BETA
Marketing the dream of eternal sunshine
During the 1950s, land giants like the General Development Corporation sold Florida lots for just $10 down and $10 a month. They mailed brochures to freezing Midwesterners and offered free dinner presentations to pitch the dream of suburban warmth.
Chapter 1
The spark of the Sun Belt
Chapter 2
Designing the retirement utopia
Chapter 3
The cost of paradise
Chapter 4
The new retirement frontiers
Ch 1 · The spark of the Sun Belt
hank Sun Belt Retirement Migration
From colder states, they packed up and flew, Air conditioning made the sunny South feel new.
hank Mid-century land developers used aggressive advertising campaigns and cheap plane tickets to sell northern families on the Florida lifestyle.
Fun Fact
Air conditioning boom: In 1953, room air conditioners became affordable, and over one million units were sold in the US that year alone, sparking the Sun Belt boom.
hank The creation of the US Social Security system in 1935 gave older Americans steady income, allowing them to choose where to live.
Glossary
air conditioning (noun)
A system for controlling the temperature, humidity, and airflow in an enclosed space. Its widespread residential adoption after World War II transformed America's hot southern states into booming retirement destinations.
A system for controlling the temperature, humidity, and airflow in an enclosed space. Its widespread residential adoption after World War II transformed America's hot southern states into booming retirement destinations.
Quiz
What was the primary demographic that first migrated to the Sun Belt in the mid-20th century?
Quiz
Which major Interstate highway runs down the East Coast of the US, directly connecting New England to Miami?
Quiz
In the 1950s, Florida land developers sold suburban lots for what incredibly low starting price?
Quiz
What 1956 legislation authorized the construction of the US Interstate Highway System?