Special Report
Fastest Growing Local Economy in Every State
February 19, 2019 2:28 pm
Last Updated: March 13, 2020 5:01 pm
Source: welchok / Flickr
36. Oklahoma: Washington County
> GDP growth 2012-2015: 106.3% (county) 12.3% (state)
> 2015 county GDP: $5.5 billion (2.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance (0.9% employment growth)
> 2017 unemployment: 4.6% (county) 4.3% (state)
> Population: 51,867 (1.3% of state)
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Source: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives / Wikimedia Commons
37. Oregon: Wheeler County
> GDP growth 2012-2015: 67.7% (county) 9.7% (state)
> 2015 county GDP: $38.8 million (0.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Educational services, and health care and social assistance (2.2% employment growth)
> 2017 unemployment: 3.9% (county) 4.1% (state)
> Population: 1,415 (0.0% of state)
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Source: roadgeek / Flickr
38. Pennsylvania: Warren County
> GDP growth 2012-2015: 42.3% (county) 5.7% (state)
> 2015 county GDP: $2.0 billion (0.3% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (0.9% employment growth)
> 2017 unemployment: 5.3% (county) 4.9% (state)
> Population: 40,345 (0.3% of state)
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Source: kapstun / Getty Images
39. Rhode Island: Washington County
> GDP growth 2012-2015: 12.2% (county) 2.7% (state)
> 2015 county GDP: $5.7 billion (10.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (1.5% employment growth)
> 2017 unemployment: 4.0% (county) 4.5% (state)
> Population: 126,190 (11.9% of state)
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Source: Bill Fitzpatrick / Wikimedia Commons
40. South Carolina: Laurens County
> GDP growth 2012-2015: 142.8% (county) 7.9% (state)
> 2015 county GDP: $3.4 billion (1.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (1.0% employment growth)
> 2017 unemployment: 4.4% (county) 4.3% (state)
> Population: 66,508 (1.4% of state)
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