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The '''Sun Belt''' is a region in [[The South|the Southern]], Western, and Mountain states of the [[United States]] that experienced large economic and political growth and transformation starting around the 1960s. While the left-wing Northeast and [[Rust Belt|West]], which was plagued with poor business conditions, went into a long period of decline, the conservative, [[small government]] Sun Belt prospered. The prosperity continues to this day.
The '''Sun Belt''' is a region in [[The South|the Southern]], Western, and Mountain states of the [[United States]] that experienced large economic and political growth and transformation starting around the 1960s. While the left-wing Northeast and [[Rust Belt|West]], which was plagued with poor business conditions, went into a long period of decline, the [[conservative]], [[small government]] Sun Belt prospered. The prosperity continues to this day.
==Prior to economic transformation==
==Prior to economic transformation==
In addition, the Sun Belt saw large population growth far above the national average, with 36 percent growth in the South and 51 percent growth in West between 1970 and 1990.<ref name="Britannica"/>
In addition, the Sun Belt saw large population growth far above the national average, with 36 percent growth in the South and 51 percent growth in West between 1970 and 1990.<ref name="Britannica"/>
The above-average growth of the conservative Sun Belt and the decline of left-wing states has continued into the early 21st Century.<ref>Frey, William H. (January 4, 2016). [https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2016/01/04/sun-belt-migration-reviving-new-census-data-show/ Sun Belt migration reviving, new census data show]. ''The Brookings Institution''. Retrieved December 25, 2016.</ref><ref>Kotkin, Joel (March 28, 2016). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2016/03/28/the-sun-belt-is-rising-again-new-census-data-shows/#780e8d224750 The Sun Belt Is Rising Again, New Census Numbers Show]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved December 25, 2016.</ref>
The above-average growth of the conservative Sun Belt and the decline of [[Liberal|left-wing]] states has continued into the early 21st Century.<ref>Frey, William H. (January 4, 2016). [https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2016/01/04/sun-belt-migration-reviving-new-census-data-show/ Sun Belt migration reviving, new census data show]. ''The Brookings Institution''. Retrieved December 25, 2016.</ref><ref>Kotkin, Joel (March 28, 2016). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2016/03/28/the-sun-belt-is-rising-again-new-census-data-shows/#780e8d224750 The Sun Belt Is Rising Again, New Census Numbers Show]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved December 25, 2016.</ref>
Meanwhile, the Northeast and Midwest, with its left-wing governance and many regulations, lost businesses and people and went into a period of decline.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
Meanwhile, the Northeast and Midwest, with its left-wing governance and many regulations, lost businesses and people and went into a period of decline.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
===Political growth===
===Political growth===
In addition to economic growth, the [[conservative]] Sun Belt dramatically increased its influence politically.<ref name="DigitalHistory"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> As the Sun Belt states saw greatly increasing populations, their representation in [[United States Congress|Congress]] also grew as more and more [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] seats were allotted to them.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> This growth played an important role in the 1994 [[Republican Revolution]], where the [[Republican Party|GOP]] obtained congressional majorities in the first time in 40 years.<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
Additionally, from [[United States presidential election, 1964|1964]] through [[United States presidential election, 2004|2004]] each of the seven U.S. presidential election winners came from the Sun Belt<ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/> and several of the losing opposing nominees also hailed from the region. By the 1990s, most U.S. political leadership came from the Sun Belt.
On the other hand, the left-leaning North and Midwest, which had formerly been the most influential region in U.S. politics, lost representation in Congress and lost much of its former political influence.<ref name="DigitalHistory"/><ref name="Encyclopedia.com"/>
===Cultural growth===
===Cultural growth===