Non-Specialized Counties

Non-specialized counties are those that did not have a high concentration of earnings or jobs in any one of farming, mining, manufacturing, or Federal and State Government and did not have a high concentration of economic activity (as measured using … Continued

Population Loss Counties

Population loss counties are those where the number of county residents declined between the 1990 and 2000 censuses and also between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.

Low Employment Counties

Low employment counties are those where less than 63 percent of residents ages 25 to 54 were employed in the 2018–22 5-year ACS.Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas are based on the U.S. Office of Management and Budget 2023 delineation of core … Continued

Housing Stress Counties

Housing stress counties are those where at least 29 percent of owner- and renter-occupied housing units had at least one of the following conditions in the 2018–22 5-year ACS: 1) lacking complete plumbing facilities, 2) lacking complete kitchen facilities, 3) … Continued

Farming Dependent Counties

Farming dependent counties are those where at least 20 percent of the county’s annual average labor and proprietors’ earnings came from farming or at least 17 percent of the annual average number of jobs in the county were derived from … Continued

Recreation Dependent Counties

Recreation dependent counties are determined by a weighted z-score of the factors listed was at least two-thirds of a standard deviation above the nonmetro mean (greater than or equal to 0.67) for: 1. Jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation … Continued

Low Education Counties

Low education counties are those where at least 57 percent of residents ages 25 to 64 did not have any post-secondary education in the 2018–22 5-year American Community Survey (ACS). Metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas are based on the U.S. Office … Continued

Manufacturing Dependent Counties

Manufacturing dependent counties are those where at least 25 percent of the county’s annual average earnings came from manufacturing or at least 17 percent of the annual average number of jobs in the county were in manufacturing over the 3-year … Continued

Persistent Poverty Counties

Persistent poverty counties are those where 20% or more of county residents were poor, measured by the 1990 and 2000 Decennial Censuses and in the 2007–11 and 2017–21 5-year American Community Surveys.

Mining Dependent Counties

Mining dependent counties are those where at least 11 percent of the county’s annual average earnings came from mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction or at least 7 percent of the annual average number of jobs in the county … Continued