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I also think it underrated the degree to which internal migration was a big driver of the rust belt boom too. Cincinnati is 46% black. Those people came from America. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland had similarly huge Appalachian migration to their cities. So much so the fair housing statues in Cincinnati includes “those of Appalachian origin”
Certainly there was internal migration to the Rust Belt cities (and likewise there is international migration to Sun Belt cities now). But it was simply different dynamics. Recent immigrants were a large source of labor for factories (and economic growth) back then in ways not comparable now. Cincinnati’s foreign population for instance was nearly 1 in 5 of the city population in 1900. Immigration today is much more diversified in major non-Texas/Cali/Florida cities.
Certainly there was internal migration to the Rust Belt cities (and likewise there is international migration to Sun Belt cities now). But it was simply different dynamics. Recent immigrants were a large source of labor for factories (and economic growth) back then in ways not comparable now. Cincinnati’s foreign population for instance was nearly 1 in 5 of the city population in 1900. Immigration today is much more diversified in major non-Texas/Cali/Florida cities.
Isn’t Texas/Florida/CA like 2/3rds of the sunbelt by population?
Like Houston is 24% foreign born, Phoenix is 19%, Charlotte is 17%, Vegas is 21% all not super far off 1 in 5.
It seems like Atlanta (14%) and Raleigh (13%) the only one much much more domestically driven.
Isn’t Texas/Florida/CA like 2/3rds of the sunbelt by population?
Like Houston is 24% foreign born, Phoenix is 19%, Charlotte is 17%, Vegas is 21% all not super far off 1 in 5.
It seems like Atlanta (14%) and Raleigh (13%) the only one much much more domestically driven.
I think we are getting lost in the weeds. But there was a direct link to the economy, population booms, and immigration during the Second Industrial Revolution that was different than what transpired in the post-war boom. It’s not a coincidence that the states with the largest FB populations in 1900 were NY, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio (overlapping the main industrial heart of the nation). It was a completely different set of factors that drove the Sun Belt boom.
Not everyone can work remote. It has to be a pretty small amount of the national workforce.
But I'd agree, it's also much easier to move these days, look for work online before you get there, and check out exactly what it looks like from the internet.
Correct, not everyone. But way more than during the Rust Belt boom days.
Rust belt by far...Lots of legacy institutions were realized during the rust belt boom. There's a reason a city like Cleveland has amenities that were made for a far larger city.
What has a city like Charlotte gained from the sunbelt boom? More cul de sacs and subdivisons? boring. American city planning was at its peak pre WW2, as was the time of the rust belt boom.
Charlotte is not boring and I would say it has gained a ton. Including rail transit, multiple sports teams, multiple cultural institutions, multiple headquarters, etc.. I hate this bias against the sunbelt.
The city infrastructure and layout is dense and compact, resulting in many cities having once really good rail and bus lines. Great parks, downtowns, and inner city infrastructure in general.
Sun belt cities have resulted in mostly lower density downtowns with large parking lots, lack of public transportation, leapfrog type of suburb development, and miles and miles of low density housing, with huge green space in-between.
As-a-result, many sunbelt cities are playing catchup, or struggling to contain out of control population growth with very poor traffic and public transportation systems.
...and the end state of this is cities with bare bones amenities and infrastructure, that are expensive and congested without being dense. Don't need to name which cities because I think its obvious.
I'm surprised this poll is so close.
Think about rust belt cities and their meticulously crafted art deco buildings, institutions, world class infrastructure, world record breaking heavy industry.
...and the end state of this is cities with bare bones amenities and infrastructure, that are expensive and congested without being dense. Don't need to name which cities because I think its obvious.
I'm surprised this poll is so close.
Think about rust belt cities and their meticulously crafted art deco buildings, institutions, world class infrastructure, world record breaking heavy industry.
Then think about the sun belt.
The truth is a great ballet matters to like 300 people. Similarly I’d be surprised if you or I could tell the Pittsburgh and Phoenix Symphony. I can guarantee you, Cleveland with a big 5 symphony, Paul’s in comparison to the Tourist traffic a kitschy attraction like the Rock n Roll hall of fame produces
Plus cities like Houston do have world class institutions. From Universities to museums to performing arts. Way out classing like Detroit or St Louis. Easily a peer to like Boston or Philly across the board.
Actually tell me what about Detroit actually better than Atlanta. It’s Transit? No, it’s cultural institutions? No it’s nightlife? No. Its legacy is just that, a legacy. It’s in the past
The Sun Belt boom that seemingly started more as a bottoms-up movement that began overlapping with the Information Revolution. I think there’s a lot to unpack there.
I'd peg the Sunbelt boom's origins to WWII-era developments. Military investment played a huge role in the ascendancy of places like Silicon Valley, Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, Atlanta, Huntsville, NoVA, etc.
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