Watauga County

MIGRATION & IMMIGRATION


An essential value of the American lifestyle is the freedom of mobility. The Census asks respondents to identify if they lived in the same residence 5 years prior to the survey. If not, they are asked the location of their previous residence. Between 1995 and 2000, only 54.13 percent of Americans remained in the same house. This rate has been fairly steady: between 1985 and 1990, 53.29 percent remained in the same house.

Regionally, the rates differ greatly. Nevada’s population was the most mobile. About 62.6 percent of Nevada residents in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of the Nevadans living in different houses, 40.2 percent were new arrivals to the state. On the other hand, Pennsylvania’s population was the most permanent. Only 36.5 percent of Pennsylvanians in 2000 lived in a different house in 1995. Of these people, only 15.8 percent were new arrivals to Pennsylvania.


Migration, 2000: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1995 Number Percent
Same house 19,095 46.55%
Different house 21,926 53.45%
Same county 6,622 16.14%
Different county 14,642 35.69%
Same state 9,126 22.25%
Different State 5,516 13.45%
Elsewhere in 1995* 662 1.61%
Total Population Age 5+ 41,021 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 16,096 45.68%
Different house 19,138 54.32%
Same county 6,108 17.34%
Different county 12,765 36.23%
Same state 8,603 24.42%
Different State 4,162 11.81%
Elsewhere in 1985* 265 0.75%
Total Population Age 5+ 35,234 100.00%

* "Elsewhere" includes those living in U.S. Island Areas, in foreign countries, and at sea.

Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN).

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