So you're believing of moving to Alabama, however you're uncertain you have actually thoroughly mulled-over all the super-important information before getting here at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound friend, you have actually come to the right location - we have actually put together a handy, yummy guide that will outline a few of the most crucial points for someone in your position to evaluate.
We do not blame you for wishing to transfer to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is house to rocket researchers - Huntsville houses both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center at the Redstone Arsenal. The U.S. Army's lead rocket engineer, Wernher von Braun, led NASA's rocketry program throughout the '60s.
What else does the Yellowhammer State need to offer, besides big advances in the area program and unbelievably clever people? Plenty - from stunning landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so quickly your camera begins steaming, to savory soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Keep reading to find why you might just make Alabama your next relocation.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census information, about 4.875 million individuals currently live in the Cotton State. About 11,447 of those people moved here between 2016 and 2017. Get this - 55% of the people overall in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study. Why are so many people are gathering here?
Well, for starters, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer system science, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and Emergency Medical Technician, among others, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers consist of pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law orthodontist, judge and dentist, mentions bizjournals.com.
The present joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so chances are pretty good for finding work upon your move. The federal minimum wage is the exact same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, mentions minimum-wage.
Do not forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight. If you've got a love for all-things aeronautical, this could extremely well be the brand-new house of your dreams.
Housing
You're probably going to want a place to live after you move (we're just guessing), so what's the likelihood of finding a new place you'll enjoy (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the mean worth of houses presently on the marketplace is $128,900, with a typical listing rate of $190,000. The typical house lease is $995/month, with one-bedroom homes balancing $824/month in Birmingham.
Residences in Alabama are primarily relatively brand-new, too - zillow.com reveals that the majority of homes presently readily available were constructed in the years 2000-2010. Not only are odds excellent for you to find an affordable place to live, however you'll likewise be looking at newish properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the method of brand-new building popping up these days, according to zillow.com. A little is happening in main Alabama, around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a small bit in the northern end of the state, in and around Huntsville.
If cheaper real estate, specifically around the state's hot-spots, attract you, you may just want to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When transferring to a new place, you may be curious about individuals there. Will they become your finest buddies, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and stare out of a slit in your blinds in total fear?
According to residents, citizens can be a real variety. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might simply trick you with their underhanded insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not suggested warmly, however rather sarcastically - and if you hear it, odds are excellent that as soon as you have actually left, you'll be talked about.
Don't let that deter you, however. Residents stress that the main ambiance of their state is one of true southern hospitality - they utilize "sir" and "ma'am" out of regard, and will give you a warm welcome and great deals of food. They may refer to you as a Yankee if you're from the North, however this they really do out of (mocking) love.
You'll find yourself changing your vocabulary and pronunciations after a move to Alabama. Do not be the loser who sticks out like an aching thumb just due to the fact that you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a well-known event happened on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks bravely declined to quit her seat on the bus to a white male. Today, to honor this local female's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, drawing in great deals of locals and travelers alike.
The people of the Cotton State are insane about BBQ - and we do indicate CRAZY. They'll fight to the death (possibly not actually) over which restaurant or regional cookout serves up the finest.
Locals will CONSTANTLY rock out to "Sweet House Alabama" if it comes on the radio, and they'll crank it approximately 11. Even Alabamians who secretly dislike the tune will start to boogie when they hear that well-known opening riff. The tune has made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their abundant food and cultural pride. They have rare, allegedly lobster-tasting shrimp called "Royal Reds" from the Gulf of Mexico, fried green tomatoes, super-sweet tea (heavy on the sweet, light on the tea) and MoonPies - and they smother everything in TABASCOĂ’ sauce.
It appears fitting, with here a diet that heavy and abundant, that locals like to observe a slower speed of life. These self-proclaimed "salt of the earth" types will make you forget your health-enthusiast methods and have you reaching for seconds. Bring additional napkins.
Must-See Alabama Fun + Activities
We understand you're already midway out the door, travel luggage in hand, ready to make your transfer to the Heart of Dixie, however cool your jets for a moment. Before you go racing off like you're a motorist at Talladega Superspeedway, take a look at this list we have actually compiled of some of the state's primary attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss activities and sights:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum consists of access to the historic Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases special artifacts from the country's space expedition. It's thought about to be the world's largest space museum, and lays out the history of the U.S. space program. It's also house to the annual, highly prepared for Space Camp program including the Air travel Challenge, in which trainees go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands an outstanding 56 feet high. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and create, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel industry - and he's type of a huge deal. His 100th birthday was a big event that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 individuals.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Located in Woodville, this park provides cavern trips, campgrounds, treking and backpacking. It has the best entrance of any industrial collapse the world, and includes a sparkly Gems Mine with a gem mining experience available to all ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it lies in Lincoln and includes an extremely anticipated annual NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race opts for 188 laps, covering simply over 500 miles. Now that's a great deal of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Located in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has an elevated boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds of wildlife. If you're into staring one of humanity's most significant natural predators almost right website in the face, this is the location for you.
Pros and Cons of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you ideal your BARBEQUE dish and run to see the alligators and the world's tallest Vulcan, we thought it might be worth considering a short-and-sweet list of a couple of benefits and drawbacks of moving to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's clear that genuine estate in the Cotton State is quite low-cost, and taxes are quite low. We believe that's just one of the big reasons why 55% of relocators across the country in 2017 selected this as their brand-new house.
Nature + all 4 seasons: The surface of Alabama is widely-varied, consisting of mountains, beaches and forests. There are plenty of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types due to the fact that of this. Residents also like to point out that they experience all four seasons and see weather from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, get more info humid summers and springtime torrential downpours.
Music: Because of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws lots of big music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's largest annual music event. Big names in all genres - ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to country - emerge here.
Food: As we've already pointed out, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a tremendous 28 various food celebrations every year.
Distance to major cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location lends itself to many chances to see all sort of celebrations, shows, museums, state parks, shopping attractions and more. Did you really think you 'd be bored here?
Humidity: Make that winter season humidity. While the humidity in the summer season is undoubtedly bad, it's the winter season that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the additional moisture causes cold temperatures to feel definitely freezing. Residents say that it's not uncommon for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees. If you're not into feeling the extremes in every season, it may not be long before you're unpleasant here.
Drug usage: The more rural locations of the state have genuine problems with poverty, homelessness and block after block of deserted homes. With this naturally comes troublesome substance abuse, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine laboratories are a genuine battle to punish (no pun meant).
Severe storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as a good idea, it also implies that there's opportunity for all sort of rainy weather - and this state sees some of the most extreme. For starters, it's one of the most active twister states. The spring and fall seasons bring heavy thunderstorms, and mid-year brings typhoons. At any time of year, locals are subject to durations of relatively random downpours, that can stop as quickly as they begin. Locals joke, "If you don't like the weather condition here, wait 5 minutes."
Odd Laws
We 'd be doing you a major injustice if we left without providing you a list of some of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still out there in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We've assembled a few that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are simply a couple of from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railroad track is punishable by death. They wish to keep their railways devoid of livestock, and they're truly serious about it.
It's unlawful to impersonate a priest. Genuine. So stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards brand-new material - you'll thank us later on.
It's unlawful to use a fake moustache in church because it might cause laughter. (See? We told you they were super-serious about their church.) Religious beliefs is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's illegal to use a mask in public. Man, so what are we expected to do on Halloween?
It's illegal to play dominoes on Sunday. It interrupts the day of rest. Duh. You understand how heated those dominoes matches can get!
Prepared for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well good friends, there you have it - a carefully created guide to some of the primary consideration points for irreversible relocation. Naturally, we can't lie and say that we're able to offer you absolutely all the crucial details that might influence your choice (we 'd be here for days), but it's our hope that we've offered you a great introducing pad to fire up your decision rocket from.
Now it depends on you to decide (after possibly doing some more research) if you can picture yourself in the Yellowhammer State, among the excellent and not-at-all challenging rocket scientists, the fast racecar motorists, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a real satisfaction compiling this guide for you, and we hope you've had your fill of Alabama goodies.
All the best - and don't forget to remember "Sugary food Home Alabama."