the.com/sunbelt
where america moved for the weather and stayed for the lack of income tax.
means the southern and southwestern us stretch, roughly from florida to california, defined by warm climate, cheap land, and post-1970s population and economic growth.
from coined by political analyst kevin phillips in his 1969 book the emerging republican majority, mapping a demographic shift that would remake american politics.
ac inventionair conditioning made the sunbelt habitable at scale.
electoral shiftpopulation growth here reshaped congressional seats after every census.
rust belt oppositegrew as northern industrial cities emptied out.
defense spendingcold war military bases fueled its early boom.