Texas

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.

 

 

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West Virginia

As for Kentucky, West Virginia seems to have more of Appalachia’s chronic problems than Tennessee and fewer opportunities. It is much more rural in character, which for some will be attractive as there is still plenty of unspoiled scenery, and dominated by evangelicals, who make up over half the population. Addiction and poverty are common, and crime rates are often quite high compared to towns of similar size elsewhere. The coal industry is politically very powerful, enabling it to harm environments and human health almost unchecked, even though employment in that industry has been declining for decades.

 

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