1. Why do people migrate within a country?
Key Issue 4
Why do people migrate within a country?

2. Interregional migration—migration between regions of a country
Settling of the American west is one of the most famous examples of large-scale internal migration
Changing center of population (the average location of everyone in a country; center of population gravity) pattern of moving west and south after 1790
Population center didn’t change throughout the colonial period

3. National Migration Flows
Also known as internal migration

4. Early Settlement of the Interior
Settlement of the interior begins after 1790 as a result of opportunity for large amounts of land for low price
In early 1800s transportation improvements, mainly canals, made it easier to go west
For much of the 19th century settlement stopped at the 98th meridian because it was declared unfit for farming
Ironically, this region is one of the world’s richest farmland

5. 98th dotted/100th solid

6. Settlement of the Great Plains
After 1880, population center shifts slower
immigration from Europe offset western migration
because of filling in the area between California and the 98th meridian
Advancing agricultural technology made it possible for Great Plains to be cultivated
Expansion of railroads began in 1840/they sold land acquired from government
Gold rush in mid 1800s
In 1980, the population center jumped the Mississippi for the first time ever

7. Recent Growth of the South
1920s center began to move southward also
During the 1980s and 90s, 4 million people a year moved into the South from the Northeast, Midwest, and West for job opportunities—to the “sunbelt” from the “rustbelt”.

10. African American Migration
During the 20th century, large number of African Americans migrate to Northeast, Midwest, and West for jobs
It equals in the 1990s whereas North to South was much higher for whites
Presently, migration patterns differ little between races; internal migration has slowed due to less difference in regional employment opportunities

12. Migration between Regions in other countries

13. Russia-government policies to encourage interregional migration
Interregional migration important in developing Soviet Union
Established factories near raw materials and didn’t have enough workers
Needed to develop far North because of rich resources
Did force people to migrate but later changed to incentive programs
Many just moved back because of the harsh climate
Now government officials no longer dictate locations of industry

14. Brazil
Most of Brazil’s most populous cities are on Atlantic coast while interior is sparsely populated
Moved capital to Brasilia in the interior
Growth slow at first because officials resented the move
But now, many have moved in search of work

16. Indonesia—government paid for people to move from Java to other islands
Europe—trends depend on country and where economic opportunities are
India—an example when a government limits ability to Migrate; must have a permit to migrate or even visit the State of Assam

17. Intraregional Migration—migration within a region
Migration from rural to urban
Most prominent type of intraregional migration; less than 5% lived in urban areas in 1800 compared to nearly half today
In MDCs about ¾ of people live in urban areas
Migration has increased dramatically in LDCs to urban areas
Pushed by declining agricultural opportunities and pulled by job opportunities
Housing is in issue in many LDC urban areas

19. migration from urban to suburban
Most of migration in MDC happens in this way
Drawn by suburban lifestyle
Transportation allows people to live in the suburban area but work in the urban area
As a result, farms on the periphery are being converted to suburban land use.

21. Intraregional Migration in the U.S.
Fig. 3-14: Average annual migration among urban, suburban, and rural areas in the U.S. during the 1990s. The largest flow was from central cities to suburbs.

22. Migration from Metropolitan to Nonmetropolitan—net migration from urban to rural is called counterurbanization
Trend in late twentieth century
Represents some difficulty distinguishing from rural and suburb but most is genuine migration from suburbs and urban areas to small towns and rural communities
Moving for a desire to change lifestyle
sometimes can be retirees
Not common in US because the economy of small towns and rural areas not attractive
Farming suffering / industry located in rural areas suffering