Rural economies depend on different industries

Rural U.S. counties depend on various industries for employment, wages, and revenue, with about 25 percent dependent on manufacturing and 17 percent dependent on agriculture. Out of the 1,958 rural counties, manufacturing was dominant in 495, while farming led in 329. Additionally, recreation led in 200 counties, Federal and State government led in 79 counties, and mining led in 78 counties. These are industries where rural workers and businesses export goods and provide services to non-local markets. Exporting goods and services brings additional revenue and income to the local market, but dependence on a single industry can leave a county's economy vulnerable to market volatility. In 777 rural counties, none of these six industries were dominant.