LinkMichigan tops list of states that people are leavingJanuary 9, 2007
BY ZACHARY GORCHOW
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERMore people left Michigan last year than moved in, continuing a trend that has lasted almost 30 years, according to a survey from a leading moving company released Monday.
Of the 10,325 interstate shipments handled by United Van Lines in Michigan during the year, 66% were for moving people out of the state, putting Michigan in a tie with North Dakota for the largest percentage of outbound moves for the year.
Not once since 1977, when the company began tracking the data, has Michigan had more customers moving into the state than exiting it. But the 66% departure rate was just below Michigan's highest departure level of 66.9%, in 1981.
David Corrigan, president of Farmington Hills-based Corrigan Moving Systems, which is affiliated with United Van Lines, said the economy and the weather are the biggest factors in why people are leaving. "It's definitely gotten worse," he said. "If people are looking for a job, they tend to have to go to another state to find one."
The top destinations for people leaving Michigan via United Van Lines were California, Florida and Texas.
Other Great Lakes states, except Minnesota, also had more customers moving out than entering.
In general, the South and mountain West were destination regions, with North Carolina the top state for inbound moves. About 64% of customers crossing that state's border were moving into the state.
