This paper attempts to identify some of the economic and demographic factors responsible for the growth of southern metropolitan areas during the 1950's. Several basic patterns of relationships are established tentatively through application of the Simon-Blalock technique of employing partial correlations in alternative models. Past metropolitan growth appears to operate both directly and indirectly through net migration and suburban growth to influence metropolitan growth. Increased family income acts indirectly on metropolitan growth through income level and labor force growth. Past rates of growth also operate directly and indirectly through net migration and increased family income. Finally, past rates of growth influence present growth through their influence on income level and increase in income.