"One measure showed that economic output per person in the South is now almost at the national level. And I think there are many factors behind the rising economic value of the South: The South has been a very attractive region for businesses and households alike," says Dr. Walden, a North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist.

"I think they are moving here because of favorable weather and, of course, with the advent of air conditioning it's much more tolerable in the summer," he adds. "We have a lower cost of living, we have an improving educational record, the development of many professional occupations, and I think, quite frankly, we have improved racial relations.

"There's one continuing negative though, and this is perhaps news to some people: The prevalence of obesity is much greater in the South than in the rest of the nation, and employers are increasingly taking a look at that."