Net Migration as a Factor Affecting Metropolitan Growth in Utah: 1950 to 1970

• Main Author: Mahmoudi, Kooros M.
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1973
• Subjects: Net; Migration; Metropolitan; Growth; Utah; Other Sociology; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Sociology
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/2144; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3146&context=etd

The objectives of this study were to measure net in- or out-migration to or from the Standard Metropolitan Areas of Utah between 1950-60 and 1960-70 and to study selected socio-economic factors relating to migration and the growth of SMSA 's. Specifically, the factors of migration and natural population increase were central in an analysis of population redistribution. Selected demographic characteristics of the migrants such as sex and age were also studied to establish their impact upon the SMSA population structure. The relationship between population change in the SMSA 's and economic factors of labor force supply and employment were also reviewed. Net intercensal migration for the SMSA 's of Ogden, Provo-Orem, and Salt Lake City were derived through indirect methods of estimating net migration: L. The Census Survival Ratio Method and the Life Table Survival Ratio Method. An analysis of the findings indicated that most migrants were in the younger age groups of 20-34 years and females outnumbered the males in the migrating population. These trends held for all three SMSA 's throughout the 1950-60 and 1960- 70 period. It also appears that net migration has played an important part in the process of metropolitanization in the state. About 25. 14 percent of the Salt Lake SMSA growth between 1950-60, and 17.15 percent between 1960-70 was due to net migration. However, Provo-Orem SMSA 's growth through net migration was -. 08 for 1950-60, but it was 34.07 percent for the 1960-70 period. Ogden SMSA 's growth due to net migration was estimated at 10. 56 percent for the 1950-60 period and -19.73 percent for the 1960-70 decade. By correlating the amount of net in- or out-migration in the labor force population and the amount of Wlemployment, it was found that the net-migration figures were sensitive to the amount of tmemployment in the labor force in each SMSAo There seemed to be an inverse relationship between the number of Wlemployed and the amount of in-migrationo The results, indicating the amount of intercensal net migration for SMSA 's in Utah between 1950 and 1970, for the first time, demonstrated the components of population change for these metropolitan areas. Knowledge of population change due to net migration will be useful in population projections for these areas, thus, facilitating socio-economic planning for years to come.