The COVID-19 pandemic caused the most significant GDP decline in modern U.S. history. Many businesses shuttered and many workers lost jobs, bringing the economy to a screeching halt. Even when factoring in the devastating effects of 2020, many local economies still grew overall from 2015 to 2020.
Each state had at least one county in which the GDP increased from 2015 to 2020. In some states, GDP in the fastest growing local economy increased by just a few percentage points. In others, the size of the county’s economy more than doubled.
To determine the fastest growing local economy in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on real GDP at the county level from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Counties were ranked based on percentage change in real GDP from 2015 to 2020.
The majority of the counties in each state with the fastest growing economy are not especially wealthy areas. Most have median household incomes that are lower than the U.S. median of $64,994.
The U.S. has one of the most diverse economies in the world, and the fastest growing local economies in each state were buoyed by a wide variety of industries. Multiple counties on this list had manufacturing, utilities, agriculture, management, information, and oil and gas extraction rank as their fastest growing industry. This is the fastest growing job in every state.
Click here to see the fastest growing local economy in every state
Alabama: Clay County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +26.0% (county); +2.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.4%
> Median household income: $42,678
> Largest place in county: Lineville
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Alaska: Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +10.8% (county); +-8.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 7.8%
> Median household income: $54,018
> Largest place in county: Metlakatla
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Arizona: Graham County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +37.3% (county); +13.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.0%
> Median household income: $55,693
> Largest place in county: Safford
Arkansas: Mississippi County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +32.6% (county); +2.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 7.0%
> Median household income: $42,986
> Largest place in county: Blytheville
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California: Marin County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +39.7% (county); +13.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.8%
> Median household income: $121,671
> Largest place in county: San Rafael
Colorado: Kiowa County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +86.4% (county); +10.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.4%
> Median household income: $39,503
> Largest place in county: Eads
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Connecticut: Tolland County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +3.4% (county); +-2.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Transportation and warehousing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.8%
> Median household income: $87,809
> Largest place in county: Storrs
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Delaware: Kent County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +12.9% (county); +-7.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 5.2%
> Median household income: $60,117
> Largest place in county: Dover
Florida: Sumter County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +45.3% (county); +10.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Construction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.2%
> Median household income: $59,618
> Largest place in county: The Villages
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Georgia: Brooks County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +47.0% (county); +9.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.2%
> Median household income: $37,516
> Largest place in county: Quitman
Hawaii: Hawaii County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +1.4% (county); +-6.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.7%
> Median household income: $65,401
> Largest place in county: Hilo
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Idaho: Jefferson County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +43.4% (county); +16.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.9%
> Median household income: $65,577
> Largest place in county: Rigby
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Illinois: Cumberland County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +59.2% (county); +-1.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.3%
> Median household income: $59,271
> Largest place in county: Neoga
Indiana: Posey County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +156.4% (county); +5.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.1%
> Median household income: $64,983
> Largest place in county: Mount Vernon
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Iowa: Ida County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +42.6% (county); +-1.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.1%
> Median household income: $54,219
> Largest place in county: Ida Grove
#/media/File:Greeley_County,_Kansas_courthouse_from_NW.JPG "Greeley County courthouse in Tribune, Kansas by Ammodramus")
Kansas: Greeley County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +100.0% (county); +5.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 1.0%
> Median household income: $53,750
> Largest place in county: Tribune
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Kentucky: Scott County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +30.5% (county); +1.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.0%
> Median household income: $71,750
> Largest place in county: Georgetown
Louisiana: St. James Parish
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +43.8% (county); +-4.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 5.5%
> Median household income: $53,209
> Largest place in county: South Vacherie
Maine: Waldo County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +16.8% (county); +8.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Wholesale trade
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.8%
> Median household income: $58,034
> Largest place in county: Belfast
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Maryland: Cecil County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +18.7% (county); +1.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Transportation and warehousing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.4%
> Median household income: $79,415
> Largest place in county: Elkton
Massachusetts: Suffolk County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +13.0% (county); +6.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.7%
> Median household income: $74,881
> Largest place in county: Boston
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Michigan: Clare County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +26.9% (county); +0.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 8.9%
> Median household income: $41,163
> Largest place in county: Clare
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Minnesota: Pennington County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +35.4% (county); +2.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.1%
> Median household income: $60,940
> Largest place in county: Thief River Falls
Mississippi: Issaquena County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +129.1% (county); +-0.8% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: N/A
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 8.7%
> Median household income: $28,333
> Largest place in county: Mayersville
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Missouri: Sullivan County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +101.9% (county); +1.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Educational services
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.6%
> Median household income: $44,056
> Largest place in county: Milan
Montana: Chouteau County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +54.7% (county); +1.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.3%
> Median household income: $45,707
> Largest place in county: Fort Benton
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Nebraska: Dixon County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +58.2% (county); +5.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.2%
> Median household income: $57,243
> Largest place in county: Wakefield
Nevada: Storey County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +96.7% (county); +6.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.3%
> Median household income: $64,000
> Largest place in county: Virginia City
New Hampshire: Hillsborough County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +7.4% (county); +4.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.5%
> Median household income: $82,099
> Largest place in county: Manchester
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New Jersey: Mercer County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +16.5% (county); +1.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.5%
> Median household income: $83,306
> Largest place in county: Trenton
New Mexico: Eddy County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +31.9% (county); +3.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.3%
> Median household income: $65,000
> Largest place in county: Carlsbad
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New York: Rensselaer County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +23.3% (county); +3.4% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.7%
> Median household income: $72,510
> Largest place in county: Troy
North Carolina: Transylvania County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +89.5% (county); +5.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.3%
> Median household income: $51,509
> Largest place in county: Brevard
North Dakota: Towner County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +110.1% (county); +-3.5% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.9%
> Median household income: $49,464
> Largest place in county: Cando
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Ohio: Monroe County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +78.2% (county); +1.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 8.3%
> Median household income: $46,241
> Largest place in county: Woodsfield
Oklahoma: Kingfisher County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +37.7% (county); +-3.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Retail trade
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 2.0%
> Median household income: $61,738
> Largest place in county: Beaver Valley
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Oregon: Crook County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +28.4% (county); +12.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 5.7%
> Median household income: $59,000
> Largest place in county: Prineville
Pennsylvania: Potter County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +21.3% (county); +0.2% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 7.0%
> Median household income: $47,696
> Largest place in county: Coudersport
Rhode Island: Newport County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +5.7% (county); +-2.7% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Finance and insurance
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.2%
> Median household income: $84,282
> Largest place in county: Newport
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South Carolina: Lancaster County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +38.9% (county); +8.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Information
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 4.7%
> Median household income: $65,421
> Largest place in county: Lancaster
South Dakota: Clark County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +53.5% (county); +2.2% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.8%
> Median household income: $50,709
> Largest place in county: Clark
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Tennessee: Moore County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +134.8% (county); +3.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Construction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 1.8%
> Median household income: $63,762
> Largest place in county: Lynchburg, Moore County
Texas: Loving County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +285.9% (county); +8.0% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 0.8%
> Median household income: $44,076
> Largest place in county: Mentone
Utah: Utah County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +36.0% (county); +20.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 1.8%
> Median household income: $77,057
> Largest place in county: Provo
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Vermont: Franklin County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +5.1% (county); +-1.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Wholesale trade
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.0%
> Median household income: $65,314
> Largest place in county: St. Albans
Virginia: Brunswick County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +161.8% (county); +4.1% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 5.4%
> Median household income: $46,111
> Largest place in county: Lawrenceville
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Washington: Klickitat County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +52.2% (county); +20.6% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Manufacturing
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 6.5%
> Median household income: $56,667
> Largest place in county: Goldendale
West Virginia: Doddridge County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +55.8% (county); +-1.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Utilities
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.5%
> Median household income: $51,300
> Largest place in county: West Union
Wisconsin: St. Croix County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +12.6% (county); +0.9% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Wholesale trade
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.5%
> Median household income: $84,985
> Largest place in county: Hudson
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Wyoming: Carbon County
> Real GDP growth, 2015 to 2020: +11.6% (county); +-10.3% (state)
> Fastest growing industry: Management of companies and enterprises
> Unemployment rate, Feb. 2022: 3.8%
> Median household income: $62,423
> Largest place in county: Rawlins
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