Dorchester 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 47,130 52.40%
Different house 42,805 47.60%
Same county 15,163 16.86%
Different county 26,303 29.25%
Same state 12,755 14.18%
Different State 13,548 15.06%
Elsewhere in 1995* 1,339 1.49%
Total Population Age 5+ 89,935 100.00%

Migration, 1990: Residence 5 Years Prior to Census
Residence in 1985 Number Percent
Same house 35,019 46.17%
Different house 40,824 53.83%
Same county 13,216 17.43%
Different county 26,591 35.06%
Same state 11,117 14.66%
Different State 15,474 20.40%
Elsewhere in 1985* 1,017 1.34%
Total Population Age 5+ 75,843 100.00%

* "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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