You're thinking of moving to Alabama, but you're not sure you have actually thoroughly 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 handy, delicious guide that will outline a few of the most essential points for someone in your position to evaluate.
We do not blame you for wishing to transfer to the Heart of Dixie (as it's called) considering that the state is home to rocket scientists - Huntsville houses both the U.S. Space & 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 occasions. Continue reading to discover why you might just make Alabama your next relocation.
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, consisting of computer technology, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, aircraft assembly and EMT, to call a couple of, according to zippia.com. The highest-paid professions include pediatrician, nurse anesthetist, administrative law judge, dental expert 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 quite good for finding work upon your move. The federal minimum wage is the same as the national average, however, at $7.25/ hour, states minimum-wage.
Don't forget that Alabama is home to NASA, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Marshall Space Flight. This might really well be the brand-new house of your dreams if you have actually got a love for all-things aerial.
Real estate
You're most likely going to desire a location to live after you move (we're simply thinking), so what's the possibility 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 home rent is $995/month, with one-bedroom houses averaging $824/month in Birmingham.
Houses in Alabama are mainly fairly new, too - zillow.com shows that most houses currently readily available were integrated in the years 2000-2010. So not just are chances great for you to discover a cost effective place to live, but 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 nowadays, according to zillow.com. A little is occurring in central Alabama, in and around Birmingham; a little in the southwest corner, near Mobile; and a little bit in the northern end of the state, around Huntsville.
If less expensive real estate, specifically around the state's hot-spots, attract you, you may just desire to set your sights on the Heart of Dixie.
Culture and Locals
When transferring to a new location, you might be curious about individuals there. Will they become your finest pals, or will they be the type to make you chain your doors and gaze out of a slit in your blinds in total 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 deceptive insults. The phrase "bless your heart" is not meant warmly, however rather sardonically - and if you hear it, odds are excellent that as soon as you've left, you'll be talked about.
Do not let that discourage you. Locals worry that the primary vibe 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 refer to you as a Yankee if you're from the North, however this they really do out of (mocking) love.
You'll discover 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 sticks out like an aching thumb simply because you're partial to your consonants. In addition, Alabamians have their own catch-phrase when they're ready to do something about it: "Fixin' to."
Yellowhammer State Trivia
Montgomery, Alabama was the where a well-known event happened on December 1, 1955 - the day when Rosa Parks fearlessly refused to give up 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 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 comes on the radio, and they'll crank it as much as 11. When they hear that popular opening riff, even Alabamians who covertly dislike the tune will start to boogie. The tune has 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 rich 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 extra 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 out this list we have actually assembled of some of the state's primary attractions.
Here just a few of the state's can't- miss out on sights and activities:
U.S. Area & Rocket Center: Found in Huntsville, this museum includes access to the historic Shuttle bus Park and Rocket Park and showcases special artifacts from the country's space expedition. It's thought about to be the world's largest area museum, and lays out the history of the U.S. space program. It's also house to the annual, highly prepared for Area Camp program featuring the Air travel Obstacle, in which students 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 sort of a big offer. 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, hiking and backpacking. It has the widest entrance of any industrial cavern in the world, and includes 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 website Lincoln and includes an extremely prepared for yearly NASCAR race, the Alabama 500. The race chooses 188 laps, covering just over 500 miles. Now that's a lot of high-speed left turns.
Alligator Alley: Found in Summerdale, this overload 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 greatest 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 thought it might be worth thinking about a short-and-sweet list of a few benefits and drawbacks of relocating to Alabama.
Low cost of living: It's no secret that realty in the Cotton State is pretty inexpensive, and taxes are quite low. We presume that's simply among the huge reasons 55% of relocators nationwide in 2017 chose this as their new home.
Nature + all four seasons: The terrain of Alabama is widely-varied, including forests, mountains and beaches. There are plenty of activities for all various types of outdoorsy types due to the fact that of this. Residents likewise like to explain that they experience all 4 seasons and see weather condition from all over the spectrum - from snow and ice storms to hot, damp summertimes and spring torrential rainstorms.
Music: Since of its place, the Yellowhammer State draws great deals of huge 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 country - make appearances here.
Food: As we've already mentioned, Alabamians are die-hard foodies. In fact, the town of Birmingham alone has a whopping 28 different food festivals every year. Amongst them are the Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off, Taste of Homewood, BBQ for Building, Girls Inc. Cajun Cook-Off and BHamBurger Battle. Seriously, don't consume anything for a while prior to you show up here - you'll be stuffing your face in no time.
Distance 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 festivals, performances, museums, state parks, going shopping destinations 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 that separates die-hard Alabamians from wannabees - the extra moisture causes cold temperature levels to feel definitely frigid. Locals say that it's not unusual for a 45-degree day on the thermometer to feel closer to 10 degrees.
Substance abuse: The more backwoods of the state have real issues with hardship, homelessness and block after block of abandoned houses. With this naturally comes bothersome substance abuse, and in Alabama's case, methamphetamine labs are a real battle to punish (no pun meant).
Severe storms: While experiencing all 4 seasons can be argued as a good idea, it also means that there's chance for all type of stormy weather condition - and this state sees a few of the most severe. For beginners, it's one of the most active twister states. The spring and fall seasons bring heavy thunderstorms, and mid-year brings cyclones. 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 some of the strangest, lamest and downright dumbest laws still out there in the state you're thinking about making your next homeland. We've compiled 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 devoid of 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 unlawful to use a mask in public. Guy, 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 understand 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 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), but it's our hope that we've offered you a good introducing pad to fire up your choice rocket from.
Now it's up to you to choose (after potentially doing some additional research study) if you can visualize yourself in the Yellowhammer State, amongst the impressive and not-at-all intimidating rocket scientists, the rapid 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.
Good luck - and don't forget to remember "Sweet Home Alabama."