Origins and Characteristics of Mississippi Inmigrants in the Late 1970s

Southeastern Geographer Vol. 22, No. 2, November 1982, pp. 110-129 ORIGINS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MISSISSIPPI INMIGRANTS IN THE LATE 1970s* Ronald W. Snow Two highly significant national population redistribution trends occurred during the 1970s which have been the subjects of considerable research and public interest. The first is a dramatic acceleration in the movement of both whites and blacks from the Midwest and Northeast to the South and West. (J ) The second is the reversal ofthe long standing rural-to-urban migration trend which has resulted in a net movement from metropolitan to nonmetropolitan areas. (2) A number ofrecent studies have discussed the factors responsible for the two movements and have generally categorized these factors as either "economic" or "noneconomic ." (3) Economic factors are primarily employment related, such as job transfers, the taking of new jobs, or the search for employment. Noneconomic factors include a more favorable physical climate, recreational facilities, a rural or small town setting, and the desire to live near friends and relatives. Economic factors have long been recognized as major determinants of migration, and many of the traditional models of migration have been based primarily upon labor market conditions such as income and unemployment levels. The growth of employment opportunities in the South and West, and in nonmetropolitan areas, has undoubtedly been a major factor contributing to recent population movements. However, recent changes in traditional migration patterns, particularly the ruralto -urban "turnaround," have given rise to questions concerning the adequacy of the economic models of migration. Several researchers have suggested that economic factors are becoming less important while noneconomic factors are becoming more important in the migration decision -making process. (4) Roseman has argued that many, perhaps most, individual migration decisions are based on both economic and noneco- * The author expresses his appreciation to Mr. Al Richburg of the Mississippi State Highway Safety Patrol for assistance and cooperation in providing the data for this study, and to Curtis C. Roseman for his valuable comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this study. Dr. Snow is Development Officer, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, in Mississippi State, MS 39762. Vol. XXII, No. 2 111 nomic factors, and it would appear that both types of factors have contributed to the two major national population redistribution trends. (5) However, it is likely that contrasting kinds of migrants (old/young, white/ black, return/nonreturn) differ with respect to their reasons for moving. It is also likely that migrants moving between various regions of the country and between different types of places are responding to different factors. PURPOSE. The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics ofmigrants who moved to Mississippi from different regions ofthe United States and from different types of places during three months in 1978 and 1979, and to make inferences concerning the factors (economic/ noneconomic) influencing the migration decisions of Mississippi's inmigrants from different migration origins. The characteristics of race (white/black), age (younger/older), and migration status (return/nonreturn ) of the inmigrants are examined to identify differences by origin region and type of origin place (metropolitan/nonmetropolitan). (6) Two major assumptions are employed to assess the factors influencing inmigration to Mississippi. First, it is assumed that younger persons are moving to Mississippi primarily for jobs while noneconomic factors play more important roles in the migration decisions of older persons. Migration studies have long recognized that economic factors are more influential in the migration decision-making processes ofthe young than the old. (7) Older migrants are more likely than younger migrants to be free of the residential restraints of employment because of retirement and, therefore, have considerable freedom of choice with respect to their residential locations. They are more likely than are the young to be able to make their migration decisions on the basis of factors other than employment . Especially among the "older-elderly" (those over 75), health considerations are important motives for moving. As Wiseman stated: (S) . . . environment, interpersonal relations, health, and a search for residential amenities are probably the most influential factors in an older person's decision to move. Clearly, migration motivations for older people are different from those of most younger groups. A number of studies...