Introduction

INTRODUCTION This issue of the Southeastern Geographer, "Manufacturing in the South," is envisioned by the guest editor as providing a multifaceted view of industry in the South. Beginning with a brief history of manufacturing , it carries through with macro geographic analyses and concludes with micro studies of industries and areas. Perceptions of the South as an underdeveloped and backward agrarian society were dispelled long ago. The "New South" has become recognized as an industrial frontier with new markets, compatible labor, and an expanding manufacturing base. Small towns and villages, scattered at considerable distances from the traditional locations of industry, the large cities, are now situated on an expanded network of rural highways and are attracting large numbers of truck transport-oriented industries. Freed from the need for rail sites, many industries have found that rural sites offer certain amenities frequently not found in urban sites, such as economical, nonunionized labor, inexpensive land, and positive community attitudes. Thus, the pattern of Southern industry is changing. Planned industrial parks, abundant power, capital for investment, and other financial assistance have helped attract industries to the region. But increased regional markets which have accompanied growth in manufacturing have had a substantial effect on the industrial growth rate of the South during the Ws and '70's. This issue of the Southeastern Geographer incorporates many of the characteristics mentioned above. Truman Hartshorn was asked to write a prologue. His comments are perceptive and timely. James O. Wheeler's article, "Regional Manufacturing Structure in the Southeastern United States, 1973," analyzes the broad geographic distributions of manufacturing, the industrial mix, and the role of metropolitan areas in the manufacturing characteristics and composition. William A. Rabiega's and Roland W. Wood's article, "Manufacturing Diffusion as a Growth Point Process in the Southeast," statistically analyzes the role of growth points in the present geographic patterns of industry in the region. Paul F. Rizza's article, "Functional Components of the Ferrous Scrap Industry in a Selected Portion of the Southeastern United States," discusses an increasingly important segment of heavy industry in the South. The collection, assemblage, separation, transporting, and marketing of scrap are all discussed for an industry which may supply as much as one half of the raw material for steel manufacturers. Merle C. Prunty's and Carl F. Ojala's "Locational Stability Factors in the Men's Apparel Industry in the Southeast" is clearly a contemporary 62Southeastern Geographer article, examining cost advantages, raw materials assemblages, linkages, transport costs, inertia effects, and Federal regulations. Daniel Good, in "Industrial Park Occupancy and Community Size in East Tennessee," relates the function of parks, ownership types, industrial types, and community sizes. His findings are particularly relevant to groups considering building industrial parks in small towns and villages. The article by John R. McGregor and Robert H. Maxey, "The DaIton , Georgia, Tufted Textile Concentration," considers a little studied and highly concentrated industry which represents a classic example of industrial inertia. It is hoped that, herein, as many questions are asked as are answered . Geographic research in manufacturing, although not new, holds great promise for young and innovative scholars who are unencumbered by traditional methodologies. Neal G. Lineback Guest Editor ...