Sun Belt
The Sun Belt is a region in 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 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
At the end of World War II, the area that would become the Sun Belt, particularly the South, was the poorest area of the nation.[1] The South and Southwest had a much smaller population, were relatively remote, and had an unideal meteorological climate for economic growth, as they were very hot locations.[2] On the other hand, the Northeastern and Midwestern United States were politically, economically, and demographically the most important areas of the nation.[1][2]
Reasons for growth
An important reason for the growth of the Sun Belt was the development of air conditioning.[2] With this innovation, one could live comfortably in the Sun Belt states all year long, as the climate was nice in the winter and air conditioning could be used in the summer.
Another reason for growth was the weak labor unions and small government in the region.[1] While the Northeast and Midwest were bogged down with big government, high wages and taxes and had strong labor unions which further increased costs and lowered efficiency, the Sun Belt had none of those things. Its strongly business-friendly climate encouraged businesses to relocate there.[2]
Some people have noted that there was much government spending directed toward the region, mainly for military-related installations and purposes but also for other projects.[1] Some have noted that much of this investment and spending occurred during World War II, even though real economic growth did not actually begin until a few decades later. Regardless, by 1980 almost half of U.S. soldiers were stationed in the area and 40 percent of the U.S. Department of Defense was directed to the area.[1]
Other stated factors in the growth of the Sun Belt include desegregation[1] and transportation and communications improvements.[3]
Growth
The period of growth and transformation in the Sun Belt began in the 1960s.[2] The fact that the Northeast and Midwest were not the economic and political centers of the nation was clear by the 1970s.[2]
Economic growth
Numerous businesses, both from other parts of the nation and around the world, relocated to the Sun Belt due to better business conditions and conservative, pro-business policies.[2] Due to an increased emphasis energy Independence beginning in the 1970s, several Sun Belt states, such as Texas with its massive oil reserves, experienced large growth and development.[2]
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.[3]
The above-average growth of the conservative Sun Belt and the decline of left-wing states has continued into the early 21st Century.[4][5]
Meanwhile, the Northeast and Midwest, with its left-wing governance and many regulations, lost businesses and people and went into a period of decline.[2]
Political growth
Cultural growth
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Rise of the Sunbelt. Digital History. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Sun Belt. Encyclopedia.com (from the Dictionary of American History). Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sun Belt. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- ↑ Frey, William H. (January 4, 2016). Sun Belt migration reviving, new census data show. The Brookings Institution. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- ↑ Kotkin, Joel (March 28, 2016). The Sun Belt Is Rising Again, New Census Numbers Show. Forbes. Retrieved December 25, 2016.