You're thinking of moving to Alabama, however you're not sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important information before getting here at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you've pertained to the right location - we've put together a convenient, delicious guide that will lay out some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to evaluate.
We do not blame you for wishing to move to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is house to rocket scientists - Huntsville houses both the U.S. Area & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space 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 ridiculously clever people? 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 discover why you might simply make Alabama your next move.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census information, about 4.875 million people currently live in the Cotton State. About 11,447 of those people moved here between 2016 and 2017. Likewise, 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. Why are so many individuals are flocking 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 EMT, to call a couple of, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers consist of pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law judge, orthodontist and dental professional, specifies bizjournals.com.
The present joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so odds are pretty good for finding work upon your move. The federal minimum wage is the exact same as the national average, however, at $7.25/ hour, specifies minimum-wage.
Don't forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Area & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center. This could very well be the new home of your dreams if you've got a love for all-things aeronautical.
Housing
You're probably going to desire a location to live after you move (we're just thinking), so what's the probability of discovering a brand-new location you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com states that the median value of homes currently on the market is $128,900, with an average listing price of $190,000. The median home lease is $995/month, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Residences in Alabama are primarily relatively brand-new, too - zillow.com reveals that a lot of houses currently offered were developed in the decade 2000-2010. So not only are odds helpful for you to find an economical place to live, however you'll likewise be taking a look 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 taking place 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 more affordable real estate, particularly around the state's hot-spots, appeals to you, you may simply wish to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When moving to a new location, you might be curious about the people 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, locals can be a real mixed bag. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might just fool you with their underhanded insults. The expression "bless your heart" is not indicated warmly, but rather sarcastically - and if you hear it, odds are excellent that when you've left, you'll be talked about.
Do not let that deter you. Locals stress that the primary ambiance of their state is one of real southern hospitality - they use "sir" and "ma'am" out of respect, and will provide you a warm welcome and lots of food. They might describe you as a Yankee if you're from the North, but this they in fact 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". Don't lose who stands out like a sore thumb simply since you're partial to your consonants. 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 quit 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 lots of travelers and locals alike.
The individuals of the Cotton State are insane about BARBEQUE - and we do suggest CRAZY. They'll combat to the death (maybe not literally) over which dining establishment or local 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 up to 11. When they hear that well-known opening riff, even Alabamians who privately hate 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 uncommon, supposedly 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 a diet that abundant and heavy, that locals like to observe a slower rate 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 relocate 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, check click here out this list we have actually assembled of some of the state's primary destinations.
Here just a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Space & Rocket Center: Found in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historic Shuttle Park and Rocket Park and showcases special artifacts from the country's space expedition. It's considered to be the world's biggest space museum, and details the history of the U.S. area program. It's also home to the yearly, highly expected Area Camp program including the Aviation Difficulty, in which trainees go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands an excellent 56 feet high. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, 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: Found in Woodville, this park offers cave trips, camping sites, hiking and backpacking. It has the largest entryway of any business cavern in the world, and features a sparkly Gemstone Mine with a gem mining experience available to all ages.
Talladega Superspeedway: AKA NASCAR's "most significant and baddest" track, it's situated 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 swamp sanctuary has a raised boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds of wildlife. This is the location for you if you're into gazing one of humanity's most significant natural predators almost right in the face.
Benefits and drawbacks of Living in the Heart of Dixie
Before you ideal your BARBEQUE dish and run to see the alligators and the world's highest Vulcan, we believed it may be worth taking into consideration a short-and-sweet list of a few advantages and disadvantages of transferring to Alabama.
Low expense of living: It's obvious that realty in the Cotton State is quite cheap, and taxes are pretty low. We think that's just among the huge reasons that 55% of relocators across the country in 2017 picked this as their new home.
Nature + all four seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, including forests, beaches and mountains. There are plenty of activities for all various breeds of outdoorsy types because of this. Locals 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, 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 nation - make looks here.
Food: As we have actually currently pointed out, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a tremendous 28 various food celebrations every year. Among them are the Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off, Taste of Homewood, BARBEQUE for Structure, Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off and BHamBurger Fight. Seriously, don't eat anything for a while before you arrive here - you'll be stuffing your face in no time.
Proximity to major cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime location provides itself to numerous opportunities to see all kinds of celebrations, performances, museums, state parks, going shopping tourist attractions and more. Did you truly think you 'd be bored here?
While the humidity in the summertime is undeniably bad, it's the winter that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the additional wetness causes cold temperatures to feel absolutely freezing. Residents say that it's not uncommon for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees.
Substance abuse: The more backwoods of the state have real problems with poverty, homelessness and block after block of deserted homes. With this naturally comes troublesome drug use, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine laboratories are a genuine struggle to crack down on (no pun planned).
Serious storms: While experiencing all four seasons can be argued as an excellent thing, it likewise 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 rapidly as they begin. Locals joke, "If you do not like the weather condition here, wait five minutes."
Unusual Laws
We 'd be doing you a significant disservice if we left without offering you a list of a few of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still around in the state you're thinking about making your next homeland. We've assembled a couple of that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are just a couple of from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railway track is punishable by death. They want to keep their railways without livestock, and they're truly serious about it.
It's prohibited to impersonate a priest. For real. So stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comedic efforts towards brand-new material - you'll thank us later on.
It's unlawful to use a fake moustache in church due to the fact that it could trigger 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.
Prepared for Landing in the Heart of Dixie
Well good friends, there you have it - a carefully created guide to some of the primary contemplation points for irreversible relocation. Naturally, we can't state and lie that we're able to provide you absolutely all the essential information that could affect your decision (we 'd be here for days), however it's our hope that we've provided you a great launching pad to fire up your decision rocket from.
Now it depends on you to decide (after possibly doing some further research) if you can picture yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the outstanding and not-at-all intimidating rocket researchers, the speedy racecar chauffeurs, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a genuine pleasure assembling this guide for you, and we hope you have actually had your fill of Alabama goodies.
Best of luck - and do not forget to memorize "Sweet House Alabama."