DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia is ‘sticky’ state, national study shows
Ranks 3rd in holding native-born population
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
That old sweet song that keeps Georgia on our minds?
It’s not only sweet, it’s sticky.
In a study on national migration patterns to be released Thursday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Georgia ranks third among “sticky” states — or states that hold onto their native-born population. More than 69 percent of adults born in Georgia still live here, according to the survey, a stickiness ranking behind only North Carolina (71 percent) and Texas (75.8 percent).
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This might come as news to Atlantans, famous for being transplants from elsewhere, but much of Georgia is exurban and rural, where many people stay close to their roots.
“Stickiness tells you how attractive a state is to the people who were born there,” said D’Vera Cohn, a senior writer with the Pew Research Center.
Various qualities affect that number, she said, including job opportunities that allow natives to stay, and a strong sense of attachment to family and home.
Pew’s new study tried to explain why Americans seem to be settling down. According to U.S. Census numbers, only 13 percent of Americans changed residences between 2006 and 2007, the lowest percentage since the U.S. began keeping track in the 1940s.
The Pew Center surveyed 2,260 adults to find out why. They discovered that some states are “magnets” — they attract transplants from other states. In highly magnetic Nevada, only 13.6 percent of the adult population was born there; most came from elsewhere.
While Georgia is highly sticky, it’s only moderately magnetic: About 55 percent of the state’s U.S.-born population was born here. Why do the figures differ? Because Georgia has had a net influx of about 315,000 newcomers during 2005-2007. Plenty of people leave Georgia — 700,000 in that time period — but even more arrive, to the tune of more than a million transplants to the Peach State during that period.
“Georgia is a combination of urban, fast-growing areas, like Atlanta, and more stable, rural areas,” said Cohn.
By the way, the state sending the most transplants to Georgia? Florida, which sent 200,000 of its residents across the line during that time period.
Apparently having a winning football team is not enough.
More about the Pew study can be found at its Web site.
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Comments
By JoshNGA
Dec 24, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
The North Georgia Bible Thumpers are just as bad... Closed-minded and afraid of progression. You can only progress when you question things for yourself. Not by listening to, and taking as true, things interpreted for you. Anyone who believes that the Bible is a literal history book scares me. It's a great book of morals, but it is scientifically impossible for many of those things to have happened... And you can't say "Well it did 'cause God made it happen." That's a cop-out.
By MILF Hunter
Dec 22, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
It's the south GA bible thumpers that bring the rest of the state down.
By KellyCochran
Dec 21, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Well, I'm a native Atlantan who nows lives in Cape Coral, FL, the Ftoreclosure Capital of the Country.
Anyone care to trade places?
10% unemployment, 1 in 55 houses in foreclosure, and the lightest prison sentences handed down in the State, and #1 in the number of growhouses.
Water, we have plenty of it during hurricane season.
By JoshInGa
Dec 21, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
I have lived in Georgia for 28 years, all of my life, and I am more than ready to move. After exploring this country, from Pennsylvania to Colorado to Texas and Utah to the Keys, etc... I have to say that North Georgia is a very beautiful place but the ignorance here astounds me. I am getting ready to have children and I do not want them to get an education in Georgia... Worst in the nation. Maybe the people stay here because they do not learn enough to survive somewhere else. There are many, many nice people here as well... But being nice doesn't get you technological advances in Medicine and other forms of science. Plus, this state is one of the worst run in the country, with a huge deficit and terrible politics. Honestly, I think religion is holding this state from progressing...
By kam
Dec 19, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
I haven't really ventured much into non-metro Atlanta territory. I will say that I like Ellijay for it's 'mountain' life and the influx of transplants (which I'm sure has become a love-hate thing for the natives). I must say though that my favorite state is Colorado (there is SO much to do there!), and Chicago is my favorite city (minus the cold weather). I chose Atlanta because I went to college here and enjoyed the progressive atmosphere, which I hope does not stop. It offered more opportunities, but I hope it will start offering stability soon. I think that has caused the increase in fear and anxiety from when it was just a 'young' city. Our neighborhoods keep changing too drastically, but I hope my generation learns to quite moving their family every 5 years in search for that 5000 square foot cheap home. In the end, it isn't worth it because you've lost your old neighbors and your old friends. We should learn how to establish communication and trust again with our neighbors. Moving around may make situations worse.
By kam
Dec 19, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
I haven't really ventured much into non-metro Atlanta territory. I will say that I like Ellijay for it's 'mountain' life and the influx of transplants (which I'm sure has become a love-hate thing for the natives). I must say though that my favorite state is Colorado (there is SO much to do there!), and Chicago is my favorite city (minus the cold weather). I chose Atlanta because I went to college here and enjoyed the progressive atmosphere, which I hope does not stop. It offered more opportunities, but I hope it will start offering stability soon. I think that has caused the increase in fear and anxiety from when it was just a 'young' city. Our neighborhoods keep changing too drastically, but I hope my generation learns to quite moving their family every 5 years in search for that 5000 square foot cheap home. In the end, it isn't worth it because you've lost your old neighbors and your old friends. We should learn how to establish communication and trust again with our neighbors. Moving around may make situations worse.
By Buster
Dec 19, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
I was born in Alabama, raised in Texas, and lived in Colorado before moving to Georgia 16 years ago, so I have seen what it's like in other parts of the country. All GA has going for it is the weather and affordable housing. Here in the ATL, what I see is too much traffic, too much crime, and WAY too many thugs. If I have to stay in GA, I hope to make it up to the hills or the coast and away from the ghetto.
By GA Gal in TX now
Dec 18, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
I was born in GA but now live in TX. I love GA but I also love the South in general. Give me TX, GA, MS, LA, AL, TN, or NC, SC - all beautiful and charming in their own right.
Love the food, love the people, and - most of all - men LOVE those southern accents.
By Rock
Dec 18, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
We are all Americans and it's about time southerns realize that this is the greatest place on earth, The USA. God bless America.
By S. GA native
Dec 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
I grew up in SWGA but couldn't wait to move to Atlanta after college (Athens). Moved to Charlotte after 9 years - hated it!. Nine years later moved to Chas., SC for 23 years. Couldn't wait to get back to Atlanta, but what a change! Stuck it out for 10 yrs and moved to a small town in SW GA, and dearly love the laid-back pace and friendliness plus the five pecan trees in my yard!
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