Special Report
Fastest Growing Local Economy in Every State
Published:
Last Updated:
The United States is in a period of historic, continuous economic growth, with GDP climbing every quarter since mid-2009. Steady economic growth on a national level is the direct result of growth in local economies across the country — and in nearly every state, there is at least one county where the economy has surged faster than that of the nation as a whole.
Using data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed GDP change from 2013 through 2018 at the county and county equivalent level to identify the fastest growing local economy in every state. For context, the U.S. economy grew by 13.0% over that period.
In each of the three counties on this list with the greatest GDP growth, resource extraction was the fastest growing industry. Overall, the mining, quarrying, and oil extraction industry — which is especially subject to volatility — was the fastest growing industry in 11 counties on this list. In Loving County — the county with greatest five-year GDP growth in Texas and the U.S. — a surge in shale drilling in the Permian Basin has contributed to a nearly 1,000% increase in the area’s economic output.
Notably, while the decline of U.S. manufacturing has gutted cities across the Midwest and Northeast, in 10 counties on this list, the manufacturing industry had greater GDP growth than any other industry over the last half decade. Here is a list of U.S. cities where manufacturing is making a comeback.
Nationwide, sustained economic growth has led to historic lows in unemployment. While economic growth does not always translate to job growth, the unemployment rate declined in nearly every county on this list between 2013 and 2018. In just over half of the counties on this list, the annual 2018 unemployment rate was as low or lower than the comparable 3.9% national rate. Here is a look at the cities adding the most jobs in every state.
Click here to see the fastest growing economies in every state
Click here to see the fastest shrinking local economy in every state
Click here to read our methodology
1. Alabama: Chambers County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +52.0% (county) +5.5% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.9 billion (1.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.1 ppt. (8.0% to 3.9%)
> Median household income: $39,872 (county) $48,486 (state)
> Largest place in county: Valley
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2. Alaska: Aleutians East Borough
> GDP change 2013-2018: +42.1% (county) -3.0% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $201.6 million (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.0 ppt. (6.0% to 3.0%)
> Median household income: $69,706 (county) $76,715 (state)
> Largest place in county: Sand Point
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3. Arizona: Graham County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +30.6% (county) +15.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.1 billion (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.6 ppt. (7.7% to 5.1%)
> Median household income: $51,352 (county) $56,213 (state)
> Largest place in county: Safford
4. Arkansas: Cleveland County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +28.9% (county) +4.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $169.8 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.7 ppt. (7.6% to 3.9%)
> Median household income: $42,460 (county) $45,726 (state)
> Largest place in county: Rison
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5. California: Santa Clara County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +49.6% (county) +22.5% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $316.5 billion (11.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.9 ppt. (6.5% to 2.6%)
> Median household income: $116,178 (county) $71,228 (state)
> Largest place in county: San Jose
6. Colorado: Jackson County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +68.3% (county) +20.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $118.7 million (0.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.2 ppt. (4.8% to 2.6%)
> Median household income: $48,828 (county) $68,811 (state)
> Largest place in county: Walden
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7. Connecticut: Hartford County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +5.2% (county) +1.6% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $76.0 billion (31.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.8 ppt. (8.0% to 4.2%)
> Median household income: $72,321 (county) $76,106 (state)
> Largest place in county: Hartford
8. Delaware: Sussex County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +36.2% (county) +6.1% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $13.6 billion (21.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Finance and insurance
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.1 ppt. (6.8% to 3.7%)
> Median household income: $60,853 (county) $65,627 (state)
> Largest place in county: Seaford
9. Florida: Levy County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +62.1% (county) +18.0% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.1 billion (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Real estate and rental and leasing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.4 ppt. (8.2% to 3.8%)
> Median household income: $37,634 (county) $53,267 (state)
> Largest place in county: Williston
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10. Georgia: Randolph County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +95.7% (county) +17.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $363.0 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.4 ppt. (10.3% to 5.9%)
> Median household income: $30,914 (county) $55,679 (state)
> Largest place in county: Cuthbert
11. Hawaii: Kauai County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +22.5% (county) +11.3% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $4.1 billion (4.9% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Finance and insurance
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.2 ppt. (5.7% to 2.5%)
> Median household income: $78,482 (county) $78,084 (state)
> Largest place in county: Kapaa
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12. Idaho: Gooding County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +41.3% (county) +17.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.3 billion (1.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.5 ppt. (4.9% to 2.4%)
> Median household income: $48,638 (county) $53,089 (state)
> Largest place in county: Gooding
13. Illinois: Richland County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +51.9% (county) +6.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $962.2 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Health care and social assistance
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.6 ppt. (8.3% to 4.7%)
> Median household income: $48,724 (county) $63,575 (state)
> Largest place in county: Olney
14. Indiana: Grant County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +73.3% (county) +8.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $4.3 billion (1.3% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.1 ppt. (9.0% to 3.9%)
> Median household income: $42,593 (county) $54,325 (state)
> Largest place in county: Marion
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15. Iowa: Adams County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +40.9% (county) +9.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $296.4 million (0.2% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.8 ppt. (3.7% to 1.9%)
> Median household income: $49,229 (county) $58,580 (state)
> Largest place in county: Corning
16. Kansas: Clark County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +130.4% (county) +10.0% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $249.3 million (0.2% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -0.7 ppt. (3.1% to 2.4%)
> Median household income: $50,368 (county) $57,422 (state)
> Largest place in county: Minneola
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17. Kentucky: Whitley County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +41.3% (county) +4.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.6 billion (0.9% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.6 ppt. (10.6% to 5.0%)
> Median household income: $36,897 (county) $48,392 (state)
> Largest place in county: Corbin
18. Louisiana: Cameron Parish
> GDP change 2013-2018: +129.0% (county) +4.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.9 billion (0.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Construction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.8 ppt. (5.3% to 3.5%)
> Median household income: $55,000 (county) $47,942 (state)
> Largest place in county: Hackberry
19. Maine: York County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +15.0% (county) +9.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $7.4 billion (12.9% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.3 ppt. (6.3% to 3.0%)
> Median household income: $65,538 (county) $55,425 (state)
> Largest place in county: Biddeford
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20. Maryland: Cecil County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +21.7% (county) +10.1% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $4.2 billion (1.2% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.3 ppt. (7.7% to 4.4%)
> Median household income: $72,845 (county) $81,868 (state)
> Largest place in county: Elkton
21. Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +18.4% (county) +13.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $112.7 billion (22.3% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.2 ppt. (6.2% to 3.0%)
> Median household income: $64,582 (county) $77,378 (state)
> Largest place in county: Boston
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22. Michigan: Mackinac County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +41.8% (county) +10.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $620.6 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Real estate and rental and leasing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.5 ppt. (12.2% to 9.7%)
> Median household income: $46,507 (county) $54,938 (state)
> Largest place in county: St. Ignace
23. Minnesota: Red Lake County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +35.9% (county) +11.1% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $229.7 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Retail trade
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.5 ppt. (6.7% to 5.2%)
> Median household income: $56,588 (county) $68,411 (state)
> Largest place in county: Red Lake Falls
24. Mississippi: Choctaw County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +62.6% (county) +3.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $703.0 million (0.7% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Government and government enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.7 ppt. (8.5% to 4.8%)
> Median household income: $37,203 (county) $43,567 (state)
> Largest place in county: Ackerman
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25. Missouri: Douglas County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +59.8% (county) +4.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $599.3 million (0.2% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.8 ppt. (9.4% to 4.6%)
> Median household income: $34,372 (county) $53,560 (state)
> Largest place in county: Ava
26. Montana: Judith Basin County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +49.5% (county) +8.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $172.7 million (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.5 ppt. (4.9% to 3.4%)
> Median household income: $45,764 (county) $52,559 (state)
> Largest place in county: Stanford
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27. Nebraska: Arthur County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +136.9% (county) +8.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $29.3 million (0.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Arts, entertainment, and recreation
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.7 ppt. (7.7% to 5.0%)
> Median household income: $43,854 (county) $59,116 (state)
> Largest place in county: Arthur
28. Nevada: Storey County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +181.4% (county) +16.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.5 billion (1.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -7.2 ppt. (11.6% to 4.4%)
> Median household income: $62,284 (county) $57,598 (state)
> Largest place in county: N/A
29. New Hampshire: Strafford County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +14.4% (county) +10.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $5.8 billion (7.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Professional, scientific, and technical services
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.6 ppt. (4.9% to 2.3%)
> Median household income: $70,650 (county) $74,057 (state)
> Largest place in county: Dover
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30. New Jersey: Gloucester County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +28.1% (county) +6.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $14.4 billion (2.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.8 ppt. (9.0% to 4.2%)
> Median household income: $85,160 (county) $79,363 (state)
> Largest place in county: Glassboro
31. New Mexico: Eddy County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +47.5% (county) +8.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $8.2 billion (8.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.3 ppt. (4.6% to 3.3%)
> Median household income: $62,982 (county) $48,059 (state)
> Largest place in county: Carlsbad
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32. New York: Steuben County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +20.8% (county) +8.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $5.1 billion (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.5 ppt. (8.4% to 4.9%)
> Median household income: $51,789 (county) $65,323 (state)
> Largest place in county: Corning
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33. North Carolina: Nash County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +90.1% (county) +11.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $7.5 billion (1.5% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.2 ppt. (10.3% to 5.1%)
> Median household income: $48,362 (county) $52,413 (state)
> Largest place in county: Rocky Mount
34. North Dakota: Logan County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +78.9% (county) +0.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $192.3 million (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -0.5 ppt. (3.1% to 2.6%)
> Median household income: $58,144 (county) $63,473 (state)
> Largest place in county: Napoleon
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35. Ohio: Monroe County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +362.6% (county) +9.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $3.3 billion (0.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.2 ppt. (10.0% to 7.8%)
> Median household income: $43,956 (county) $54,533 (state)
> Largest place in county: Woodsfield
36. Oklahoma: Washington County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +51.7% (county) +10.7% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $7.9 billion (4.0% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -0.9 ppt. (4.8% to 3.9%)
> Median household income: $52,103 (county) $51,424 (state)
> Largest place in county: Bartlesville
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37. Oregon: Deschutes County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +44.0% (county) +23.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $8.2 billion (3.8% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.3 ppt. (9.5% to 4.2%)
> Median household income: $63,680 (county) $59,393 (state)
> Largest place in county: Bend
38. Pennsylvania: Susquehanna County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +111.4% (county) +9.3% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $5.2 billion (0.7% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -3.1 ppt. (7.1% to 4.0%)
> Median household income: $53,059 (county) $59,445 (state)
> Largest place in county: Forest City
39. Rhode Island: Washington County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +11.4% (county) +3.0% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $6.3 billion (11.7% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.0 ppt. (8.6% to 3.6%)
> Median household income: $81,301 (county) $63,296 (state)
> Largest place in county: Westerly
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40. South Carolina: Lancaster County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +63.8% (county) +15.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $3.5 billion (1.7% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.5 ppt. (9.3% to 3.8%)
> Median household income: $55,223 (county) $51,015 (state)
> Largest place in county: Lancaster
41. South Dakota: Sanborn County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +44.1% (county) +6.6% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $169.2 million (0.4% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -0.1 ppt. (3.0% to 2.9%)
> Median household income: $54,899 (county) $56,499 (state)
> Largest place in county: Woonsocket
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42. Tennessee: Rhea County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +37.0% (county) +12.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.9 billion (0.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -5.1 ppt. (10.7% to 5.6%)
> Median household income: $39,451 (county) $50,972 (state)
> Largest place in county: Dayton
43. Texas: Loving County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +947.1% (county) +16.3% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $9.6 billion (0.6% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.4 ppt. (5.3% to 3.9%)
> Median household income: $81,875 (county) $59,570 (state)
> Largest place in county: N/A
44. Utah: Daggett County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +92.2% (county) +20.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $109.9 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -0.5 ppt. (4.9% to 4.4%)
> Median household income: $81,250 (county) $68,374 (state)
> Largest place in county: Manila
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45. Vermont: Addison County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +11.5% (county) +4.4% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.5 billion (5.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.5 ppt. (4.1% to 2.6%)
> Median household income: $65,093 (county) $60,076 (state)
> Largest place in county: Middlebury
46. Virginia: Brunswick County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +123.4% (county) +6.8% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $788.3 million (0.2% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.5 ppt. (9.4% to 4.9%)
> Median household income: $41,927 (county) $71,564 (state)
> Largest place in county: Lawrenceville
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47. Washington: Columbia County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +43.2% (county) +24.5% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $433.8 million (0.1% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -2.4 ppt. (8.0% to 5.6%)
> Median household income: $51,111 (county) $70,116 (state)
> Largest place in county: Dayton
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48. West Virginia: Doddridge County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +318.3% (county) +1.9% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.4 billion (1.9% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -1.3 ppt. (5.3% to 4.0%)
> Median household income: $46,449 (county) $44,921 (state)
> Largest place in county: West Union
49. Wisconsin: Monroe County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +23.8% (county) +9.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $2.2 billion (0.7% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: -4.2 ppt. (6.9% to 2.7%)
> Median household income: $58,178 (county) $59,209 (state)
> Largest place in county: Sparta
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50. Wyoming: Converse County
> GDP change 2013-2018: +21.7% (county) -1.2% (state)
> 2018 county GDP: $1.5 billion (3.9% of state GDP)
> Fastest growing industry: Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
> Unemployment change 2013-2018: +0.0 ppt. (3.7% – 3.7%)
> Median household income: $63,923 (county) $62,268 (state)
> Largest place in county: Douglas
Methodology
To determine the fastest growing local economy in every state, 24/7 Wall St. calculated the change in real GDP from 2013 to 2018 for every U.S. county or county equivalent with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP figures are chained to 2012 dollars. All data on industry level GDP also came from the BEA.
Average annual unemployment rates for 2018 and 2013 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data on population and median household income are five year estimates for 2018 and are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Largest place in the county is based on population ACS population estimates and places can include cities, towns, villages, and Census designated places.
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