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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

Rockbridge County10,3541,2671,3621,11245519731556003802,966838370532
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
Augusta County39,0564,3096,0445,8562,3833241,6792,48991,0478,8712,4022,1731,470
Bedford County38,8374,0464,8364,8272,2403422,7482,43071,3619,7932,4662,1981,543
Botetourt County16,4901,5092,0712,2681,1462811,088791518533,8017001,169762
Amherst County15,3791,4612,0722,110841127614571885464,1471,213710879
Nelson County6,8831,0954788911958540362802541,494710337313
Alleghany County6,0526601,279630429911914702011,555439227357
Buena Vista city2,8591992753413143111990111812480165192
Lexington city2,82362511868287303680721,39930910770
Bath County1,7483121231512436602707938138742126
 
Per Cent to Total Employed 16 and OverDiversity
Index
 

Rockbridge County14.3812.2413.1510.744.391.903.045.410.003.6728.658.093.575.14
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
Augusta County12.8911.0315.4814.996.100.834.306.370.022.6822.716.155.563.76
Bedford County12.7810.4212.4512.435.770.887.086.260.023.5025.226.355.663.97
Botetourt County11.969.1512.5613.756.951.706.604.800.315.1723.054.247.094.62
Amherst County13.779.5013.4713.725.470.833.993.710.573.5526.977.894.625.72
Nelson County12.3215.916.9412.942.831.235.869.120.003.6921.7110.324.904.55
Alleghany County15.0710.9121.1310.417.090.151.972.430.003.3225.697.253.755.90
Buena Vista city14.966.969.6211.931.081.503.883.460.003.8828.4016.795.776.72
Lexington city28.432.201.816.592.903.081.0613.040.002.5549.5610.953.792.48
Bath County15.0617.857.048.641.372.063.431.540.004.5221.8022.142.407.21
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Rockbridge County 168.30186.6194.1491.11108.1146.7243.540.0087.98128.94100.3268.4157.38
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
Augusta County 151.74219.54131.43126.5147.1466.0151.3119.1364.26102.2476.23106.5142.03
Bedford County 143.28176.65108.95119.5950.04108.6550.3714.9684.01113.5078.70108.3444.37
Botetourt County 125.86178.17120.56144.0996.82101.3138.62256.71124.00103.7552.62135.7151.60
Amherst County 130.66191.13120.26113.3846.9261.3129.89474.9685.11121.3897.7688.3863.82
Nelson County 218.8098.52113.4758.7470.1789.9173.460.0088.4697.70127.8693.7350.78
Alleghany County 149.99299.8191.25146.978.4530.1919.560.0079.62115.6589.9171.8065.87
Buena Vista city 95.73136.46104.5522.4885.4659.6227.880.0093.07127.84208.10110.4874.99
Lexington city 30.2125.6357.7560.23175.1116.32104.950.0061.14223.06135.6772.5627.69
Bath County 245.4899.8375.7228.47117.0252.7112.440.00108.3498.11274.4246.0080.49
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Rockbridge County 143.36132.6081.7274.75101.9045.2266.730.0088.02122.5593.1676.06107.81
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
Augusta County 129.25155.99114.09103.7844.4363.9078.6318.1164.2997.1770.79118.4278.97
Bedford County 122.05125.5294.5898.1147.16105.1877.2014.1784.05107.8873.09120.4683.36
Botetourt County 107.20126.60104.66118.2191.2698.0859.18243.12124.0698.6148.86150.8896.96
Amherst County 111.29135.81104.4093.0244.2359.3545.81449.8285.15115.3690.7998.26119.93
Nelson County 186.3770.0098.5048.1966.1487.04112.570.0088.5092.86118.73104.2195.42
Alleghany County 127.76213.0379.21120.577.9629.2329.970.0079.65109.9283.5079.83123.77
Buena Vista city 81.5496.9690.7618.4480.5557.7142.720.0093.11121.51193.25122.83140.91
Lexington city 25.7318.2150.1449.41165.0515.80160.840.0061.17212.01125.9980.6752.03
Bath County 209.1070.9365.7323.35110.3051.0219.060.00108.3993.25254.8451.14151.25


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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