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Picture of valves The array of different industries in a county significantly impacts its economy in various ways, contributing to economic stability, growth, and resilience. Here are some key effects:

  1. Economic Stability and Resilience
    • Diversification Reduces Risk: A county with a diverse range of industries is less vulnerable to economic shocks. If one industry faces a downturn, others can help stabilize the economy.
    • Resilience to Market Fluctuations: Different industries often respond differently to market conditions. For example, while manufacturing might decline during a recession, healthcare or education might remain stable.

  2. Job Creation and Employment
    • Variety of Employment Opportunounties: A mix of industries provides a wide range of job opportunounties, catering to different skill sets and education levels.
    • Reduced Unemployment: Diversification helps maintain lower unemployment rates, as job losses in one sector can be offset by gains in another.

  3. Innovation and Competitiveness
    • Cross-Industry Collaboration: Different industries can foster innovation through collaboration. For example, technology companies working with healthcare providers can lead to advancements in medical technology.
    • Attracting Talent: A diverse industrial base attracts a skilled workforce, enhancing the county's competitiveness and ability to innovate.

  4. Economic Growth and Development
    • Increased GDP: A variety of industries contribute to the county's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), driving overall economic growth.
    • Infrastructure Development: The presence of multiple industries often leads to better infrastructure, such as transportation, utilounties, and communication networks, which further supports economic activounties.

  5. Tax Revenue and Public Services
    • Higher Tax Revenue: A diverse industrial base generates more tax revenue from different sources, including corporate taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes.
    • Funding for Public Services: Increased tax revenue allows the county to invest in public services like education, healthcare, and public safety, improving the quality of life for residents.

  6. Attracting Investment
    • Investor Confidence: A diversified economy is more attractive to investors, as it reduces the risk associated with economic downturns in any single industry.
    • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Counties with a variety of industries are more likely to attract FDI, which can further boost economic growth.

  7. Quality of Life
    • Variety of Goods and Services: A diverse economy ensures a wide range of goods and services are available to residents, improving their quality of life.
    • Cultural and Social Benefits: Different industries often bring cultural and social diversity, enriching the county's cultural landscape and community life.

  8. Environmental Impact
    • Sustainable Practices: A mix of industries can promote sustainable practices, as different sectors may adopt varying approaches to environmental responsibility.
    • Balanced Resource Use: Diversification can lead to more balanced use of natural resources, reducing the environmental footprint of the county.

  9. Global Connectivity
    • Trade and Export Opportunounties: A diverse industrial base enhances a county's ability to engage in international trade, exporting a variety of goods and services.
    • Global Networks: Different industries often have global networks, increasing the county's connectivity and integration into the global economy.

In summary, the presence of a diverse array of industries in a county fosters economic stability, growth, and resilience, while also enhancing the quality of life for its residents and attracting investment and talent. This diversification is crucial for sustainable long-term economic development.

A diversification score measures the diversity of the industries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, industry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of economic failure for the county should those limited industries befall a calamity. The industry diversification score for this county is:

Most common industry excluding Educational Services is:

 
DescriptionEm­ployed
16 and
Over
Agri­culture/
Mining/
Con­struction
Manufac­turing Whole­sale/
Retail
Transpor­tation Infor­mation Finance/
Insu­rance/
Real Estate
Profes­sional
Services
Manage­ment
Services
Adminis­trative/
Waste Services
Educa­tional
Services
Enter­tainment
Services
Other
Profes­sional
Services
Public
Adminis­tration

Grayson County6,0606711,0416162692012018701731,642394348579
Virginia (in 000's)4,6113353255262228130057361921,024372241413
National (in 000's)170,84514,58316,94922,45210,0443,19011,49313,8472177,12439,93414,8428,0278,142
Surry County33,2683,8535,9584,9411,8113169231,43601,3507,4892,5031,6751,013
Washington County23,8252,2723,0794,0101,0282541,0411,119177476,0081,9731,0511,226
Wythe County12,8021,4092,2261,8438536954940504642,9161,219392457
Carroll County12,6651,2152,1411,84361111535533404633,0811,087634786
Smyth County11,8736462,6031,8094927825444905803,076737529620
Ashe County11,8021,6331,6591,73751815168444204602,745726597450
Johnson County6,6457171,1448953544636821201321,271612505389
Alleghany County4,539741571521135563663300169975368110197
Galax city3,06012948670133111421650133597253105305
 
Per Cent to Total Employed 16 and OverDiversity
Index
 

Grayson County14.6311.0717.1810.174.440.331.983.090.002.8527.106.505.749.55
Virginia11.397.277.0511.414.821.766.5112.420.124.1722.228.075.228.96
National11.778.549.9213.145.881.876.738.110.134.1723.378.694.704.77
Surry County13.4711.5817.9114.855.440.952.774.320.004.0622.517.525.033.04
Washington County13.629.5412.9216.834.311.074.374.700.073.1425.228.284.415.15
Wythe County13.4911.0117.3914.406.660.544.293.160.003.6222.789.523.063.57
Carroll County13.719.5916.9014.554.820.912.802.640.003.6624.338.585.016.21
Smyth County15.605.4421.9215.244.140.662.143.780.004.8925.916.214.465.22
Ashe County13.0813.8414.0614.724.391.285.803.750.003.9023.266.155.063.81
Johnson County12.1110.7917.2213.475.330.695.543.190.001.9919.139.217.605.85
Alleghany County12.5016.3312.5811.482.971.238.067.270.003.7221.488.112.424.34
Galax city14.264.2215.8822.911.080.364.645.390.004.3519.518.273.439.97
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Grayson County 152.29243.7089.1092.0418.7530.4124.840.0068.43121.9680.59109.93106.69
Virginia 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 117.40140.74115.19121.90106.09103.3065.25105.5999.95105.21107.6889.9553.22
Surry County 159.29254.07130.19112.8753.9742.6034.750.0097.28101.3393.2696.3934.00
Washington County 131.15183.34147.5389.4660.5867.0937.8159.2375.16113.51102.6584.4557.46
Wythe County 151.37246.67126.19138.1530.6265.8525.470.0086.88102.53118.0258.6239.86
Carroll County 131.94239.82127.55100.0351.5943.0421.230.0087.64109.50106.3895.8369.30
Smyth County 74.83311.02133.5585.9237.3332.8530.450.00117.10116.6176.9485.2958.31
Ashe County 190.30199.42129.0191.0072.7088.9930.150.0093.43104.6976.2596.8442.58
Johnson County 148.40244.23118.06110.4639.3385.0425.690.0047.6286.09114.16145.4965.37
Alleghany County 224.53178.46100.6161.6770.10123.8258.530.0089.2596.69100.4946.3948.46
Galax city 57.98225.32200.8022.3620.4371.2643.410.00104.1987.82102.4865.69111.30
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Grayson County 129.72173.1677.3575.5017.6829.4438.070.0068.47115.9274.84122.22200.48
Virginia 85.1871.0586.8182.0494.2696.81153.2594.71100.0595.0592.86111.18187.90
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Surry County 135.68180.53113.0292.5950.8741.2453.260.0097.3296.3186.60107.1663.89
Washington County 111.72130.27128.0773.3957.1064.9557.9556.0975.20107.8895.3293.89107.97
Wythe County 128.94175.27109.55113.3328.8763.7539.030.0086.9397.45109.6065.1774.90
Carroll County 112.39170.40110.7382.0648.6341.6732.540.0087.68104.0798.79106.54130.22
Smyth County 63.74221.00115.9470.4835.1831.8046.660.00117.16110.8471.4594.83109.57
Ashe County 162.10141.70111.9974.6668.5286.1546.210.0093.4899.5070.81107.6680.00
Johnson County 126.41173.54102.4990.6137.0782.3239.360.0047.6481.83106.01161.75122.83
Alleghany County 191.25126.8187.3450.5966.08119.8689.700.0089.3091.9093.3251.5891.07
Galax city 49.39160.10174.3218.3419.2568.9866.530.00104.2483.4795.1773.03209.14


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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