South Steals the Population Show, Other States Left in the Dust

Issue #044

01 Apr

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia Weather - Cloudy with a high of 78

📰 South Steals the Population Show, Other States Left in the Dust

🌬 Severe Weather Threat For Middle Tennessee & Kentucky

♻️ Nissan and Tennessee Environmental Council Join Forces on Recycling Roundup Event

🎶 The Sound of Music Opens One More Performance After Selling Out 12 Nights

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details! 

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

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South Steals the Population Show, Other States Left in the Dust

The population shifts happening across the U. S. are fascinating to observe. While certain states are experiencing substantial population growth, others are grappling with declining numbers. It really makes you think about what’s driving these changes and what it means for the future.

Among the states witnessing remarkable growth is Tennessee, which ranked highly for both population increase and growth rate. The Volunteer State secured the 6th spot for adding over 77,000 new residents and the 8th position for its impressive 1.1% population boom.

However, it is the Southern region that truly stands out as the star performer. This area accounted for a staggering 87% of the nation's total population growth between July 2022 and 2023. Notably, during the pandemic, the South was the sole region to continue experiencing population increases. With an influx exceeding 1.4 million new residents in just one year, the South's population has now surpassed 130 million.

Conversely, several states are contending with significant population losses. New York suffered the most substantial decline, shedding around 102,000 residents. California, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Hawaii, and West Virginia also witnessed dwindling populations.

In contrast, Texas and Florida emerged as veritable magnets for new arrivals. Texas gained an impressive 473,000 new residents, while Florida welcomed an additional 365,000 people. Furthermore, South Carolina and Florida stood out as the fastest-growing states, boasting growth rates of 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Evidently, the Sunbelt states hold immense appeal for many individuals seeking new opportunities.

At the national level, the overall population growth can be attributed to a combination of fewer deaths and a rebound in immigration levels to pre-pandemic norms. However, not all states experienced this growth – only 42 states and the District of Columbia saw population increases, while 8 states faced declines.

The significant population drops witnessed in California and New York can be partly explained by factors such as high costs of living and shifting immigration patterns. Newcomers to the United States are now choosing to settle in a broader range of cities, rather than concentrating solely in these traditional gateway states.

These fluctuations in population are poised to have far-reaching impacts on communities, businesses, infrastructure, and services across the affected regions. The demographic reshuffling currently underway holds the potential to reshape substantial portions of the country in the years ahead.

Severe Weather Threat For Middle Tennessee & Kentucky

The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe weather on Tuesday, covering nearly all of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.

While a few storms may occur in the morning, the primary concern is for the afternoon and early evening ahead of an approaching strong cold front. This front is expected to cause a significant temperature drop of around 20 degrees from Tuesday to Wednesday.

The main threat from these storms is damaging winds, although conditions conducive to rotation suggest the possibility of tornadoes. Additionally, hail could be a feature of these storms. While heavy localized rainfall is expected, widespread coverage is not anticipated.

Nissan and Tennessee Environmental Council Join Forces on Recycling Roundup Event

Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) and Nissan North America are teaming up again for the second annual Recycling Roundup. Middle Tennessee residents and those from surrounding areas are invited to bring their hard-to-recycle items to Nissan Headquarters on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 9 am to 1 pm. Accepted items include electronics, tires, scrap metal, textiles, mattresses, glass bottles, Styrofoam blocks, pet supplies, and more. For a detailed list of accepted materials and any item limitations, visit tectn.org/nissanroundup.

TEC, a statewide non-profit organization, aims to reduce illegal dumping and litter across Tennessee while decreasing reliance on landfills through events like the Recycling Roundup. The event, free and open to all residents, is made possible by the partnership with Nissan North America. Additional Roundups are planned for this year through grant funding from the EPA and TDOT. Stay updated on upcoming events by visiting TEC’s website and social media channels.

Last year's Recycling Roundup attracted 316 residents and collected nearly 33,000 pounds of recyclable materials. Mule Day 2024 Schedule (April 4-April 7)

The Sound of Music Opens One More Performance After Selling Out 12 Nights

One of the most beloved musicals of all time comes to downtown Columbia!

Starring Annie Dupre (Annie Moses Band) in the iconic role of Maria, The Sound of Music is the inspiring true story of a young postulant, Maria, a widower, Captain Von Trapp and his 7 children and how they escape the Nazi take over of Austria through faith, love and music.

The Sound of Music features the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein like "Climb Every Mountain," "Do - Re - Mi," "The Sound of Music" and "Edelweiss."

Annie Dupre is the lead singer and violinist of the Annie Moses Band. She has 3 top ten Billboard classical crossover albums to her credit, Emmy nominated PBS specials, and performance credits ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center. She studied at the Juilliard School and is thrilled to be performing the iconic role of "Maria."

Purchase tickets here (there are 40 left!)

There are still tickets available for the opening night benefit gala, an exclusive black-tie event debut of the Packard Playhouse's production of "The Sound of Music" featuring:

• Black Tie Red Carpet Event
• Complementary Dessert & Coffee
• Meet & Greet Mixer with the Cast after the show
• Proceeds underwrite the Packard Playhouse Theatrical Program