Trends in return migration to the South

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Sociology
• Migration Studies

Background:

• The South experienced significant shifts in migration patterns between the mid-20th century and the early 1970s.
• Understanding the drivers of these demographic changes is crucial for regional development and social policy.

Observation:

• Return migration to the South saw a notable increase of nearly 19 percent from the late 1950s to the late 1960s.
• This rise in return migration played a role in reshaping the South's overall migration dynamics.
• However, its impact was less pronounced than the decrease in native Southerners leaving and the rise in non-Southerners moving in.

Findings:

• The probability of former migrants returning to the South was substantially higher for white individuals compared to Black individuals.
• In the 1955-1960 period, the return rate for whites was over four times greater than for Black individuals.
• By the 1965-1970 period, this disparity narrowed, with the white return rate being three and one-fourth times greater.
• Post-1970 data suggests a continued faster rise in return migration for Black individuals, though their rate remains lower than the white rate.

Implications:

• These findings highlight complex racial disparities in migration patterns within the United States.
• The changing migration dynamics necessitate updated regional planning and resource allocation strategies.
• Further research into the socioeconomic factors influencing these differential migration rates is warranted.