Why do people migrate within a country? In the past people
migrated from one region of a country to another for better farmland
Today principal of interregional migration is from rural areas to urban areas.
Migration between regions of a country
U.S. Opening of American West
changed the center of population
Example of large-scale internal migration
Movement from: Eastern seaboard Early settlement of the interior Migration to California/
Oregon Migration to the Great Plain recent growth of the south.
Historical Internal Migration : U.S. 1st wave
Westward settlement Manifest destiny From Eastern seaboard to
West Coast Rural-to-urban
Industrialization cause New jobs
2nd wave 1940s- 1970s African-Americans migrating from
rural south To cities in South, North, and
West Mechanization of cotton Defense jobs (WWI, WWII)
3rd wave Cold War jobs Emergence of Sunbelt West/ Mid-west growth too
Economic opportunity Air conditioning Cheap land
Changing Center of Population Center is the average
location of everyone in the country
Point where distribution causes the flat plane to balance on the pin
Loudoun county “mean” center of U.S. in 1810
Didn’t move out of VA until 1860 (Ohio)
Today the “center” is in Missouri Since 1980
Migration between regions in other countries
Russia: Interregional migration
important to supporting the Soviet Union
People needed to be located near resources.
Forced migration to Siberia
Rich in natural resources 45% land mass 2% of population
Incentives Offered higher wages, paid
holidays, early retirement Didn’t work
Collapse of Soviet Union ended encouragement of interregional migration.
Brazil Encourages
interregional migration Most live in large cities
along coastline World’s two largest cities
Brazil tried to attract people to interior of country by building a new capital, Brasilia in 1960
Pull factors such a improved housing and job availability Couldn’t afford
housing
Indonesia 1969
government has paid for the migration of 5 million people from the Java to less populated islands.
Receive: One way air ticket 5 acres of land Materials to build house Year’s worth of rice
Europe Principle flow of
interregional migration in Europe from east/south to west/north
Reflects low incomes and bleak jobs prospects
Happens within individual countries Britain Italy
India Governments sometimes
limit the ability of people to migrate from one region to another India requires a permit for
Indians to migrate within regions in their country
State of Assam
Restrictions date from British Occupancy
Designed to protect the ethnic identity of Assamese by limiting the ability of outsiders to compete for jobs and purchase land.
Migration within one region Intraregional
Worldwide most prominent trend is movement from cities to suburbs
Migration from Rural to Urban Areas
Began in 1800s Industrial Revolution United States urban pop
1800 – 5% 1920 – 50%
Today 3/4ths of people in U.S. and other MDCs live in cities
Urbanization now diffusing to LDCs Especially Asia
Most rural to Urban migrants are moving for economic opportunities
Migration from Urban to Suburban Areas Developed countries
migration is from cities to suburbs
Not related to employment but change in lifestyle yard with fence Better schools, safer
neighborhoods To accommodate, farms on
periphery of cities converted to neighborhoods
Migration from Metropolitan areas to Nonmetropolitan areas
migration from urban to rural areas Late 20th century a new
trend started Counterurbanization:
Net migration from urban to rural areas
Resulted from very rapid expansion of suburbs
Migration/ rural areas
Pull factors: less hectic life New technology
allows people to stay connected
Many are retired
Future Trends???