Living in the South

If you are reading this post now, you currently reside within what is considered the Southern United States, or more specifically, Georgia. According to the US Census Bureau, the South is the fastest growing geographic area. There are many speculations as to why this is, and probably many reasons why this is so. What is it about the South that is appealing to more and more Americans? Further, what isn't fitting about other regions that would make people relocate here?

10 U.S. Metro Areas With Highest Numerical Growth: April 1, 2000-July 1, 2006

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.	890,211
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas	842,449
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas	824,547
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.	787,306
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.	771,314
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.	584,510
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa.	495,154
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va.	494,220
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, Fla.	455,869
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.	407,133

(take a look at the figures above and note that half of the fastest growing metropolitan regions are considered to be Southern.)

Why do you live here? Think about it for a moment. Where you live defines who you are as an individual; it shapes and creates your personality and affects your view of the world. Why do you live here? Whether it be "because my family has always lived here" or "I'm just here for the education," you live here for some reason. Further define why you live here and how it has affected you as a person, or if you feel it has even affected you very much at all. How long would you have to have lived in one place to describe yourself a "Southerner" or a "texan" or a "Northerner?"