The Wrath of Grapes

In The Grapes of Wrath, a wave of migrants roared into California from the Dust Bowl. In 2010, the tide is turning back:

The influx of Californians is a sign of Oklahoma's growing economic prowess. The state was spared the worst of the nation's deepest economic downturn since Steinbeck wrote his classic novel of Okies and their desperate journey from the Dust Bowl to the orchards of California.

Oklahoma's unemployment rate was tied for 10th lowest in the country in August at 7%. Aaron Smith, senior economist for Moody's Analytics, recently upgraded his forecast for the state, writing, "Oklahoma should be among the first to make the leap from recovery to expansion.

Read the full story at USA Today. Read my interview with Oklahoma City's mayor here, or my take on the Great Plains (relatively) great year here.