Foreign immigration is a hot topic in American right now. However, individuals immigrating from state to state may actually have a more significant impact on the country’s culture, economy and politics. America experienced significant changes during periods of rapid migration, as seen during the country’s westward expansion, the movement of blacks from the South to northern cities, and the flight from the Midwest as the “heartland of American industry was transformed into America’s Rust Belt.”

With that in mind, the New York Times set out to chart how Americans have moved between states since 1900. What they found gives some fascinating insight into the demographic and cultural changes — or lack thereof — that each American state has experienced over the last century.

“Alabama is among a handful of states that have experienced very little in-migration, but are now getting a significant influx,” the Times noted. “Unlike the Southern states also attracting new residents – Georgia, Florida and North Carolina – most of the migrants come from elsewhere in the South.”

The breakdown of where Alabamians came from looked like this as of 1900:
Born in Alabama – 85%
Born in Georgia – 6%
Born in other Southern states – 6%
Born in other states in the Midwest – <1% Born in other states in the Northeast - <1% Born in other states in the West - <1% Born outside of the U.S. - <1% By 2012, the breakdown of where Alabamians came from had changed to look like this: Born in Alabama - 70% Born in Georgia - 4% Born in other states in the South - 12% Born in other states in the Midwest - 5% Born in other states in the Northeast - 3% Born in other states in the West - 2% Born outside of the U.S. - 4% (Click graphic to enlarge)

Although there is a smaller percentage of native Alabamians living in the state today than there was in 1900, it remains that the overwhelming majority of the Yellowhammer State’s residents were born here. That stands in stark contrast to a state like Florida, where only 36 percent of its residence were born in the state, or Nevada, where there are almost as many foreign-born residents as there are native Nevadans (21%/25%).

Check out the graphic below to see the difference between Alabama and a state like California, which as the Times pointed out “has long been the destination of American dreamers from other states.”

(Click graphic to enlarge)

“Migration can reveal the dynamism of a state’s economy or a cultural renaissance,” the Times wrote. What do you think Alabama’s migration pattern say about our state?

To view the full “Where We Came From” series, head of the the Times’ website.

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims