and got an influx of

3,500 from Alabama (Ramsey, 2020).

Push factors

The major push factor for population loss in Alabama is the extreme weather. Alabama

weather is considered highly unpredictable, characterized by frequent tornadoes that wipe many

households annually, Camille, above-normal tides, and deadly storms. This forces the residents

to put in place emergency plans to mitigate the effects of adverse weather conditions. Also,

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) placed Alabama at the 49th

position out of 51 regarding safety, the quality of health, and education; it scored a 1.7 in

health, 0.3 in safety, and 8.4 in education. The residents also complain of low wages and high

sales tax.

Pull factors

Alabama has had a net gain of 25,000 due to domestic migration, attributed to the beautiful

scenery, beaches, rich cultural heritage, and a touch of country and city living. Also, the state

boasts of the low cost of living, including housing, food, and transportation .he state also

commits vast chunks of its income to the manufacturing sector in the form of incentives,

spurring economic growth and a rise in employment opportunities in the state. The state is also

the fifth in the United States with low property, income, and gas taxes.

Economic impacts

UNIT 111 CG 4

The population growth has resulted in a boost in the labor and income of the state. The

immigrants in Alabama account for $944.6 million of federal taxes and $355.7 million in

income taxes (I.I.C, 2020). In Alabama, self-employed business owners comprise 12,670

immigrants accounting for $319.8 million in business revenue. Also, the labor force comprises

96,232 immigrants, with the highest number being in the manufacturing and construction

industries, the significant sources of income for Alabama's economy.

Environmental impacts

The spur in population growth for Alabama has led to the expansion of the urban areas. This

speedy urbanization causes a surge in greenhouse gas emissions and imperviable surfaces,

detrimental to the environment.

My internal migration story

I was born and raised in Alabama and have never been interested in moving to other states.

Some of the factors that have kept me from moving are the rich cultural heritage characterized

by annual festivals that bring people together and have maintained peace and cohesion in the

state. Also, the cost of living is relatively low compared to other states. The beautiful beaches

and the scenic mountain offers an escape from the busy city life, keeping me rooted in the state.

References

UNIT 111 CG 5

American Immigration Council. (2020, August 6). Immigrants in Alabama. American

Immigration Council. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-in-alabama

Ramsey Archibald. (2020, November 27). Thousands moved to Alabama from California and the

Rust Belt in 2019. Al. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from

https://www.al.com/news/2020/11/thousands-moved-to-alabama-from-california-and-the-rust-

belt-in-2019.html

Ramsey Archibald. (2020, December 29). More people are moving into Alabama than are moving

out. Al. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from https://www.al.com/news/2020/12/more-people-

are-moving-to-alabama-than-moving-away.html