Mainly, the gold rush and warmer climate to farm. This drove people to settle in the west and south.
In the 1950s, people migrated from the North and East to the Sun Belt primarily for its warmer climate, job opportunities in emerging industries, and a lower cost of living. The appeal of a better lifestyle and the advent of air conditioning made these regions more desirable for permanent settlement. This migration represented a significant demographic shift in the United States during this period.
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