Page "Frost Belt" Paragraph 2

The Frost Belt was for many years the center of American economic activity, and the most populous part of the United States.

A shift away from domestic manufacturing beginning in the 1980s dealt a heavy blow to the region's economy.

For most of the latter 20th century, the Frost Belt had already been experiencing a stagnating population as Americans relocated to the more temperate Southern and Western regions of the country.

This shift was caused by economic factors as well as social developments ; the desegregation of the South and easing of racial tensions in that area made it a more welcoming place for African-Americans and other minorities.

Even the advent of air conditioning played a role ; the South and Southwest, once almost uninhabitable for a part of the year, became a more viable alternative to the colder climates of the Northeast and Midwest.

Census results for the past several decades have indicated a population shift from the Frost Belt to the Sun Belt.

For various reasons many retirees decide to stay.