You're thinking of moving to Alabama, however you're not sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important details prior to showing up at your decision. Well, potentially southern-bound good friend, you've pertained to the right place - we have actually assembled an useful, yummy guide that will describe some of the most crucial points for someone in your position to examine.
We don't blame you for wishing to relocate 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 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 space 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. Check out on to find why you might simply make Alabama your next relocation.
Job Market
According to U.S. Census data, about 4.875 million people presently live in the Cotton State. Get this - 55% of the people in general in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Research Study.
Well, for starters, the state has several fast-growing job fields, consisting of computer technology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, airplane assembly and Emergency Medical Technician, to call a few, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid careers consist of pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law dental expert, judge and orthodontist, states bizjournals.com.
The current unemployment rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so odds are pretty great for discovering work upon your relocation. This number has actually also been on a nice, consistent decrease considering that 2010, when it was a much-higher 11.9%. The federal base pay is the exact same as the nationwide average, nevertheless, at $7.25/ hour, mentions minimum-wage. org.
Do not forget that Alabama is house to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight Center. This might 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 want a place to live after you move (we're just guessing), so what's the likelihood of finding a new place you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the typical 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 apartments averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Homes in Alabama are mostly fairly new, too - zillow.com shows that most houses currently available were built in the years 2000-2010. So not just are chances great for you to discover a budget friendly location to live, but you'll also be looking at newish properties, too.
That being said, there's not much in the method of brand-new building and construction turning up nowadays, according to zillow.com. A little is happening in central Alabama, in and around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a small bit in the northern end of the state, around Huntsville.
If less expensive housing, especially around the state's hot-spots, interest you, you might just 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 people there. Will they become your buddies, 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 variety. The agreement is that Alabamians like to gossip, are passive-aggressive, and might simply trick you with their underhanded insults. The phrase "bless your heart" is not suggested warmly, however rather sardonically - and if you hear it, chances are great that once you've left, you'll be spoken about.
Do not let that discourage you, though. Locals stress that the primary vibe 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, however this they actually do out of (buffooning) 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 took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks bravely declined to provide up her seat on the bus to a white man. Today, to honor this regional female's act of bravery, the Rosa Parks Library and Museum stands in the town of Montgomery, drawing in great deals of tourists and residents alike.
The people of the Cotton State are crazy about BARBEQUE - and we do mean CRAZY. They'll battle to the death (maybe not actually) over which restaurant or regional cookout serves up the very best. These are not discussions to be gotten in into lightly. Be prepared to describe, and defend, your position.
Locals will CONSTANTLY rock out to "Sweet House Alabama" if it comes on the radio, and they'll crank it as much as 11. Even Alabamians who secretly dislike the tune will start to boogie when they hear that popular opening riff. 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 whatever in TABASCOĂ’ sauce.
It appears fitting, with a diet that heavy and rich, that residents like to observe a slower pace 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 extra napkins.
Must-See Alabama Enjoyable + Activities
We know you're currently midway out the door, luggage in hand, prepared to make your transfer to the Heart of Dixie, but cool your jets for a moment. Prior to 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 activities and sights:
U.S. Space & 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 considered to be the world's biggest area museum, and describes 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 undergo training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands a remarkable 56 feet tall. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel market - and he's kind of a big offer. His 100th birthday was a huge celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 individuals.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Located in Woodville, this park offers cavern trips, campsites, treking and backpacking. It has the best entrance of any commercial 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 different kinds of wildlife. If you enjoy looking among mankind's biggest 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 off 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 more info that genuine estate in the Cotton State is quite cheap, and taxes are pretty low. We think that's just one of the huge factors why 55% of relocators across the country in 2017 chose this as their new home.
Nature + all four seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, including beaches, mountains and forests. There are plenty of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types due to the fact that of this. Residents likewise like to mention that they experience all 4 seasons and see weather condition from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, damp summer seasons and spring torrential rainstorms.
Music: Due to the fact that of its location, 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. Huge names in all categories - varying from jazz to rock 'n' roll to nation - emerge here.
Food: As we have actually currently pointed out, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. In reality, 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, BBQ for Building, Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off and BHamBurger Battle. Seriously, do not consume anything for a while prior to you show up here - you'll be stuffing your face in no time.
Distance to significant cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are simply day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime place lends itself to countless opportunities to see all sort 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 summer season is undoubtedly bad, it's the winter season that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the extra moisture causes cold temperature levels to feel definitely freezing. Locals state that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees.
Drug usage: The more rural areas of the state have real problems with hardship, homelessness and block after block of abandoned houses. With this naturally comes problematic drug usage, and in Alabama's case, read more methamphetamine laboratories are a real struggle to punish (no pun planned).
Serious storms: While experiencing all four seasons can be argued as an excellent thing, it also means that there's chance for all kinds of rainy weather - and this state sees some of the most extreme. For beginners, it's one of the most active tornado states.
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 out there in the state you're thinking about making your next homeland. We have actually compiled a couple of that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are just a few from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railway website track is punishable by death. They wish to keep their railroads devoid of cattle, and they're really major about it.
It's illegal to impersonate a priest. Genuine. 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 phony moustache in church because it might cause laughter. Faith 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 unlawful to play dominoes on Sunday. It interrupts the day of rest. Duh. You know 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 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 given you a great launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it depends on you to decide (after possibly doing some further research study) if you can envision yourself in the Yellowhammer State, among the not-at-all and excellent 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've had your fill of Alabama goodies.
All the best - and do not forget to memorize "Sugary food House Alabama."