Rural immigrant population growth, 1950-2000: wavesor ripples?

Using U.S. Census data from 1950 to 2000, this paper provides a framework to compare theresponses of immigrant and native population growth to the economic incentives offered by ruralcounties in the Midwest and the South. We find that in marked contrast to traditional destinationsfor new immigrants such as urban areas or rural California, growth of the immigrant population inthese nontraditional rural destinations is not tied to concentrations of existing immigrantpopulations. Rural immigrant population growth is more responsive than native populations toeconomic incentives and immigrant growth is not affected by local welfare or other governmentservices. The native-born population tends to respond more to growth in specific industries, whileimmigrant populations are more responsive to overall employment growth. Rural immigrantpopulation growth is not positively influenced by levels of local welfare or other public services.Compared to earlier immigrant groups, more recent waves of rural immigrants are influencedmore by the number of jobs than by income levels in deciding where to live.[...]