White flight facts for kids

The term white flight describes a time when many White people moved from big cities in places like Europe and the United States. This movement mostly happened starting in the middle of the 1900s. In the United States, people often moved out of cities in the Midwest (like Chicago, Detroit, or St. Louis) and the Northeast. They often relocated to states in the Southeast and Southwest, such as Arizona and Texas.

What Was White Flight?

White flight was a big movement of people. It involved many White families leaving older, larger cities. They often moved to newer suburbs or different parts of the country. This trend began in the 1950s and continued for several decades.

Why Did People Move?

There were many reasons why families chose to move.

• New Homes: After World War II, many new homes were built outside the main cities. These homes were often more affordable and had bigger yards.
• Better Schools: Some families looked for schools that they felt were better for their children.
• Jobs: As industries changed, some jobs moved out of the city centers. People followed these jobs to new areas.
• Transportation: More people owned cars, making it easier to live further from work. New roads and highways also helped this movement.
• Safety and Services: Some people were looking for areas they felt were safer or had better local services.

Where Did People Go?

In the United States, many people moved from the "Rust Belt" cities. These are older industrial cities in the Midwest and Northeast. They often moved to the "Sun Belt" states. These are warmer states in the South and Southwest. For example, people moved from places like New York City or Cleveland to cities in Florida, California, or Texas.

Changes in Cities

When many people moved out, cities changed.

• Less Money: Cities sometimes lost tax money when people left. This meant less money for schools, parks, and other services.
• Empty Buildings: Some areas saw empty homes and businesses. This could make neighborhoods look run down.
• New Communities: At the same time, the suburbs grew very quickly. New schools, shops, and communities were built there.

Images for kids

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  Urban decay in the US: the South Bronx, New York City, was exemplar of the federal and local government's abandonment of the cities in the 1970s and 1980s; the Spanish sign reads "FALSAS PROMESAS", the English sign reads "BROKEN PROMISES".

See also

In Spanish: Fuga blanca para niños