Moving into Alabama
Migration Aids Recent Population Growth
Between 1990 and 2000, Alabama experienced a larger
influx of new residents than during any prior decade of
the 20th century. In fact, only in the 1970s had more people moved into the state than moved out. A net gain of
209,792 in-migrants from both other states and abroad
accounted for 51.6 percent of Alabama’s population
increase of 406,513. The remaining population growth
came from natural increase, with an estimated 616,510
intercensal births exceeding 419,789 deaths for a net gain
of 196,721 residents.
Forty-seven of the state’s 67 counties saw their populations
boosted by in-migration during the 1990s. Suburban
counties of large metro areas were among the biggest gainers from migration—Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Elmore, St.
Clair, and Shelby counties all netted more than 5,000 residents. Smaller metropolitan areas, including Auburn,
Decatur, Florence, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa, and several
newly-defined micropolitan area counties—Cullman,
Jackson, and Marshall—were also popular destinations for
those moving in from out-of-state or from another
Alabama county.
Rate of Net Migration, 1990-2000
(per 100 population in 1990)
Alabama Net Migration, 1900-2000
1900-1910
1910-1920
1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970
1970-1980
1980-1990
1990-2000
Note:
Total
White
Nonwhite
-52,362
-149,272
-212,231
-184,614
-301,376
-368,151
-229,681
115,014
-89,120
209,792
-28,275
-64,898
-113,433
-112,372
-115,348
-144,130
-2,033
150,236
-17,046
93,525
-24,087
-84,374
-98,798
-72,242
-186,028
-224,021
-227,648
-35,222
-72,074
116,267
The category of nonwhite migrants for 1990-2000 includes those
who marked any race other than white alone on the Census 2000
form as well as individuals who marked more than one race.
Source: Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of
Alabama.
However, 20 Alabama counties had more residents move
out than in between 1990 and 2000. Many of these counties are economically distressed; over half faced unemployment rates substantially above the state average throughout the decade. Most are in or adjacent to the historically
depressed Black Belt region. In addition, the central
urban counties of the three largest metros—Jefferson,
Mobile, and Montgomery—all experienced net out-migration. And two counties, Calhoun and Dale, saw their residents dwindle due to military base closings and reductions. Rates of net migration vary widely, as shown on the
map. In Baldwin County about 38 people moved in during the decade for every 100 residents, while in Sumter
County almost 14 of every 100 residents moved out.
Alabama rate = 5.2
The 1990s was the only decade when migration added to
both the state’s white and nonwhite populations. An estimated net gain of 93,525 white residents amounted to
44.6 percent of the migration stream. The 116,267 nonwhite net in-migrants accounted for 55.4 percent of the
total. This category encompasses all racial groups except
white; in particular, individuals who marked black alone
and those who selected more than one race or some other
race on their census form. Hispanics figure prominently
in the later group, as they tended to regard their ethnicity
as a race. Counties including Blount, Cullman, DeKalb,
Franklin, Marshall, and Winston that saw nonwhite rates
of net migration in excess of 100 all showed rapidly growing Hispanic populations between 1990 and 2000.
Migration by race also reveals that the three urban metropolitan counties of Jefferson, Mobile, and Montgomery
saw a net gain of nonwhite migrants, although it was not
enough to offset the loss of white residents.
Most Age Groups Draw New Residents
Source: Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama.
1
Almost every age group saw its numbers grow from migration during the 1990s. Alabama’s steady employment
gains between 1990 and 1998 likely helped bring in work-
Migration by Race for Alabama Counties, 1990-2000
ing-aged adults and their children. Sizeable additions were
seen in the adult population aged 35 to 54 in 2000.
Estimates show that over 87,000 more individuals in this
age range moved in than moved out during the 1990s.
And net migration added over 60,000 children and teens
aged 10 to 19. With migration gains continuing among
20 to 24 year olds, Alabama does not appear to be experiencing an outflow of recent high school and college graduates.
The only significant out-migration of Alabama residents
occurred among 25 to 29 year olds, while net migration
was essentially flat for the 30 to 34 age group. And the
number of children aged 0 to 9 added by migration was
well below the number of older children, suggesting that
adults establishing their careers and beginning families are
the group most likely to seek opportunities outside the
state, perhaps later returning to work and raise their children in Alabama.
Migration Trends Follow Jobs
Migration was not evenly distributed throughout the
1990s. Estimates based on Internal Revenue Service
address change data, Medicare enrollments, and information on immigration from abroad show migration into
Alabama beginning the decade positively but peaking
between July 1992 and July 1993. Although tapering off,
migration held up fairly well through July 1998. But as
jobs in Alabama fell from 1998 to 1999, so did the net
influx of residents. Migration turned negative for the two
years from 1999 to 2001 before rebounding to a slight
gain of about 1,500 from 2001 to 2002. An increased
inflow of foreign immigrants is keeping the numbers from
looking worse. States, including Florida and Texas, that
sent Alabama residents in the first half of the 1990s are
now net recipients of Alabama out-migrants. Since interstate moves are often work-related, in-migration trends
should strengthen when the state’s employment prospects
pick up.
Carolyn Trent
Alabama
Autauga
Baldwin
Barbour
Bibb
Blount
Bullock
Butler
Calhoun
Chambers
Cherokee
Chilton
Choctaw
Clarke
Clay
Cleburne
Coffee
Colbert
Conecuh
Coosa
Covington
Crenshaw
Cullman
Dale
Dallas
DeKalb
Elmore
Escambia
Etowah
Fayette
Franklin
Geneva
Greene
Hale
Henry
Houston
Jackson
Jefferson
Lamar
Lauderdale
Lawrence
Lee
Limestone
Lowndes
Macon
Madison
Marengo
Marion
Marshall
Mobile
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Perry
Pickens
Pike
Randolph
Russell
St. Clair
Shelby
Sumter
Talladega
Tallapoosa
Tuscaloosa
Walker
Washington
Wilcox
Winston
Total
209,792
6,926
37,588
2,662
3,409
10,004
322
-648
-8,151
-864
4,309
5,968
-663
-1,057
852
1,120
1,570
2,123
-190
960
965
63
8,112
-4,457
-4,419
7,897
13,303
2,023
2,801
534
2,911
2,043
-671
985
630
2,815
4,722
-13,379
182
5,995
1,879
20,919
8,452
-79
-1,662
16,918
-1,595
1,261
8,447
-6,454
-1,218
-1,243
5,500
-1,390
-303
904
2,085
1,250
12,012
32,176
-2,196
3,543
1,761
5,603
2,126
457
-1,073
2,420
Net Migration
White
Nonwhite
93,525
116,267
6,175
751
34,848
2,740
777
1,885
2,431
979
8,394
1,610
70
252
-111
-537
-6,548
-1,603
-809
-56
4,026
283
4,825
1,143
-291
-371
-328
-729
759
92
1,033
86
-70
1,640
1,221
902
8
-197
591
369
1,146
-182
185
-123
6,560
1,553
-5,342
885
-3,385
-1,034
4,954
2,943
10,805
2,498
296
1,727
716
2,085
437
97
1,124
1,788
1,914
130
47
-718
637
347
756
-126
997
1,818
3,623
1,099
-39,308
25,929
111
71
4,509
1,486
1,389
490
15,829
5,090
5,685
2,767
253
-332
-55
-1,607
2,256
14,662
-803
-792
708
554
4,643
3,805
-15,041
8,588
-776
-442
-13,399
12,157
1,158
4,342
-644
-747
-110
-193
-71
974
1,964
121
-977
2,227
10,775
1,238
27,206
4,971
-900
-1,296
2,180
1,363
2,084
-323
-864
6,467
1,466
660
366
91
-469
-604
1,892
528
Note: Nonwhite includes all racial groups except white alone.
Source: Center for Business and Economic Research, The University of Alabama.
2