People & Places
Current popular US states
David Fuller takes a look at the states presently becoming more popular with British immigrants.
California, New York, Texas, Florida. Four very different states which do nevertheless share at least one common factor. They are by far and away the most popular destinations for Brits heading for a new life Stateside. In 2006, of the 17,207 Brits who emigrated across the pond, almost half (8,493) settled in one of these long popular Brit spots. Interestingly, however, of this preferred quartet only New York experienced an increase in the number of British immigrants who settled there in 2006 compared to 2005, as the overall number of arrivals settling in the US from the UK fell by 2,593 from the previous year. In fact, of the 50 American states and one district (District of Columbia), only 12, including New York, welcomed a greater number of immigrants from the UK in 2006 than it did in the previous 12 months. These were Alabama, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island and South Dakota.
What's more, all but four of these dozen states (Alabama, Idaho, Rhode Island and South Dakota) have now recorded at least three consecutive years of British immigrant growth. New York aside, it is New Jersey (772 British settlers in 2006), Maryland (387), Indiana (204), and Nevada (169), which are the fastest-growing settlement locations for Brits. But just what is it that is attracting more and more people from the UK to these states?
Not just sopranos
"I first visited the United States in 2001 – and my only experience was of New York (specifically Long Island)," explains Roland Hulme. "When my wife and I decided to return, we were choosing between coming back to Long Island, moving to Miami to be near her parents or moving to New Jersey, where her brother and sister lived. "In the end we visited New Jersey for a week and I fell in love with the place. It was just as convenient for New York City as Long Island, but had more space, more trees and a far more relaxed atmosphere," he adds.
That Roland fell for the state so quickly will come as a surprise to many. Bordered by Delaware to the south, Pennsylvania to the west and New York to the north, New Jersey, it's fair to say, doesn't have the best reputation as a place to live. Famous for the Sopranos and the New Jersey Turnpike – one of America's most traversed toll roads, which runs parallel to the Hudson River and hardly covers the state in glory – New Jersey is one of the most industrial and heavily populated states in the US.
But away from the state's gritty, industrial, mafia-orientated reputation, there is another, far more pleasant side, to the state. "There's more to New Jersey than the Sopranos," confirms Roland. "For the way we live our lives, the state has been great. I really love the place. The proximity to the countryside, forests and beaches means it really lives up to its nickname of the Garden State – despite its stereotypical image of a messy, industrial suburb of New York." Roland continues: "We live in New Brunswick, which is the largest city between Philadelphia and New York. To be honest, it's a bit suburban and 'townie' for my tastes, but it is really convenient for the city and to visit my wife's family. It's affordable, too." "My wife's family live in Hillsborough, which is a lovely, rural area full of trees and farms," he adds.
Without doubt, one of the main reasons Brits will have for wishing to settle in NJ is work. Offering one of the highest average wages of any American state and an unemployment rate of 4.1 per cent – less than the national average (4.6 per cent) – NJ certainly offers some of the country's best employment prospects, although you will be expected to work hard for your money. "The work mentality is very different out here. I get two weeks holiday a year (as opposed to five in the UK) and work for ten or 11 hours a day most days."
So what kind of people does Roland think would be most suited to settling in New Jersey? "I think you have to be quite suburban," he answers. "Hampshire in the UK, is probably a good parallel for life in New Jersey. "We're close enough to New York city to work there or visit often, but we live in quiet streets and have the comfort of shopping malls and supermarkets. "There's not a lot of space or privacy – although it is still an improvement over rows of terraced houses in the UK – and you have to be used to being around people. That being said, it's only a short drive to some beautiful countryside or the famous Jersey shore. "Basically, New Jersey is half way between Americana and the big city, so it's a good compromise."
A very rural state
If New Jersey can be seen as something of a surprising choice as a settlement destination for British immigrants, then Indiana, located in the north-central region of the country – bafflingly also know as the midwest – is arguably an even more unexpected Brit spot. Bordered by Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois, Indiana has very few large urban areas and is a highly agricultural state.
Yet, statistics show that it is presently welcoming more and more British settlers each year. Mélaine Innocent is a Brit who moved to Indiana three years ago due to her husband's work commitments, having previously lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for four years. "I honestly think there are nicer places in the USA to live," admits Mélaine, who would one day like to return to Europe. "However, the cost of living is so low here that a Brit coming from England would certainly enjoy a good quality of life." Mélaine lives in Fort Wayne which is located in the north of the state, around three hours south-east of Chicago, Illinois. "Fort Wayne is the second-largest town in Indiana and yet compared to even somewhere like Salisbury in the UK there is no central hub.
"Downtown Fort Wayne does not really offer anything and after 5pm is shut up and empty. Although we have a beautiful small theatre and a lovely zoo, the town seems to lack a really decent cultural experience," she adds. If you are looking for life, then Indianapolis, the state capital, is undoubtedly your best bet. Home to approximately 760,000 people, the city is the 13th largest in the United States, but still lacks some of the major cultural attractions that you will find in some of America's other larger cities.
But all this isn't to say that Mélaine can't see why the state would appeal for some Brits. "Those who want a quiet life would be well suited to living here," she says. "Indiana is a great place to raise a family. The cost of living, particularly in Fort Wayne, is crazily low. House prices are just silly – £60,000 is pretty standard for a three-bedroom turn-of-the-century house, with a two-car garage and decent-sized garden. "The state would maybe even appeal to those willing to do some cottage farming – this is agricultural, corn country and there are farms everywhere. "I can also imagine Indiana being a nice place for an artist or writer to settle." For Mélaine, though, there is no question of what is the best thing about living in the state. "I am a huge F1 fan and Indianapolis is only an hour and a half away. The famous Brickyard track has hosted the United States Grand Prix for the last few years. The worst thing, though, is that F1 has severed ties with the Brickyard and as of 2008, there will no longer be a USGP!" If you are a motorsports fan, though, it is worth pointing out that the Brickyard still plays host to the Indy 500 – billed as the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing'.
From East to west
Like New Jersey and Indiana, Maryland and Nevada are also not what you would call obvious immigrant destinations. The mid-Atlantic state of Maryland is well known for being home to a high proportion of government (both federal and state) workers – the District of Columbia (DC) is virtually surrounded by the state – many of whom live in the state's largest city, Baltimore.
Located close to the largest and most valuable estuary in the US, Chesapeake Bay, and surrounded by serene pastures, old mills and farms and waterside villages, there are certainly more unattractive cities to live in than Baltimore. However, it does have one main problem that tends to put people off the city – namely, high crime. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports statistics released in September 2007, Baltimore has the second-highest crime rate in America amongst cities with a population of over 500,000 residents, behind only Detroit, Michigan. Therefore, those looking to experience big city life in the States are more likely to be lured to the fairly nearby cities of New York and Washington DC. That there is little in Baltimore to attract immigrants away from those two cities also doesn't help its popularity.
However, Maryland certainly isn't without its charms. In 1920s a National Geographic reporter described the state 'America in Miniature'. Even today it's not hard to see why. As well as thriving cities such as Baltimore, and state capital, Annapolis, Maryland boasts a range of landscapes from majestic mountains to scenic seashores. You can ski in the winter, camp in the summer, while keen anglers will can enjoy some of the best bass fishing to be found anywhere on America's east coast. On the other side of the country, Nevada is as different from all the aforementioned states as can be. Bordering California to the west, Idaho and Oregon to the North, Utah to the east and Arizona to the south, the state is most famous for the bright lights of Las Vegas.
That the state is largely made up of desert and mountain ranges means that around 85 per cent of Nevada's population reside in the metropolitan areas around Las Vegas and Reno – the state's two largest cities. However, while the state may be better known as a tourism hot-spot than it is an immigration destination, there is arguably one major reason for Nevada's growing British population: its proximity to California.
In recent years some of the states surrounding California have begun to experience more immigrant interest as the cost of living in the Golden State has continued to increase. Nevada, it would, seem is one of those now catching the attention of Brits. How much longer this quartet of states continue to attract growing number of British immigrants each year it is impossible to say. But if you're looking for a destination away from the well-trodden paths of America's 'big four' destinations, then why not find out why more and more British immigrants are staring to call these locations 'home'. You might just find what you're looking for.
Some fast facts about seven of the other US states which proved to be more popular with Brits in 2006 compared to 2005
Alabama:
Population: 4,599,030
Capital (pop.): Montgomery (201,568)
Unemployment rate: 3.1%
Climate: Largely subtropical, some areas do experience winter snowfall
Did you know? Alabama was at the forefront of the civil rights
movement. Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy and Andrew Young all began their campaigns in the state.
District of Columbia:
Population: 581,530
Capital (pop.): Washington DC (581,530)
Unemployment rate: 5.8%
Climate: Chilly dry winters and hot humid summers.
Did you know? The DC in Washington DC stands for District of Columbia. The name Columbia is a reference to Christopher Columbus.
Idaho:
Population: 1,466,465
Capital (pop.): Boise (185,787)
Unemployment rate: 2.5%
Climate: Diverse. Generally the northern part of the state receives more rain than the warmer southern areas. Snow is common throughout in winter.
Did you know? The state's Soda Springs is the largest man-made geyser in the world.
Kentucky:
Population: 4,206,074
Capital (pop.): Frankfort (27,408)
Unemployment rate: 5.6%
Climate: Temperate with moderately cold winters and warm, humid summers. Snowfall is variable from year to year
Did you know? Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born in the state.
North Dakota:
Population: 635,867
Capital (pop.): Bismarck (58,333)
Unemployment rate: 3.4%
Climate: Noted for its extremes. Very cold winter and boiling hot summers. Rain, snow, hail and high winds are all common weather conditions in the state.
Did you know? The World's Largest Buffalo monument is located at
Frontier Village in Jamestown. The structure is 26 feet high, 46 feet long, and weighs 60 tonnes.
Rhode Island:
Population: 1,067,610
Capital (pop.): Providence (175,255)
Unemployment rate: 4.9%
Climate: Continental. The warmest state in New England, although still very cold in winter with plenty of snowfall.
Did you know? The first British troops sent from England to squash the revolution landed in Newport, 30 miles south of Providence.
South Dakota:
Population: 781,919
Capital (pop.): Pierre (14,095)
Unemployment rate: 2.9%
Climate: Ranging from very cold winters to extremely hot summers.
Thunderstorms and tornadoes are common in summer.
Did you know? More than 90 per cent of South Dakota's land area was classified as farmland during the mid-1990s.