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Social, Economic, and Demographic Characteristics of Southern Residents

From 1980 to 1990, total population increased at a higher rate in the South (14.16 percent) than in the United States (9.78 percent) (table 7.1). The South is more rural, more nonwhite, less educated, and more blue collar, with lower median household income, than the national average.

The southern population is concentrated along the coasts; in Piedmont cities, including Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC; and in the major cities of Texas (Austin, Dallas, and Houston) and Florida (fig. 7.1). Between 1980 and 1999 (fig. 7.2 and fig. 7.3) these major metropolitan areas received the greatest percentage increase in population, while there were decreases in the Mississippi River Basin, in the western Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle, and in parts of the Southern Appalachians. In 1990 (fig. 7.4) education levels (percent of residents attending some college) were generally lowest in the central interior and north-central region of the South. Between 1980 and 1990, education levels generally increased throughout the South, with the strongest gains along the eastern coast and in the major metropolitan areas (fig. 7.5). The highest concentrations of rural residents in 1990 occurred in the Southern Appalachians, parts of the Mississippi River Basin, and the western Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle (fig. 7.6). Overall, the entire region experienced a general decrease in rural residency between 1980 and 1990 (fig. 7.7).

Areas with the highest percentage of residents older than 55 years in 1990 include Arkansas, Oklahoma, central Texas, and southern and central Florida (fig. 7.8). From 1980 to 1990, many areas of the South experienced an increase in elderly population, except for the metropolitan cities of Atlanta, GA, Dallas and Houston, TX, and Miami, FL (fig. 7.9). In 1990, the highest percentage of blue-collar workers occurred in western Texas and Oklahoma, parts of the Southern Appalachians, and the central and north-central areas of the South (fig. 7.10). Since 1980, the percent of blue-collar workers has decreased in the South as a whole, but increases have occurred in parts of Mississippi and the western Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle (fig. 7.11). In 1990 there were more women than men in most counties across the South, with the highest concentrations in the center of the region and the lowest in parts of Texas, Florida, and the Southern Appalachians (fig. 7.12). Between 1980 and 1999, the percent of women largely decreased throughout the South, except in small pockets of the coast (with the exception of Florida) and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle (fig. 7.13 and fig. 7.14).

In 1990, the highest concentrations of Hispanics were in west Texas (along the Mexico border) and south Florida (fig. 7.15). Between 1980 and 1990, the highest increases in Hispanic populations occurred throughout Texas and Florida. Modest gains occurred in Oklahoma, Georgia, and North Carolina (fig. 7.16). In 1990, the percentage of nonwhite residents was highest in a broad band from the Mississippi River Basin through the Piedmont to the Carolinas coast. The lowest concentrations were in the north-central region of the South, the Southern Appalachians, central Texas, and the Florida coasts (fig. 7.17). The largest increase in nonwhite populations from 1980 to 1990 occurred in western Texas, Oklahoma, and the Mississippi River Basin (fig. 7.18). From 1990 to 1999, the rates of increase in nonwhite populations reversed, with the greatest increase along a broad band from the Mississippi River Basin through the Piedmont to the Carolinas coast (fig. 7.19).

In 1990, the wealthiest areas in the South were primarily in major cities, while the poorest areas tended to be rural (fig. 7.20). Between 1980 and 1990, the highest gains in median household income were in the eastern half of the South, especially in major cities, and along the Carolinas and Florida coast. Decreases occurred in the Mississippi River Basin, the Southern Appalachians, Texas, Oklahoma, and the coast of Louisiana (fig. 7.21).