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CALIFORNIA STANDARDS
G
11.11.7, CST 3
RAP
G
O
E
HY
SPOTLIG H
T
Sunbelt, Rustbelt, Ecotopia
In the 1970s, people on the move created new names for areas to which they moved.
The West was sometimes called Ecotopia because of its varied scenery and ecological
attractions. The South and Southwest were called the Sunbelt because of their warm
climate. The North Central and Northeast regions were called the Rustbelt because
many of their aging factories had been closed.
As a geographical term, region is used to designate an area with common features
or characteristics that set it apart from its surroundings. For example, the Mississippi
Valley is a large physical region; Warren Woods is a small physical region. The term is
often used for groups of states that share an area and certain characteristics.
As people move from state to state, and from region to region, they gradually
transform the balance of political and economic power in the nation. Each census in
recent times has recorded how certain states have gained population and others have
lost population. If the gains or losses are large enough, a state’s representation in the
U.S. House of Representatives will increase or decrease commensurately.
REGIONAL EXCHANGES
Americans on the Move, 1970s
311,000
NORTHEAST
MIDWEST
67,000
472,000
7
90
,00
964,000
WEST
0
75,00
0
SOUTH
Source: Bernard L. Weinstein
and Robert E. Firestine,
Regional Growth and Decline in
the United States (1978)
Regional Internal Migration, 1982–1998
600
Gain
400
200
0
Loss
–200
–400
–600
1982
1984
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
846
CHAPTER 25
1986
West
1988 1990 1992
Midwest
South
1994 1996
Northeast
1998
Between 1970 and 1975, the population center of the United States,
which had generally moved westward for 17 decades, suddenly
moved southward as well. The
arrows show the net number of
Americans who migrated and their
patterns of migration in the early
1970s. The West gained 311,000
from the Northeast plus 472,000
from the North Central region, for a
total of 783,000 people. However,
it also lost 75,000 people to the
South. During the 1980s and
1990s the southward and westward shift continued.
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Americans on the Move, 1990–2000
Between 1990 and 2000, our country’s population grew by a record 32.7
million people to 281.4 million. For the first time in the 20th century, all
50 states gained people between census years. But because of internal
migration (see graph on page 846) and other factors, 10 states lost and
8 states gained seats in the 2000 Congressional apportionment.
N.H.
MAINE
VT. 29,607 -7,347
5,615
Source: U.S.
Census Bureau
WASH.
381,552
MONTANA
47,875
OREGON
270,903
Population increase > 1 million
Population increase < 100,000
5,615 Net gain/loss from domestic
migration
Gain in apportioned Representatives
+1
Loss in apportioned Representatives
-1
N. DAK.
-37,387
IDAHO
136,339
MINN.
86,847
WIS.
90,224
-1
S. DAK.
-2,881
WYOMING
-3,676
UTAH
73,016
CALIFORNIA
-2,170,790
+1
ARIZONA
577,038
+2
COLORADO
402,832
+1
NEW
MEXICO
42,339
a net loss through
migration to other states
of 2 million people in the
1990s, international
immigrants and in-state
births gave California the
greatest net increase in
population among the
50 states.
MO.
101,020
KANSAS
-16,224
OKLAHOMA
42,688
-1
ILL.
-560,003
-1
OHIO
IND. -166,200
W.
82,674
-1
VA.
-1
2,082
KY.
97,187
ARK.
110,878
ALA.
112,163
PENN.
-250,958
-2
VA.
96,562
N.C.
554,268
+1
S.C.
143,213
TENN.
356,907
MISS.
44,639
-1
TEXAS
569,957
+2
CALIFORNIA Despite
MICH.
-199,465
-1
IOWA
-15,542
NEBRASKA
-3,693
NEVADA
433,219
+1
N.Y.
-1,888,936
-2
GA.
665,418
+2
LA.
-139,704
FLA.
1,108,514
+2
MASS.
-244,494
R.I. -63,250
CONN.
N.J. -226,370 -1
-378,495
DEL. 35,058
MD. -55,060
WASHINGTON, D.C.
While all 50 states
gained in population
during the decade,
the population of
Washington, D.C.,
decreased by nearly
6 percent.
NEVADA There has
been such a large
influx of people since
1945 that building
houses for newcomers
has become a major
industry in Nevada.
TEXAS During the 1990s, Texas
eclipsed New York to become the
nation’s second-most populous
state behind California. Sixty percent of the Texas increase has
been driven by Hispanic growth.
(below) Housing development near
Danville, California, 1990
FLORIDA During the
1990s, Florida’s population
increased 23.5 percent,
making it the nation’s
fourth-largest. With so many
new residents, Florida
gained two additional House
seats, bringing its congressional delegation to 25.
THINKING CRITICALLY
1. Analyzing Distributions Which states lost the most
people between 1990 and 2000? Which states gained
the most people?
2. Creating a Graph Choose one of the most populous
states and then pose a historical question about
population in that state. Create a graph or graphs that
show various aspects of population for the state you
have chosen. Be sure that the graph(s) help to answer
the question you posed. Then display the graph(s) and
the question in the classroom.
SEE SKILLBUILDER HANDBOOK, PAGE R28.
IRESEARCH LINKS
CLASSZONE.COM
The Conservative Tide
847