Van line study: Washoe draws Californians

United Van Lines finds many people still believe in the old frontier motto "Go West, Young Man."

United's 30th annual migration study released last week shows nearly 60 percent of the company's business within Nevada reflected inbound moves by new residents.

Of the company's 499 shipments destined for Washoe County last year, 134 originated in California. Arizona was second with 35, followed by Texas with 27.

Of the 46 trucks destined for Carson City, 18 originated in California and seven in Arizona.

On the outbound, 419 United shipments left Washoe County in 2006, with 81 headed for California. Texas ranks second with 46 departures, and Arizona third with 43. Only 32 of the state's 2,275 moves were from Carson City last year.

"Counties that generate high outflows also tend to get some of those same flows back," says Jeff Hardcastle, state demographer. "Sometimes it has to do with people returning where they are originally from, or with family and friendship ties. Typically you do have some transient-ness as there are gains in population. It is the nature of boom areas."

Nevada ranks among the states with the highest percentage of inbound moves. Out of the 5,686 shipments handled by United in Nevada last year, 59.9 percent were inbound. Only 40.1 percent were outbound.

Nationwide, the highest percentage of inbound traffic compared to outbound was reported in North Carolina at 64 percent and in Oregon at 62.5 percent.