Following World War II, the U.S. population began to shift from older northern cities and toward the Sunbelt, a region consisting of about 15 states in the south and southwestern United States. Beginning in the 1950s, the region saw a boom in population as citizens were attracted to new economic opportunities tied to military bases and industrial, agricultural, and commercial development throughout the region. New technologies, such as air conditioning, made the warmer climate more bearable, and the passage of federal Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation made the social and political climate more welcoming as well. Although the pace of growth has slowed in recent years, the Sunbelt remains the fastest growing region of the United States today.
Briney, Amanda. “Do You Know the Location and What States Are in the Sunbelt Region?” ThoughtCo. Accessed April 19, 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/sun-belt-in-united-states-1435569.
Glaeser, Edward, and Kristina Tobio. “The Rise of the Sunbelt.” National Bureau of Economic Research. 2007. Accessed October 18, 2018, http://www.nber.org/papers/w13071.