next_migration | Missouri

Missouri, in Colin Woodard’s take on American regional cultures, is Appalachian in the southern half and Midlands in the northern half. It has two large, diverse metropolitan areas, Kansas City and St. Louis, at the western and eastern edges of the state respectively. However, its government is entirely dominated by the rural areas, and in the present climate of what Will Wilkinson terms the “Southernification of rural America,” we may presume that it would join the Confederacy or Red republic if the Union broke up today, whatever the urbanites might think of that.

The two metropolitan areas mentioned sprawl out across counties, and fall into the too-big-to-consider category even for one who is not a dedicated rural conservative. A large majority of the smaller cities with strong economies are satellites of one of the two big cities. The southwestern corner of the state, among other regions, was heavily contaminated by the lead-mining industry and cities that haven’t done aggressive cleanup may harbor significant environmental hazards. Many small towns are plagued by low-wage agribusiness jobs, meth and other drugs, and high crime. Communities with potential in other regions, primarily the central part of the state, include the following.

o Columbia, the home of the University of Missouri, has over 125,000 people. It is rapidly growing, putting upward pressure on rents and house prices. There are many jobs in academia, health care, insurance and banking, and technology and a broad range of cultural and entertainment options. Be advised that it is a blue island. There is a town bus system.

o Jefferson City (about 43,000 people), the centrally located capital, is on the Missouri River. It has a diverse economy, including government, education, health care, manufacturing, and tourism. It has several small colleges and universities and a bus service. Residents are generally conservative, religious, and largely white.

o Rolla (20,000 people) is a college town with plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities. The Missouri University of Science & Technology, a respected engineering school, is the biggest employer. There is a Wal-Mart distribution center and some manufacturing employment (pet food, semiconductors, packaging) but low-wage work, drugs, and crime are problems. Local culture is small-town and conservative.

o Warrensburg (19,000 people) in west-central Missouri is a college town, home of the University of Central Missouri. House prices have climbed, though rent is still affordable, and jobs are scarce enough that many residents commute long-distance to Kansas City. Has an Amtrak stop.

o Washington (14,000 people) on the Missouri River is a very pleasant, extremely white town with a historic downtown. It’s in an area that attracts winery tourism and has parks and natural scenery. The many local businesses include the world’s largest manufacturer of corncob pipes. Has an Amtrak stop.

o Moberly (14,000 people), half an hour from Columbia, has the usual small-town problems of limited jobs and low wages. It has a Bible college and a community college.

o Marshall (13,000 people) is in a similar situation. A main employer is a Conagra frozen foods plant. It has a small private college.

o Fulton (13,000 people) has a charming downtown. It is home to two small private colleges and the Missouri School for the Deaf. Property crime is high enough that one suspects drugs are a big issue.

o Mexico (over 11,000 people) has a community college satellite campus and is home to the Missouri Military Academy. Shopping and employment are limited.

Some communities from the more rural northern and southern ends of the state are also worth considering. The environment and culture of these regions are rather different. The southeastern Ozark Mountains region is economically in worse shape than the rest of the state and has less to offer in terms of employment. It has no large cities, and you should not want to move to a small town without connections there. Some towns in these regions include:

o In the northwest, St. Joseph is large enough (72,000 people) to have many amenities and a diverse economy, including food processing, agribusiness including veterinary pharmaceuticals, packaging, manufacturing, health care, retail, and education. It’s located on the Missouri River. There is a small state university, a parkway system, and a bus service. Unemployment is fairly low, but crime is high and residents complain of bad neighborhoods, homelessness, and political corruption. This is a city that has significant problems, but that should have real potential.

o Excelsior Springs (ca. 12,000 people) is part of the broader Kansas City metro area but outside the dense central core. It has a few businesses employing people in manufacturing and distribution. Jobs and shopping are limited, but crime and cost of living reasonably low. Residents enjoy community Christmas events.

o In the southeast, Jackson (15,000 people) is well regarded, low in crime, and known for its beautiful parks. As such, it’s a bit pricier than most of the cited small Missouri communities. There are jobs in manufacturing, retail, and banking. It is friendly but conservative and lacking in diversity.

Missouri has a relatively good variety of local and county transit systems, and two regional systems that serve respectively 87 counties (OATS) and 21 southeastern counties (SMTS), with some counties left uncovered. OATS has a shared-ride system that, with advance scheduling, transports residents to larger cities with services; regular county routes often run only one day per month. Greyhound serves over 30 communities for long-distance service, including all the medium-sized cities mentioned, plus the smaller communities of Moberly, Rolla, and Fulton.