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Katrina in Historical Context: Environment and Migration in the U.S
Myron P Gutmann1, Vincenzo Field
1Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, Population Studies Center, Department of History, University of Michigan.
Population and Environment
|May 4, 2010
Summary
Environmental factors significantly influence U.S. migration, extending beyond dramatic events like Hurricane Katrina. Less dramatic environmental conditions and amenities have historically shaped migration patterns more persistently.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Sociology
- U.S. History
Background:
- Public attention on Hurricane Katrina and the Dust Bowl highlights environmental influences on U.S. migration.
- Existing research often emphasizes dramatic environmental calamities over other factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To contextualize Hurricane Katrina's migration impact within broader historical environmental influences.
- To demonstrate that less dramatic environmental factors significantly shape migration patterns.
Main Methods:
- Enumeration of four categories of environmental influence on U.S. migration.
- Analysis of historical U.S. migration flows driven by environmental factors.
Main Results:
- Environmental calamities (e.g., hurricanes, floods) are less frequent and impactful than other environmental influences.
- Environmental hardships, amenities, and barriers (e.g., drought, climate, infrastructure) have historically driven significant migration.
- All four identified environmental factors have demonstrably influenced U.S. migration patterns.
Conclusions:
- Focusing solely on environmental calamities like Katrina overlooks the more persistent and widespread impact of other environmental factors on U.S. migration.
- A comprehensive understanding of U.S. migration requires acknowledging the diverse roles of environmental conditions, amenities, and management strategies.
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