Why do people Migrate within a country? Chapter 3 Key Issue #4

Between regions within a Country - US Movement is most often from less land to more land Movement West Colonial settlement Almost all population was on East Coast Because of shipping needs & Appalachian Mtns. (intervening obstacle) Interior Settlement Canals allowed people to move farther west (Midwest) Ex. Great Lakes More land @ cheaper prices = major pull factor Migration to California Gold Rush (started in late 1840’s) Migrants bypassed Great Plains (why?) Ag Improvements: 1. barbed wire (no need for wood) 2. steel plow (dry hard ground) 3. windmill drilling tech (improved water) Railroad: better transportation for people & GOODS & sold large chunks of land

Between regions within a Country - US Movement West Settling the Great Plains Very difficult because of dry, wide-open climate Improvements to agriculture helped Railroad development Movement west slowed Balanced by major European Immigration Depression Recent trend to Southwest Climate & econ opportunity Interregional migration has slowed Net-migration near zero Ag Improvements: 1. barbed wire (no need for wood) 2. steel plow (dry hard ground) 3. windmill drilling tech (improved water) Railroad: better transportation for people & GOODS & sold large chunks of land

Migration within 1 region (intraregional) Rural to Urban Influenced by Industrial Revolution (1800’s) LDC’s starting to urbanize Especially in Asia Urban to Suburban Not related to employment but culture Pull-factors: better schools, homogeneous, private space, etc. Urban sprawl Urban to Rural Counterurbanization – late 20th Century Strong economic time Lifestyle choice Modern communication in MDC’s makes this possible 1800 – 5% of Am. Lived in cities, today 75% of people in MDC’s live in cities