"Every state except Massachusetts was represented," Wood said. "As baby boom demographics have converged with equity refugees and low interest rates, Sun Belt communities have benefited."

And with sustained economic fundamentals like job growth, in-migration and low interest rates, Wood believes the rush to Utah's Dixie is likely to continue. "It might plateau," Wood said, "but it's going to stay strong."

It's like something out of Carter's dream, as is the growth of his own company, which now employs 125 people.

"The dream convinced me that my spot was not in graduating but in coming to St. George," said Carter, 57.

"If you were here today, you would see a miracle. What's made it great is for me to look around and see my friends and my neighbors and realize that most of them had no connection to southern Utah."

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Contributing: Nancy Perkins

E-mail: danderton@desnews.com