Population movement within a defined region, such as a metropolitan area, country, or state, characterizes this type of migration. It often involves shifts from rural to urban areas within the same region, or from older suburbs to newer ones. These relocations are generally over shorter distances compared to interregional or international movements. For instance, the movement of people from a small town in the state of Georgia to the city of Atlanta, also in Georgia, exemplifies this process.
This form of human movement is critical in understanding urban sprawl, suburbanization, and counterurbanization trends. It impacts resource allocation within the region, influences housing markets, and shapes the demographic composition of specific localities. Historically, industrialization and the promise of employment opportunities in urban centers fueled significant shifts. More recently, factors like affordability, access to amenities, and changing lifestyles drive further intraregional movements.
