Go South Young Man
Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009
by Joel Hendon
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In 1851, John B. L. Soule titled one of his editorials in the Terre Haute Express: "Go West Young Man, and grow up with the country". It became a classic quote and has been used many times since. Many people think Horace Greeley coined the phrase, but he was not the originator of it. He did use the first four words of it in his own editorial in the New York Tribune in 1865. And according to Mr. Soule's advice, many people did head westward. And they kept going because of gold, climate and opportunity. In fact, they continued until California became the most populous state in the union. Estimated population in 2008 was 36,756,666, about 1/3 larger than the next state of Texas.
(Photo at right is a shot of Alabama 21 during rush hour about 6 miles south of Piedmont AL) Now that the hustle and bustle factor has been discounted, let's look at some other reasons young men should come south. As well as retirees. And everyone in between. We all know that average income per household has historically been lower in the south than in the north. Sounds bad doesn't it? But it isn't nearly as it seems. Our cost off living is markedly lower also. Our ad valorem taxes are much lower. I can only speak for my area, but Alabama has a homestead law which allows those over 65 to own a home, and depending upon the value of the property and the income of the individual, you may not have to pay any property tax. I don't. The tax law reads that anyone over 65 years of age, or totally disabled regardless of age, will be exempt of all property taxes up to $5,000 dollars. If I were required to pay taxes on my property, it would be under $300. per year. I have doubts that you can find anything lower than this in the United States.
Industry has finally discovered the south and numerous manufacturers have, and still are locating here in Alabama alone. This includes 3 large auto manufacturers within the past 12 years. Mercedes-Benz in 1997, then Honda and most recently Hyundai, and following them were numerous suppliers of their parts and equipment. Allied Signal Aerospace located a sizable plant here about twenty years ago, which merged with and is now Honeywell. This is only a sampling in my general area.
(Photo at right from atop Piedmont's Highland cemetary hill, looking east at the U.S. 278 northside pypass with the Oakey mountain range in the background. The city is located beneath the trees on the right) Scenic beauty and recreational facilities abound. Wildlife is abundant. The northern part of Georgia and Alabama, most of the state of Tennessee and much of Arkansas are mountainous and beautiful. The majority of these are not so large as to be intimidating but only large enough to be majestic and beautiful, quite easily navigated. All of the states have numerous state parks in some of the most attractive areas. Small game (rabbits, squirrels, quail and more) permeate the area plus the deer and turkey populations are abundant. Lakes and rivers are near regardless of where you might locate with excellent fishing facilities. My home is located approximately 16 miles from Weiss Lake, a large backwater on the Coosa River from the Weiss hydroelectric dam. It has the reputation and claims to be the "Crappie Capital of the World". There are two other such backwaters within 55 miles.
Our climate, here in east central Alabama, is moderate both from a low and a high temperature standpoint. I've personally never known the temperature here to exceed 103 degrees. Nor have I known it to go below 0 degrees. I can recall only a few years that it reached those points. So far, this winter (as of January 8, it has only dipped below 20 degrees one night when it went to 15 degrees. Normally 20 is about the low after a cold front passes. I have known several years when the temperature never went lower than that.
Housing in our area is as it is everywhere right now, slow and low. Let's talk about sometime, say like last spring. I would guesstimate (and that is a good dictionary word) that 85% of the homes in our town of 5,000, would have sold for no more than $100,000. And if any in this town would have brought over $300,000, I don't know where they are. There are dozens sitting empty right now waiting to be sold but with the market like it is, they aren't moving and apparently the owners simply refuse to sell for half price or whatever they are being offered. If you are planning to retire in the next few years and are looking for a location, now is bargain time I imagine.
Southern hospitality is still alive and well, not as well as it has been many years ago, but still when your neighbors get to know you and if you have a problem, normally they are there to help. These small towns are peaceful and quiet as compared to urban areas. We have a 93 mile paved walking trail right through downtown, plus two 1 mile oval walking tracks and even an indoor 1/16 th mile track. Alabama highway 9 comes through our town and it was designated as an Alabama Scenic Drive a few years back. Consider and come on down.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Hi Joel, what a way to sell the South. Great job. When I moved away from California, I had major culture shock! I love it now accept for the cold. But I do have to admit, sometimes I miss the hussle and bussle of So. Ca and I definitely miss the warm nights! But you just reminded me of why we moved away :-)Thanks Teresa, for reading and commenting. Where did you move to have such cold nights? By the way, how'd you like that picture of hwy 21 (during rush hour)? Actually, I don't remember what time of day that was but there are times when it has at least some trafic on it.I live in Oregon. It gets down to 28 degrees often. We have at least one week of very cold which is anywhere from 10-15. The average in winter is about 33. Sometimes our high is 40. For a born and raised Southern California girl, this is cold! Although, I am acclamated some, I can go out in 50 degree weather in without a coat.I loved the picture--nice sales pitch :-) We have some roads around here that look like that during traffic hour.
Great article, Joel. I loved it--of course, you know I'm an Arkansan born and bred! I have made many business trips to California back in my working days and NICE PLACE TO VISIT; BUT WOULDN'T WANT TA LIVE THERE. Don't suppose that huge census their getting is because each actor has fifty or sixty aliases, do you? Most of the really good actors and actresses are from Arkansas anyway--did you know that?SandraHi Sandra, thanks for reading and commenting. No, I didn't know that. To tell the truth, I don't think I've ever heard of but 2 or 3 from Alabama and I don't believe they were well known. As to California, there are places there that I would love to visit, but I surely wouldn't want to live there either. Man, downtown Piedmont gets too woolly for me when school let's out. :o)Sandra, I just remembered, I think. I'm pretty sure Johnny Mack Brown was from Alabama. You remember him don't you? One of the nicer guy cowboys. Also, Tallulah Bankhead was from Alabama, though that is nothing to brag about.
Just don;t come to Florida and stay. A trip through ok but don;t take the bait, you will be sorry, that is unless oyu HAVE./ Good job Joel.Hi Robert, I know just what you are saying. I love Florida, but I don't have a good job or even good retirement, so I rarely ever even get to come down that way, much less live there. Why not come north, Robert. I guarantee you lower living costs. Can't say too much aboiut the earnings though.We are trying Joel but taking care of two sick moms, trying to help our kids has crushed us. I would walk away from it all in a falsh. The sad part is there are many like us. Grand[-arents raising families and trying to make do. Best Wishes.,I understand perfectly Robert, I'm in the same type dilemma. I once tried to get my wife to let's move to Costa Rica, but she wouldn't because of the children. God bless.
hi joel,sounds beautiful, but i have almost all of that here, and i love it, for all the same reasons.i look out my back window, and see a lake we are part owners in, and across the street, you can see the mountains in Pa., sometimes they are snow covered.i love the country, and hope i can stay here. the taxes are the only hindrance, as you said.thanks for sharing,best regards,sueHi Susan, thank you for your comment. Hey, you can't beat anywhere if you are happy there.My article was intended for those who were tired of the hassle of getting to and from work each day, miserable cold and the only scenery is buildings and traffic. Have a great day.
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