A Metropolitan South

If U.S. Census Bureau projections are correct, reports the New York Times, the 300 millionth American will be born this October, quite possibly in the metropolitan South. Regardless of whether or not that person actually is born in the South, the likelihood of that event highlights just how much the South has changed.

Despite it vast geographic size, the South traditionally was not a population magnet. Poor economic and social conditions often led Southerners, especially African-Americans, to leave the region in search of opportunity. Similarly, immigrants frequently bypassed the South in favor of more prosperous areas.

Today, things are different. A significant influx of in-migrants from other parts of the country and immigrants from across the globe -- an influx driven in large part by rapid job growth -- is remaking the region and giving rise to vast metropolitan areas.

Metros have powered much of the region's growth. Between 1980 and 2000, according to the think tank MDC Inc. in Chapel Hill, the South's metropolitan population grew by 42 percent. Close to three-fourths of Southerners now live in metros. During the same period, the number of Southern metro areas with at least one million people jumped from 10 to 22.

These trends help explain the likelihood of a Southern metro being home to the 300 millionth American. Of course, the trends also highlight the need for careful planning and responsible public leadership dedicated to bettering the region's health and vitality so that it is a better place to live when the 300 millionth American comes of age.