Americans Moving Less, Getting Rooted

In the 1950s, nearly 1/5 of Americans moved each year. That trend is quickly reversing. Americans are now staying put in greater numbers than at any time since World War II, and experts have plenty of opinions on why that is.

1 minute read

January 28, 2010, 5:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


From the recession and lack of jobs to a new sense of community ties and rootedness, Americans are choosing to stay put and delay moving for a wide variety of reasons. A panel of experts including urbanist Richard Florida, economist Lawrence Katz, sociologist Katherine Newman, and demographer Peter Francese weighs in on what's tying Americans down, whether or not it will last, and what it all means for communities.

From Richard Florida: "One consequence of this is a new kind of class divide in America between the 'mobile' who have the resources and flexibility to pursue economic opportunity and the 'stuck' who are tied to places with weaker economies or where their personal economic prospects are more limited."

Thanks to Rebecca Sanborn Stone

Sunday, January 10, 2010 in New York Times

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Amtrak train with large curved windows passing through scenic Rocky Mountain red rock canyon

Amtrak Calls for Expansion, Citing Close to 100 Requests for New Lines

The agency told a House committee it has received more than 90 applications for new intercity rail lines from cities around the country.

June 8, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Dallas Freeways

Federal Infrastructure Dollars Funding Road Expansions

Far from kickstarting a transformative change in transportation policy, the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law continues to fund traditional road-building projects.

June 9 - Climatewire

An aerial view of a park and the streets and high-rises of Downtown Omaha.

Downtown Omaha Planning for its Post-One-Way-Streets Era

The Omaha City Council has decided to reverse the transportation model adopted in the city in the 1950s, for the benefit of traffic safety and local retail activity.

June 9 - KETV

A red sun appears on the horizon, as obscured by haze from wildfire smoke.

Planning for Proximity, for the Climate’s Sake

A new global platform will help the world identify and encourage opportunities for more proximity in the built environment—development patterns that can help reduce sources of greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution if built well.

June 9 - C40 Cities

Assistant/Associate Planner

Bossier City - Parish MPC

Principal Planner – Advanced Plans

Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department

Planning Officer

City of Bangor

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.