INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – New figures suggest that the Riverside area continues to be a huge magnet for people moving out of the Los Angeles metro area.

The U.S. Census Bureau found that during a single year 90,484 made the jump, the most of any metropolitan area in the nation. But, reverse migration was also impressive as 54,711 abandoned the Riverside area for Los Angeles. That left the Riverside area with a net gain of nearly 36,000.

Spanish is the preferred language for many migrants. The Census Bureau says 7,690 people who speak English “less than very well” moved from Los Angeles County to San Bernardino County. Nearly 5,000 who were born in Mexico moved from Los Angeles County to San Bernardino County.

The migration patterns have far reaching consequences.

Government officials, planners and local businesses use the statistics to understand residential turnover in their communities. The numbers weigh in planning infrastructure for new residents when there is a trend in people arriving, or to plan programs that attract new residents or employers when there is a trend in people leaving.

The annual migration flow was averaged over a 4-year period from 2009-2013.

Story Date: September 2, 2015