Government dependent counties are those where at least 13 percent of the county’s annual average earnings came from Federal and State Government or at least 8 percent of the annual average number of jobs in the county came from Federal and State Government over the 3-year average of 2019, 2021, and 2022. Federal earnings and jobs include (but are not limited to) those of civilian military, national park, and Federal correctional facility employees. State earnings and jobs include (but are not limited to) those of public State university, State correctional facility, and State legislature employees.

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 farming over the 3-year average of 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Persistent child poverty counties are those where 20% or more of county related children under 18 were poor, measured in the 1980, 1990, 2000 censuses, and the 2007-11 American Community Survey.

Mining dependent counties are those where 13% or more of the county’s average annual labor and proprietors’ earning were derived from mining, or 8% or more of jobs were in mining, as measured by 2010-12 Bureau of Economic Analysis, Local Area Personal Income and Employment data.

Manufacturing dependent counties are those where 23% or more of the county’s average annual labor and proprietors’ earning were derived from manufacturing, or 16% or more of jobs were in manufacturing, as measured by 2010-12 Bureau of Economic Analysis, Local Area Personal Income and Employment data.

Government dependent counties are those where 14% or more of the county’s average annual labor and proprietors’ earning were derived from federal or state government, or 9% or more of jobs were in federal or state government, as measured by 2010-12 Bureau of Economic Analysis, Local Area Personal Income and Employment data.

Recreation dependent counties are determined by a weighted index of three measures: 1. Jobs; 2. Earnings in the following: entertainment, recreation, accommodations, eating/drinking places, and real estate; and 3. the share of vacant housing units intended for seasonal/occasional use. Recreation counties are those with a score of more than one deviation above the mean. Sourse: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from Bureau of Economic Analysis and U.S. Census Bureau

Non-specialized counties are those that did not meet the economic dependence threshold for any other type, as measured by 2010-12 Bureau of Economic Analysis, Local Area Personal Income and Employment data.

Low education counties are those where 20% or more of county residents age 25-64 did not have a high school diploma or equivalent, determined by the American Community Survey 5 Year average data for 2008-12.

Low employment counties are those where less than 65% of county residents age 25-64 were not employed, determined by the American Community Survey 5 Year average data for 2008-12.