Coastal Growth Boom a National Phenomenon

The nation's shorelines are being transformed by a new migration. Wealthy retirees, aging baby-boomers, and professionals with flexible work arrangements aided by technologyare flocking to coastal areas and the resulting growth boom is reshaping the nation's coasts. As new technology, a strong economy, and better transportation are offering people more choices about where to live, they are choosing the coast. This growth boom istransforming seasonal resort towns into year-round communities. New residents are attracting new businesses, workers, resulting in newhousing, schools, malls and hospitals. A USA Today study found that" ...this shoreline strip is growingsignificantly faster than the rest of the country in population, employment andgross domestic product (GDP). In many cases, these counties have thefastest-growing economies in their states." The study has found that "...an estimated 41 million people —more than one in seven Americans — now reside in a county that abuts the eastern or southern seaboard.This phenomenonthat is transforming the Atlantic and Gulf shorelines hasnot hit the Pacific shorelines because West Coast coastal areas enjoy strong protectionfrom development.

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan