So you're thinking about relocating to Alabama, but you're not exactly sure you've completely mulled-over all the super-important details before getting to your decision. Well, possibly southern-bound buddy, you have actually concerned the best location - 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 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. Get this - 55% of the individuals overall in the U.S. who moved in the year 2017 moved to Alabama, according to the 2017 National Movers Study.
Well, for beginners, the state has numerous fast-growing task fields, including 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 include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law dental professional, judge and orthodontist, states bizjournals.com.
The existing joblessness rate is simply 3.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Data, so chances are pretty 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.
Don't forget that Alabama is house to NASA, the U.S. Area & Rocket Center and the Marshall Area Flight Center. If you have actually got a love for all-things aerial, this might effectively be the new home 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 probability of discovering a brand-new location you'll love (and be able to manage) in the Yellowhammer State?
Well, zillow.com mentions that the mean worth of houses presently on the marketplace is $128,900, with a typical listing cost of $190,000. The mean house lease is $995/month, with one-bedroom apartment or condos balancing $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly fairly new, too - zillow.com shows that many houses currently available were built in the decade 2000-2010. Not only are odds 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 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 tiny bit in the northern end of the state, in and around Huntsville.
If more affordable housing, particularly 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 may be curious about the individuals there. Will they become your buddies, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and stare out of a slit in your blinds in overall fear?
According to residents, locals can be a real variety. The consensus is that Alabamians love to chatter, are passive-aggressive, and may just deceive you with their questionable insults. The phrase "bless your heart" is not meant warmly, however rather sardonically - and if you hear it, odds are good that as soon as you have actually left, you'll be discussed.
Don't let that deter you, however. Residents stress that the main ambiance of their state is one of real southern hospitality - they utilize "sir" and "ma'am" out of respect, and will offer you a warm welcome and great deals 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 relocation to Alabama. Don't be the loser who sticks out like an aching thumb simply because you're partial to your consonants.
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a popular event took place on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks bravely refused 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 individuals of the Cotton State are crazy about BARBEQUE - and we do mean 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 begins the radio, and they'll crank it as much as 11. Even Alabamians who secretly hate the tune will begin to boogie when they hear that well-known opening riff. The tune has made such an impression on the culture that it's even printed on license plates.
Alabamians pride themselves on their abundant 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 abundant, 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 halfway out the door, baggage in hand, all set to make your transfer to the Heart of Dixie, however cool your jets for a minute. Before you go racing off like you're a chauffeur at Talladega Superspeedway, take a look at this list we've assembled of some of the state's primary attractions.
Here simply a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Located in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historical Shuttle bus Park and Rocket Park and showcases unique artifacts from the nation's area exploration. It's considered to be the world's biggest space 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 go through training in flight simulators.
Vulcan statue: In Birmingham, the world's tallest cast iron statue stands a remarkable 56 feet high. Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and forge, represents the state's roots in the iron and steel market - and he's sort of a big deal. His 100th birthday was a substantial celebration that drew a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
Cathedral Caverns State Park: Found in Woodville, this park uses cave tours, camping areas, backpacking and hiking. It has the widest entrance of any industrial 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 check here 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 an elevated boardwalk including a too-close-for-comfort view of numerous alligators and various kinds of wildlife. If you're into staring one of mankind's most significant natural predators almost 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 highest Vulcan, we believed it may be worth considering a short-and-sweet list of a few advantages and disadvantages of transferring to Alabama.
Low expense of living: It's clear that property 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 picked this as their brand-new house.
Nature + all four seasons: The surface of Alabama is widely-varied, including mountains, forests and beaches. Due to the fact that of this, there are a lot of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types. 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 area, 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 have actually currently pointed out, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. The town of Birmingham alone has a tremendous 28 various food festivals every year.
Proximity to major cities: Nashville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Memphis are just day-trips away from the Heart of Dixie. This prime area provides itself to numerous opportunities to see all kinds of festivals, performances, museums, state parks, going shopping tourist attractions and more. Did you truly think you 'd be bored here?
Humidity: Make that winter humidity. While the humidity in the summer is undoubtedly bad, it's the winter season 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. If you're not into feeling the extremes in every season, it may not be long prior to you're unpleasant here.
Drug use: The more rural areas of the state have genuine issues with poverty, homelessness and block after block of abandoned homes. With this naturally comes bothersome drug usage, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine labs are a real battle to break down on (no pun meant).
Severe storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as an advantage, it also suggests that there's chance for all type of stormy weather condition - and this state sees a few of the most severe. For beginners, it is among the most active tornado states. The spring and fall seasons bring heavy thunderstorms, and mid-year brings cyclones. At any time of year, citizens are subject to periods of apparently random rainstorms, that can stop as quickly as they begin. Residents joke, "If you don't like the weather condition here, wait 5 minutes."
Strange Laws
We 'd be doing you a significant injustice if we left without giving you a list of a few of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still around in the state you're considering making your next homeland. We have actually put together a couple of that'll have you raising an eyebrow in no time.
Here are simply a few from onlyinyourstate.com:
Putting salt onto a railway track is punishable by death. They wish to keep their railroads without cattle, and they're actually major about it.
It's illegal to impersonate a priest. Genuine. Stop practicing your impression in the mirror, and put your comical efforts towards new product - you'll thank us later.
Because it might cause laughter, it's prohibited to wear a phony moustache in church. (See? We told you they were super-serious about their church.) Religion 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. Obviously, we can't state and lie that we're able to provide you definitely all the essential information that could affect your decision (we 'd be here for days), however it's our hope that we have actually provided you an excellent launching pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it's up to you to decide (after possibly doing some further research study) if you can envision yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the not-at-all and excellent challenging rocket scientists, the quick racecar drivers, the soul-filled foodies, and the always-hungry alligators. It's been a genuine 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 "Sweet House Alabama."