[BajanYankee]

Here's an excerpt from a retirement guide.

For some unknown reason, central Florida and the state's west coast seem to draw an unusual number of emigrants from the Midwest, whereas newcomers from New York and New England seem to prefer the Atlantic side of the peninsula.

https://books.google.com/books?id=Hi...orida?&f=false

Why do Midwesterners favor the West and Northeasterners the East? Also, how do these migratory patterns impact any cultural differences between the regions?

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

Here's an excerpt from a retirement guide.



https://books.google.com/books?id=Hi...orida?&f=false

Why do Midwesterners favor the West and Northeasterners the East? Also, how do these migratory patterns impact any cultural differences between the regions?

Midwesterners take highways/interstates down that connect more with the West coast while NE takes 95 down and end up in East Florida? The slower pace in retirement towns on the West coast seems to fit the age that congregates on the West coast. Only in recent years have Sarasota and Tampa become destination for younger residents. 40 years ago hotels in Tampa/St. Pete had noise regulations for after 9PM with warnings all over the properties. LOL

But .....I am a midwesterner that ended up on east coast. I had vacationed for about 6 years before I moved down and compared the coasts. I realized what I was looking for was on the East Coast.

Even though people on here say Midwest goes west, you might be surprised at the numbers of people from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan living in the Central East section of the state. In the place where I work which has 120 employees about 1/2 of us are from the Midwest originally .... or our parents were.

Maybe it can be broken down to age of people moving here and the East coast tends to draw a little younger people. In the 80s and 90s this side was drawing young families to the point towns were building elementary schools every year and still needing to have 10 portables at the new schools when they opened. We are again starting the build a school or 2 every year and our elems still have 900-1200 kids in k-6. High schools have 2000-2500 etc.

[DanielAvery]

Yeah, I always assumed it was the I-95 thing, too.

It might also be worth exploring the idea that friends recommend certain places to friends, and word spreads about certain places. I know from my years living near Hilton Head Island, SC that the residents of Ohio are somehow drawn to that particular place. There are dedicated flights between certain Ohio cities and the (relatively small) Savannah/Hilton Head Airport due to the sheer demand for Ohio/HHI transportation. Perhaps folks hear their friends' glowing descriptions of the place they've been to in Florida, and decide to move to that same place due to the recommendation. I'm sure it helps to hear that a lot of "people like us" already live there (that is, people from your geographical region) and birds of a feather do flock together.

[CindyRoos]

Originally Posted by DanielAvery

Yeah, I always assumed it was the I-95 thing, too.

It might also be worth exploring the idea that friends recommend certain places to friends, and word spreads about certain places. I know from my years living near Hilton Head Island, SC that the residents of Ohio are somehow drawn to that particular place. There are dedicated flights between certain Ohio cities and the (relatively small) Savannah/Hilton Head Airport due to the sheer demand for Ohio/HHI transportation. Perhaps folks hear their friends' glowing descriptions of the place they've been to in Florida, and decide to move to that same place due to the recommendation. I'm sure it helps to hear that a lot of "people like us" already live there (that is, people from your geographical region) and birds of a feather do flock together.

I agree that "birds of a feather DO flock together"
I am in Wisconsin and I can't wait to move to the West Coast of Florida in the next 2 years or so. I have been to both coasts many times and prefer the laid back way that the West Coast is. I also love to find people living there that came from the Midwest---just means you have something in common and that is comforting to begin with. It is still interesting to meet folks from all over though.
One time I was in Florida and went into a department store for something and went down one aisle and saw a guy wearing a Green Bay Packer Jersey. I was so excited to see that! I asked where he was from and he said Milwaukee WI That was awesome!! Ended up that he was staying in the same hotel that we were and we watched the Packer game together a few days later

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

Why do Midwesterners favor the West and Northeasterners the East?

Back when automobile travel to/from was more popular and much more economical people from the Midwest would drive down I-75 and those from the Northeast down I-95.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Back when automobile travel to/from was more popular and much more economical people from the Midwest would drive down I-75 and those from the Northeast down I-95.

And before that US1 and US 41.

Orlando seems to be mixed between Northeast, Midwest. people coming from South Florida and Puerto Rico

[Happiness-is-close]

My moms family packed up the van and drove straight down I-75 as far as they could. That was back around 1980 and they have lived in Naples ever since.

[Happiness-is-close]

This whole midwesterners go to the west coast and NE people go to the east coast isn't exactly truthful. The west coast of Florida is probably 50/50 MW/NE. The east coast though is probably 75% NE transplants. Even in Orlando I notice far more Znortheasterners than Midwesterners.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Happiness-is-close

This whole midwesterners go to the west coast and NE people go to the east coast isn't exactly truthful. The west coast of Florida is probably 50/50 MW/NE. The east coast though is probably 75% NE transplants. Even in Orlando I notice far more Znortheasterners than Midwesterners.

Because FL isn't the exclusive snowbird/retirement/vacation spot for Midwesterners like it is for Northeasterners. Many from the Midwest gravitate toward Arizona cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson too.

[jwolfer]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Because FL isn't the exclusive snowbird/retirement/vacation spot for Midwesterners like it is for Northeasterners. Many from the Midwest gravitate toward Arizona cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson too.

Ohio and Indiana seem to be more Florida... Illinois is mixed FL and AZ.. In Minnesota its seems most people retire to AZ