Thousands of wealthy retirees are ditching Florida and now choosing to spend their golden years in Appalachia instead - but not everyone is happy about it.
With its warm weather and low tax burden, the sunshine state has long been known as the retirement capital of the US.
Yet Southern Appalachia, known for its stunningly beautiful views, is increasingly giving Florida a run for its money, Wall Street Journal reported.
The population in counties in southern Appalachia designated as retirement or recreational areas grew by 3.8 percent between April 2020 and July 2022 - more than six times the national average, according to Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia.
But while older populations are attracted by cheaper living and housing cost, lower crime levels and pleasant weather with fewer hurricanes, some locals are furious about the impact this influx is having on property prices, traffic and even restaurant bookings - with one resident saying 'they should go back to where they came from'.
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I have to say that it's been 8 years next month since we moved here to Macon County and I've yet to have a single person talk shit about it.
Me moving here from California isn't something that I just throw out there, but I don't lie if anybody comments on my Okie accent and wants to know where I'm from. I do however point out that I came from Central California, farm country, and not the Fucking Bay Area or heaven forbid, Southern California.
One thing I'll never forget, though..... I was in our local gun shop and had filled out my 4473, and Brett was going over it when a hard, hard looking older gentleman came in. This old boy was tougher than I ever hoped to be when I was in my 20s. Brett decided to fuck with me right then and hollered out, "Hey Ken, where did you say you were born again?"
I gritted my teeth and muttered, "California, just like I said on the form." I did refrain from adding 'fucker' at the end.
Brett laughed and the older gentleman turned to me and said, "You're in Tennessee now, son, and that's all that matters," and he held out his hand to shake.