So you're considering relocating to Alabama, but you're not sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important details prior to arriving at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you've pertained to the right location - we've put together a handy, delicious guide that will outline some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to examine.
We don't blame you for wishing to transfer to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is home to rocket researchers - Huntsville homes both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center at the Redstone Toolbox. 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 have to use, besides huge advances in the area program and ridiculously wise individuals? Plenty - from gorgeous landscapes that'll have you clicking your shutter so quick your electronic camera starts steaming, to tasty soul food, to seriously action-packed sporting events. Continue reading to find why you may just make Alabama your next move.
Task Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million individuals presently reside in the Cotton State. About 11,447 of those individuals moved here in between 2016 and 2017. Get this - 55% of the individuals in general in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Study. So why are so numerous individuals are gathering here?
Well, for beginners, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer technology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and EMT, among others, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law dental practitioner, orthodontist and judge, mentions bizjournals.com.
The current unemployment rate is just 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Stats, so chances are quite 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 house to NASA, the U.S. Area & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center. If you've got a love for all-things aeronautical, this could effectively be the brand-new house of your dreams.
Housing
You're probably going to desire a location to live after you move (we're simply thinking), so what's the possibility of discovering a brand-new location you'll love (and be able to afford) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com states that the average value of homes currently on the market is $128,900, with an average listing cost of $190,000. The mean home rent is $995/month, with one-bedroom apartment or condos balancing $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly relatively brand-new, too - zillow.com reveals that a lot of houses currently available were integrated in the decade 2000-2010. Not just are chances excellent for you to discover a budget-friendly location to live, however you'll likewise be looking at newish residential or commercial properties, too.
That being stated, there's not much in the way of brand-new building and construction turning up nowadays, according to zillow.com. A little is occurring in central Alabama, in and around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a tiny bit in the northern end of the state, around Huntsville.
If less expensive housing, especially around the state's hot-spots, appeals to you, you might simply wish to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Natives
When moving to a brand-new location, you might be curious about the individuals there. Will they become your friends, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and gaze out of a slit in your blinds in total paranoia?
According to residents, citizens can be a real mixed bag. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might simply trick you with their questionable insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not indicated warmly, but rather sarcastically - and if you hear it, chances are excellent that when you've left, you'll be talked about.
Do not let that discourage you. Locals stress that the primary 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 describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they actually do out of (buffooning) love.
You'll find yourself adjusting your vocabulary and pronunciations after a transfer to Alabama. The town of Burmingham, to Alabamians, has a quiet 'g', and is pronounced "Burmin'- ham". Due to the fact that you're partial to your consonants, do not be the loser who sticks out like a sore thumb simply. In addition, Alabamians have their own catch-phrase when they're all set to take action: "Fixin' to."
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a famous occasion took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks fearlessly refused to offer up her seat on the bus to a white guy. Today, to honor this local lady's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, attracting great deals of tourists and residents alike.
The people of the Cotton State love BBQ - and we do mean CRAZY. They'll battle to the death (maybe not actually) over which restaurant or regional cookout provides the very best. These are not conversations to be participated in gently. Be prepared to explain, and safeguard, your stance.
Locals will ALWAYS rock out to "Sugary Food Home Alabama" if it begins the radio, and they'll crank it up to 11. When they hear that well-known opening riff, even Alabamians who privately dislike the tune will begin to boogie. The song has actually made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their rich 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 seems fitting, with a diet plan 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 ways and have you grabbing 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 a few of the state's primary attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss sights and activities:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum consists of access to the historic Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases distinct artifacts from the nation's area exploration. It's thought about to be the world's biggest space museum, and lays out the history of the U.S. area program. It's also house to the yearly, highly prepared for Space Camp program featuring the Air travel Challenge, in which students go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's highest 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 people.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Located in Woodville, this park provides cavern tours, campgrounds, treking and backpacking. It has the widest entrance of any industrial collapse the world, and includes a sparkly Gems Mine with a gem mining experience available to any ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "greatest and baddest" track, it lies in Lincoln and includes an extremely anticipated yearly NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race chooses 188 laps, covering just over 500 miles. Now that's more info a lot of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Found in Summerdale, this overload sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of hundreds of alligators and different type of wildlife. If you enjoy looking one of mankind's most significant natural predators virtually right 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 pros and cons 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 suspect that's just one of the big reasons why 55% of relocators across the country in 2017 picked this as their brand-new house.
Nature + all four seasons: The surface of Alabama is widely-varied, including forests, beaches and mountains. Due to the fact that of this, there are a lot of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types. Locals also like to explain that they experience all four seasons and see weather from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, humid summertimes and springtime torrential rainstorms.
Music: Since of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws great deals of huge music acts each year. The Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores is the state's biggest yearly music occasion. Big names in all genres - ranging from jazz to rock 'n' roll to country - emerge here.
Food: As we've already mentioned, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a whopping 28 different food festivals every year.
Proximity to significant cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are simply day-trips far from the Heart of Dixie. This prime area provides itself to numerous opportunities to see all kinds of celebrations, performances, museums, state parks, going shopping destinations and more. Did you truly believe you 'd be bored here?
Humidity: Make that winter humidity. While the humidity in the summertime is undeniably bad, it's the winter that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the extra wetness triggers cold temperature levels to feel absolutely frigid. read more Locals say that it's not unusual 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 might not be long prior to you're unpleasant here.
Drug usage: The more rural locations of the state have real problems with hardship, homelessness and block after block of deserted houses. With this naturally comes problematic drug use, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine laboratories are a genuine struggle to crack down on (no pun planned).
Extreme storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as a good thing, it likewise indicates that there's opportunity for all kinds of rainy weather condition - and this state sees some of the most severe. For beginners, it's one of the most active twister states.
Strange 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 have actually put together 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 railroads without livestock, and they're truly serious about it.
It's prohibited to impersonate a priest. Genuine. Stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comedic efforts towards brand-new product - you'll thank us later.
Due to the fact that it might cause laughter, it's unlawful to wear a phony moustache in church. (See? We told you they were super-serious about their church.) Faith is no laughing matter to Alabamians.
It's unlawful to wear a mask in public. Guy, so what are we supposed to do on Halloween?
It's unlawful to play dominoes on Sunday. It disturbs the day of rest.
Gotten ready for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well friends, there you have it - a thoroughly designed guide to a few of the main consideration points for irreversible relocation. Naturally, we can't state and lie 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 have actually 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 not-at-all and impressive 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 have actually had your fill of Alabama goodies.
Best of luck - and don't forget to remember "Sugary food Home Alabama."