Amenities as a Factor in Regional Growth

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. American Geographical Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Geographical Review. FOR the first time in the world's history pleasant living conditionsamenities-instead of more narrowly defined economic advantages are becoming the sparks that generate significant population increase, particularly in the United States. In spite of the handicaps of remote location and economic isolation, the fastest-growing states are California, Arizona, and Florida. The new "frontier" of America is thus a frontier of comfort, in contrast with the traditional frontier of hardship. Treating this pull of amenities puts me, I realize, in the company of promoters and the traditionally uninformed, but if I make myself one with them, it is for new and valid reasons. MOTIVATION OF MIGRATIONModem writers on migration apparently agree that, except for forced shifts, economic opportunity is its motivating force. In I934 the distinguished climatologist C. Warren Thornthwaite, commenting on California's phenomenal growth from I920 to I930, concluded, "Since the movement is abnormal in most respects, it is inconceivable that it will continue."' In I938, Rupert Vance, distinguished sociologist, said: "On the basis of the exploitation of undeveloped resources of soil, minerals, forestry or water power, there can be expected no revival of the great westward migrations of the past."2 In I94I, Margaret L. Bright and Dorothy S. Thomas3 noted Social Sci. Research Council Bull. 42, I938, pp. 85-iio; reference on p. 92. Vance states further: "The one other chance for continued westward movement is industrialization; and there the Pacific Coast may reasonably expect to supply more of its own needs but not to dismantle the counitry's prevailing industrial distribution. Nor is it held likely that the California movement will continue at its former rate" (p. 92). 3 M. L. Bright and D. S. Thomas: Interstate Migration and Intervening Opportunities, Amer. Sociol. Rev., Vol. 6, I94I, pp. 773-783; reference on p. 778. ;P DR. ULLMAN is professor of geography at the University of Washington, Seattle.This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Thu, 8 May 2014 22:39:38 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions I20 THE GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWthat California migration before I930 far exceeded expectations based on laws of migration such as Stouffer's "intervening opportunity" and concluded: "We are of the opinion that an important part of the migration to California has been of a hedonistic rather than a primarily economic character and has been motivated more by climate and legend than by superior job opportunities."As everyone knows, the influx into California was greatest between I940 a...

Amenity Migration in Postsocialist Metropolis: The Case of Rīga Agglomeration

“…The author identifies not just environmental, but also cultural amenities (Moss, 2006). In the first amenity migration studies, climate was considered to be the most significant regional amenity, but other amenities were also acknowledged-mountains, beaches, hunting and fishing opportunities, availability of other sports, and the beautiful environment of small towns (Ullman, 1954).…”

Hvorfor vokser steder?

“…I artikkelen «Amenities as a Factor in Regional Growth» (Ullman 1954) hevdes det at et godt klima har en signifikant betydning for flyttestrømmer i USA. Videre finnes det forskning som viser at gjennomsnittsinntekten har betydning, og at lokalisering av høgskole eller universitet er positivt («Flyttning och pendling i Sverige» (SOU 2007:35)).…”

“Find Your Nature” in the Swiss Alps In Search of a Better Life in the Mountains

“…Specific migration processes have been observed in connection with new forms of housing and ways of life of certain strata of urban populations. The notions of amenity migration (Ullman 1954;Moss 2006) and lifestyle migration (Benson -O'Reilly 2016;2009a;2009b;Benson 2013) have been developed in order to understand new forms of migration which are distinct from forced migration due to war or political troubles. Both have taken into consideration perceptions of environmental quality and the valorisation of rural areas in terms of lifestyle choice.…”