Retired people are moving to rural areas in search of natural beauty and a slower pace of life, boosting desperate local economies and bringing demand for services, including healthcare, reported The Wall Street Journal May 8.
At 162 rural spots in the U.S., the population increased faster than the national average, bucking the trend that plagues most rural locations of population decline. Drawn in by natural attractions such as mountains and lakes, more retired people are settling down in areas such as Sevier County, Tenn., that saw a 13 percent increase in population over the past decade.
The influx of retirees brings a boost to the local economies of these sleepy towns. More residents means more consumers for local business, increased school services and a boosted workforce. In Sevier County, a new high school recently opened and a 79-bed hospital opened.