Texas

[next_migration]

I’m out of potentially promising Northeastern states to cover so today am wrapping up the last couple of Southeastern states, namely Texas and West Virginia. In retrospect, I was probably too hard on Texas in suggesting that out-of-state migration should be avoided. There were a fairly good number of cities and towns that passed my search criteria, some large enough to absorb thousands of migrants every year without blinking. True, the governor is a nut and the regime far from democratic, but perhaps you approve of these things. True, the power grid is a disaster, but ... but maybe you can buy a generator? If you move there you had better prepare your life on the assumption that no public services, including basic utilities, can be relied upon. Still, it’s certainly possible to look at eastern Texas and see it as a better-than-the alternative destination for Christian conservatives from the soon-to-burn Southwest.

 

 

Texas, as Stephen Marche (2022) suggested, is a unique place that could well end up as its own nation post-America. I noted before that Texas is going to have severe sustainability issues, with the western half subject to drought, the southeastern part subject to hurricanes, the electrical grid subject to collapse in extreme weather due to deliberate neglect. It also has severe political issues; as the population edges closer to majority-minority, both gerrymandering and anti-voting laws get ever more extreme (e.g., one can be charged with a felony for helping another person to navigate the hoops that must be jumped through to register to vote). The government has dedicated itself completely to the culture war and servitude to big business, and has little interest in seeing that the public’s needs are met or even that their lights and heat stay on. If you want theocratic government, you can get it in a smaller, wetter, less bizarrely managed state farther east; avoid Texas.

However, if you’re already living in Texas in a big city that’s being aggressively targeted by the legislature (e.g., Austin), getting out into a smaller city or town could be in your interest, whatever your personal politics are. Unfortunately, Texas is enormous (as residents already know) and highly auto-centric; intercity public transportation is very limited. If you move to a dinky town, much of your shopping or health care will absolutely require you to have a car and plenty of gas. It’s heresy in Texas to suggest that those things might ever be inaccessible, but if you’re wise, you’ll pick a residence that has all the amenities you really need on a regular basis. Here are some smaller cities outside the mega-cities that might suit.

 

o  Abilene (125,000 people) is getting into the dry zone, about as far west as you would dare to go in Texas. The economy includes the military (there is a nearby Air Force base) and other government, education, health care, manufacturing, and oil extraction. There are six small colleges or branch campuses, three religious. Evangelicalism is powerful. Abilene has all the basic cultural amenities expected of a good-sized city and hosts a variety of special events.

o  Brenham (17,000) is a college town northwest of Houston, home of the large, well-reputed Blinn junior college. It is the home of Blue Bell Creameries and Texas’ largest residential facility for the intellectually disabled. The town promotes wildflower tourism, and has a German heritage festival and the “world’s largest barbeque pit.” There is no intercity bus service.

o  Bryan (84,000) and College Station (120,000) are close together, farther northwest of Houston and east of Austin. The largest employer in the area is Texas A&M University, located in College Station; other large employers are in the areas of education (including Blinn College, which has multiple branches), health, software, food processing, engineering and research, telecommunications, retail, and fossil fuels. There’s a federal women’s prison in Bryan. There is a bus system and buses to Houston are available.

o  Taylor (17,000) and Hutto (25,000) are close together, northeast of Austin and on the fringe of the metro area. Major economic sectors in Taylor include manufacturing, energy, and the detention of undocumented migrants. Taylor has an Amtrak stop. Hutto’s housing is far more expensive, apparently because the place is growing fast due to its undoubted desirability; many residents commute to Austin. Hutto has a junior college branch campus, and is known as the Hippo Capital of Texas due to its more than 3000 concrete hippos. (That is not a typo, and some of this stuff I have to assure you that I haven’t made up.)

o  Lufkin (35,000) in the east hosts the headquarters of Texas’ national forests and grasslands. The economy includes manufacturing (e.g., paper, products for the energy industry), food and meat processing, and education. There is a community college and a historic downtown.

o  Nacogdoches (33,000) near Lufkin is home to Stephen F. Austin State University. Education, meat processing, and health care are major employers. The town is known for its historic district and blueberry festival, and is mostly considered to be friendly.

o  Temple (75,000), Killeen (153,000), and Copperas Cove (37,000) are located close together, midway between Austin and Dallas. Fort Hood is in the same region; the military is the largest employer both for military and civilian jobs in Killeen and Copperas Cove. In Temple, the biggest economic sectors include health care, distribution, and some manufacturing and call center service. Killeen has a junior college that hosts a branch of Texas A&M, and Temple has a junior college and a medical school. Killeen has a bus system with connections to Temple and Copperas Cove, and Temple has an Amtrak station.

o  Waco (138,000) is north of Killeen. The economy includes education, health care, manufacturing, and agribusiness. Higher education includes Baylor University and technical and junior colleges. Waco is home to one of the world’s largest Masonic lodges. It has a bus system.

o  Brownwood (19,000) is centrally located, a fairly long way from any large city. It has jobs in manufacturing, health care, education, and retail. There is a technical college campus and a Baptist college. Residents complain that the city government makes it difficult to start new businesses and that there’s little to do; however, most like its conservative, small-town feeling.

o  Sulphur Springs (16,000) is northeast of Dallas. Distribution, food processing, and manufacturing are among local employers. The town is home to a junior college, an award-winning farmers’ market, a dairy museum, and a heritage park featuring historical buildings and artisanal demonstrations. Tourist attractions include two all-glass public restrooms on the square (one-way glass!). Townsfolk love the community activities, low crime, and reasonable housing costs. There is Greyhound service.

o  Texarkana (37,000) at the northeast corner of the state is part of a metro area with Texarkana, Arkansas (see above under that state). The military, health care, manufacturing (paper products and tires), and education are major employers. There is a Texas A&M branch and a community college. Texarkana is home to a federal prison and the American Baptist Association. It has a bus system and an Amtrak stop.

o  Sherman (42,000) is located at the eastern side of the state’s northern border. It has a good range of manufacturing employers as well as food and meat processing, distribution, education, and government. There is a community college branch campus and a dial-a-ride paratransit service.

o  Wichita Falls (over 100,000) is farther west along the border. A large Air Force base is nearby, and the military is the largest employer. Others include education, health care, retail, manufacturing, and a men’s prison. Wichita Falls is home to Midwestern State University, a public liberal arts school, and has a community college branch campus. It now houses the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The city has a fairly good local bus service, and has Greyhound service.