Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States

The Hound: From dead last in 2010 to 5th worst last year to tied with three cities for 4th worst this year. We aren't the worst in any category this year, but we skew towards the bottom in every category, which includes obesity, exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, smoking, stress, and the uninsured.

How do we work on fixing thour Health?
Platform for a 21st Century Hickory - an Agenda on Health and Wellness


(Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Updated 08:30 AM ET)

Provo-Orem, Utah, Leads U.S. Communities in Well-Being - San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., tops large communities - Gallup - Dan Witters

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Provo-Orem, Utah, has the highest Well-Being Index score (71.4) in the U.S. across 189 communities Gallup and Healthways surveyed in 2012-2013. Also in the top 10 are Boulder, Colo.; Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.

At 59.5, Huntington-Ashland, W.Va.-Ky.-Ohio, is the only community with a Well-Being Index score below 60. Huntington-Ashland also trailed all other metros in 2008, 2010, and 2011; its score of 58.1 in 2010 remains the lowest on record across five reporting periods spanning six years of data collection.

Charleston, W.Va., has the second-lowest score of 60.0. Redding, Calif.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.; round out the bottom six -- with the last three communities tied with a score of 62.2. None of these metro areas are strangers to the bottom 10 list, with each community having appeared at least once on the list in a prior reporting period.

The regional breakdown in well-being scores is largely consistent with Gallup and Healthways state-level results, which find well-being generally higher in the Midwest and West, and lower in the South. West Virginia, which is home to at least a portion of the two lowest-rated metro areas (Huntington-Ashland and Charleston), ranked last in the nation for well-being among states for the fifth consecutive year in 2013. The state of California ranked 17^th in overall well-being in 2013, but nevertheless boasts three metros in the top 10 for 2012-2013.

The Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) described in this article are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. In many cases, more than one city is included in the same MSA, and the same MSA can cross state borders (such as Huntington-Ashland). All reported MSAs encompass at least 300 completed surveys in 2012-2013, and Gallup has weighted each of these samples to ensure it is demographically representative of that MSA.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index score is an average of six sub-indexes, which individually examine life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors, and access to basic necessities. The overall score and each of the six sub-index scores are calculated on a scale from 0 to 100, where a score of 100 represents the ideal. Gallup and Healthways have been tracking these measures daily since January 2008

Our Individual (Hickory-Lenoir-Marganton) Rankings:
Obesity - 28.7% of the people in our area. (Best: Boulder, Colorado 12.4% - Worst: Huntington, Ohio 39.5%)
Exercise - 48.1% of the people in our area. (Best: Anchorage, Alaska 62.3% - Worst: Lafayette, Louisiana 43.4%)
Eat Produce Frequently - 54.6% of the people in our area. (Best: Olympia, Washington 65.7%  - Worst: McAllen, Texas 46.7%) 
Smoke - 30.1% of the people in our area. (Best: Provo, Utah 7% - Worst: Charleston, Wesy Virginia 34.3%)
Daily Stress - 57.7% of the people in our area. (Best: Gainesville, Florida 48.5% - Worst: Naples, Florida 70.3%)
Uninsured - 23.2% of the people in our area. (Best: Springfield, Massachusetts 4.6% - Worst: McAllen, Texas 51.2%)


From 2013 - Hickory Metro - 5th Most Miserable in the United States - March 27, 2013
From 2010 - Hickory - The lowest well being in the United States of America - November 1, 2010

Hickory - The lowest well being in the United States of America

The following article was pointed to me from a good friend and a mentor. Someone that I didn't think I had a lot in common with until sitting down to chat almost 2 years ago. What I realized was that this person is very much like myself. We don't agree on everything, but I would say that we agree on 90% of everything.

I think we have both learned a lot from one another, but I think he has a lot more to offer than I do. I enjoy his perspective and his intellectual capabilities when it comes to explaining himself in detail. I am not going to name this person, but he is someone that is well thought of by the people who are working to fix the problems in this community.

Tonight he sent me an article from the Herald-Sun of Durham from October 28th entitled Raleigh has one of highest well being in U S Hickory N C has LOWEST .

Despite the economy, residents at Raleigh, N.C., say they are thriving and have the best of all worlds, reporting one the highest Well-Being Index in the country, with an overall ranking of 16, according to Gallup and Healthways.

Yet less than 200 miles away, residents of Hickory, N.C. are suffering. So much so that according to the Gallup and Healthways’ Well-Being Index, the city of Hickory scored dead last at — 185 — among American cities when it comes to Life Evaluation and Emotional Health.

The Well-Being Index is the largest behavioral economic database ever created and measures Americans’ physical, emotional and financial well being in real time. Since 2008, Gallup and Healthways have been taking a snapshot of America’s well being.

While unemployment likely plays a significant role in how the communities feel (Hickory’s unemployment rate tops 12.6%), other factors, such as access to health care, location, and public resources also play a role.

The Hound wants to ask how many of these surveys do we have to rank at the bottom of until everyone who is a supporter of the Status Quo has their Come to Jesus Moment?

This survey ranks us dead last in well-being. Well-Being is defined as a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity; welfare.

There are people in this area that are still doing well, but the majority of people are stressed because the system we are living in is failing. If one looks around they can see the relative state of unhealthiness of most of the citizens in this area. Look at what they eat. Look at the foods that are available to our citizens and look at the restaurants that are busiest in our area. Do people eat junk, because it is what they demand or because it is what is available?

We need to find out what is going on around here with people's health. Do they exercise. If the obesity epidemic is caused by a lack of exercise, then what is the reasoning. Is it because of a lack of education on the issue, lack of availability of fitness opportunities, lack of time???...

The City of Hickory has already displayed an unwillingness to create an affordable facility for Aquatic recreation, which most healthcare professionals believe is the best form of aerobic exercise for all ages. The Mayor this morning on Hal Row's First Talk show on WHKY basically gave it a thumbs down by saying that we couldn't afford it and poo pooing a survey that he asked to have administered. Apparently he didn't like the way the questions were asked. Do we not see this exact form of manipulation and heavy handed administration with all of the Boards, Commissions, and Task Forces.

The information that I have been provided in regards to Hank Guess's Rental Property Task Force is that attempts have been made to derail it by some members of the City Council and Administration. People who were appointed to look at this issue have attempted to subvert the process and end any furtherance of the proceedings. Those involved in this subversion know who they are and their attempts wreak of individuals looking to protect the good ole boy network of special interests who do not want to adhere to the property code structure laid out and set forth by Council, administration, and staff. We have a local elected official who is an out and out slumlord and he owns dilapidated rental properties inside the city limits of Hickory.

What bothers me is that this violates the fairness that I have constantly railed about. I am tired of having to talk about the fact that certain people in the City of Hickory are not expected to respect the law, because of their status. That assessment has been verified by action and inaction pertaining to certain people and groups over and over again. Those closely associated with local governance should not only follow the rules, but they should be held to a higher standard.

We have seen administrative problems time and time again with tin eared cooperation over the years. The Airport Task Force, The Stormwater Task Force, the handling of the Drinking Establishment Ordinance in relation to the Cercil Brothers, the Randolph's situation... There are plenty of situations under this context that I have not exposed and I am sure even more that I have not been made privy to.

I have appreciated a lot of what Mayor Wright has said over the years. I like what he says about the Fair Trade issue. I like the way that he has shown a willingness to adapt to new ideas when information shows that the old contexts aren't cracked up to what they were thought to be. I think we are on the same page when it comes to moving away from the Retirement Village concept. I appreciated his energy and passion when it came to the Inter Basin Transfer.

I just hope that others will come to the table and realize that this community has headed down the wrong path on many issues. Some of these people are associated with local governance and others are considered Prime Movers in the community. The bottom line is that we are all stakeholders in this community, not just the hoity-toities.

The saying goes "Pride cometh before the fall." There have been too many special interests and individuals who are proud and think they are better than everyone else and their specialness means that they don't have to follow the rules. Well, the statistics and surveys show that this community is not doing well. You can live in denial, but in the end the amount of evidence is overwhelming and makes one look delusional to argue against it. So the best thing to do is join those of us who are looking for outside the box solutions in this fast paced, exponentially changing World.

Economic Stories of Relevance in Today's World -- November 13, 2011

For Bank Of America, Debit Fees Extend To Unemployment Benefits - Huffington Post - Janell Ross | Nov 10, 2011 - CORDOVA, S.C.-- Shawana Busby does not seem like the sort of customer who would be at the center of a major bank's business plan. Out of work for much of the last three years, she depends upon a $264-a-week unemployment check from the state of South Carolina. But the state has contracted with Bank of America to administer its unemployment benefits, and Busby has frequently found herself incurring bank fees to get her money.          To withdraw her benefits, Busby, 33, uses a Bank of America prepaid debit card on which the state deposits her funds. She could visit a Bank of America ATM free of charge. But this small community in the state's rural center, her hometown, does not have a Bank of America branch. Neither do the surrounding towns where she drops off her kids at school and attends church.          She could drive north to Columbia, the state capital, and use a Bank of America ATM there. But that entails a 50 mile drive, cutting into her gas budget. So Busby visits the ATMs in her area and begrudgingly accepts the fees, which reach as high as five dollars per transaction. She estimates that she has paid at least $350 in fees to tap her unemployment benefits.          "It really boggles my mind," she said. "This bank is taking little bits of money out of thousands of pockets, including mine."          Bank of America recently aborted plans to charge ordinary banking customers $5 a month to use their debit cards in the face of national outrage. But the bank has quietly continued to mine another source of fees: jobless people who depend upon the bank's prepaid debit cards to tap their benefits. Bank of America and other financial firms -- including U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase -- have secured contracts to provide access to public benefits in 41 states. These contracts typically allow banks to collect unlimited fees from merchants and consumers.          In short, the same banks whose speculation delivered a financial crisis that has destroyed millions of jobs have figured out how to turn widespread unemployment into a profit center: The larger the number of people who are out of work and dependent upon the state for sustenance, the greater the potential gains through administering their benefits.          "It's absolutely ridiculous," said Sue Berkowitz, director of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, a Columbia nonprofit that represents low-income people facing foreclosure, food insecurity and other problems. "It should not cost you any more to use a debit card than if they had issued you a check."         For the state, handing Bank of America responsibility for unemployment benefits secured cost savings, said Berkowitz, but they have come at vulnerable people's expense.          "When it comes to ordinary people getting the benefits they have earned, the benefits they need, they don't seem to spend a lot of time worrying," she said.          Bank of America asserts that its prepaid debit cards are a good deal for everyone -- from state taxpayers to people drawing unemployment benefits.          "We have provided prepaid card programs to government agencies for many years," said Jefferson George, a Bank of America spokesman based at the company's Charlotte headquarters. "Clients value the cost savings and increased efficiency and individuals appreciate the ability to receive their benefits payments more quickly and securely."              South Carolina officials say their state's current arrangement with Bank of America, launched in July 2010, has proven a good value for taxpayers. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, which oversees unemployment benefits, expects to save as much $5 million in check printing and mailing costs annually through its contract with Bank of America, said an agency spokeswoman, Adrienne Fairwell. She said the state was also attracted to the debit cards as a means of helping jobless people who do not have bank accounts avoid the fees they must pay to cash checks. Roughly one tenth of all South Carolina households -- about 182,000 families -- did not have a bank account as of last fall, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. But some banking experts say the relevant cost savings are accruing to the banks themselves. New federal regulations cap what banks can collect from merchants when consumers swipe ordinary debit cards at store cash registers. The new swipe fee limits will cut Bank of America's revenues by $2 billion this year, according to Richard Bove, an analyst who follows Bank of America for Connecticut-based brokerage and research service Rochdale Securities. "Most banks are aiming to recoup 30 to 50 percent through other methods," which include prepaid card fees, said Nancy Bush, an analyst with NAB Research, LLC, a a New Jersey-based investment consulting company, who monitors Bank of America.          Those limits do not apply to most prepaid debit cards, making them particularly attractive to banks, say experts. Prepaid cards are still a small business for banks, but the sector is quickly growing, experts say. South Carolina now distributes half of all unemployment benefits using Bank of America prepaid debit cards, according to the state department of employment and workforce, with most of the other half delivered through direct deposit.          Neither the state nor Bank of America would disclose the details of their contractual arrangement. A bank spokesman termed the deal "confidential." When The Huffington Post asked the state for for the details of the contract, the spokeswoman required the submission of a formal Freedom of Information Act request. Yet one week after that request was lodged, the state has not provided the contract terms. But The Herald, a Rock Hill, S.C. newspaper, reported in 2009 that South Carolina pays the bank a 3 cent fee for each transfer it facilitates on a prepaid debit card. The bank collects the same fees from the state for handling direct deposit of unemployment benefits, a state spokesperson said. Banking experts say the real money lies in the fees the bank collects for a range of services. When the state first contracted with Bank of America, the list of potential fees the bank was allowed to collect included a $1.50 charge when a customer visited a bank ATM or teller more than once per week, a $1.50 charge for use of an out-of-network ATM, a $1.50 charge for speaking to a customer service operator more than once per month, and 50 cents for entering the wrong PIN number at an ATM more than four times or requesting more funds from an ATM than remained on the card......


Americans' Ability to Afford Food Nears Three-Year Low - Overall access to basic needs also declines to a new low - Gallup - by Lymari Morales - November 10, 2011 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of Americans reporting that they had enough money to buy the food they or their families needed continued to decline in October, nearing the record low seen in November 2008. The percentage who did not lack money for food in 2011 fell to 79.8% from 80.1% in September, continuing a decline that began in April. This is only the second time since Gallup and Healthways began tracking this measure as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index in January 2008 that less than 80% of Americans reported that they had enough money to buy food throughout the past year. The record low was in November 2008, at the start of the economic crisis, when 79.4% reported that they had enough money to buy food for themselves or their families. This measure -- which asks if one had enough money to buy food in the past 12 months -- has decreased to its lowest level of the calendar year each October since 2009. The reason for this pattern is unclear and does not appear to be related to world food prices. In 2008, fewer Americans reported that they had enough money to buy food in August and November than in October, likely affected by high gas prices in the former case and the onset of the economic crisis in the latter. Still, this October finds fewer Americans saying that they had enough money to buy food over the past year than in each October for the past three years.          Further indicating that Americans are facing mounting economic strain, the percentages saying they have enough money to provide adequate shelter or housing and healthcare and/or medicines for themselves or their families have also declined each October since 2009. These percentages did show slight improvement between 2008 and 2009. ...


Thanksgiving Meal Cost Jumps 13% - Bloomberg - Jeff Wilson - Nov 10, 2011 -  The cost of a Thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. will jump 13 percent this year, the biggest gain in two decades, as prices rose for everything from turkey to green peas to milk, the American Farm Bureau Federation said.
A meal for 10 people on the holiday, which falls on Nov. 24 this year, will rise to $49.20 from $43.47 last year, the biggest increase since 1990, based on foods traditionally served including stuffing and pumpkin pie, the farm group said today in a release. Turkey was the most expensive and had the biggest gain, with a 16-pound bird up 22 percent at $21.57.                “Our informal survey is a good barometer of the rising trend in food prices this year,” John Anderson, a senior economist at the Farm Bureau in Washington, said in a telephone interview. “We are starting to see the supply response to higher prices, but there are substantial lags.”                Thanksgiving meal costs are up more than the pace of food inflation in the U.S., where the government forecasts prices will increase 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent this year, the fastest since 2008. Rising commodity and energy prices boosted the cost of food eaten at home by 6.3 percent in September compared with a year earlier, according to data from the Census Bureau.


Median home prices fall for 3Q in most US cities - AP - By DEREK KRAVITZ, AP Real Estate Writer - November 9, 2011 - WASHINGTON — Home prices dropped in nearly three quarters of U.S. cities over the summer, dragged down by a decline in buyer interest and a high number of foreclosures. The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that the median price for previously occupied homes fell in the July-September quarter in 111 out of 150 metropolitan areas tracked by the group. Prices are compared with the same quarter from the previous year. Fourteen cities had double-digit declines. The median price in Mobile, Ala. dropped 17.7 percent, the largest of all declines. Phoenix and Allentown, Pa., Atlanta, Las Vegas and Miami also experienced steep declines. Eight cities saw double-digit price increases. The largest was in Grand Rapids, Mich., where the median price rose 23.7 percent. South Bend, Ind., Palm Bay, Fla., and Youngstown, Ohio also saw large price increases. The national median home price was $169,500 in the third quarter, down 4.7 percent from the same period last year. Most analysts say prices will sink further because unemployment remains high and millions of foreclosures are expected to come onto the market over the next few years....



Ten Million American Families Sliding Towards Foreclosure - Sherwood Ross - Infowars.com - November 8, 2011 - Of the 55-million families with mortgages, 10.4-million of them “are sliding toward failure and foreclosure”—a tragedy that will depress the U.S. housing market for years to come, a result of too many houses for sale and too few buyers.                     That’s the blunt conclusion of distinguished economics journalist William Greider, to be published in an article in the November 14th issue of The Nation magazine. America’s “Economic recovery will have to wait until that surplus (excess houses) is gone, because the housing sector has always led the way out of recession,” Greider says. “The more housing supply exceeds demand, the more prices fall. The more prices fall, the more families get sucked into the deep muddy. The vicious cycle is known in the industry as the death spiral. So far, there’s no end in sight.”                     Greider says the solution is to forgive the debtors: “Write down the principal they owe on their mortgage to match the current market value of their home, so they will no longer be underwater. Refinance the loan with a reduced interest rate, so the monthly payment is at a level that the struggling homeowner can handle.”                  Forgiving the debtors is the right thing to do, Greider continues, “because the bankers have already been forgiven. The largest banks were in effect relieved of any guilt for their crimes of systemic fraud or for causing the financial breakdown—when the government bailed them out, no questions asked.”                 Far from a show of gratitude, Greider notes the response of the banks has been ugly. “Right now, these trillion-dollar institutions are methodically harvesting the last possible pound of flesh from millions of homeowners before kicking these failing debtors out of their homes—the story known as the ‘foreclosure crisis.’”                   The largest and most powerful banks are standing in the way of the solution and the Obama administration “is standing with them,” Greider adds, “because bankers and other creditors would have to take a big hit if they were forced to write down the debt owed by borrowers. The banks would have to report reduced capital and their revenue would decline if homeowners were allowed to make smaller monthly payments.”



12 FactsAbout Money And Congress That Are So Outrageous That It Is Hard To Believe That They Are Actually True - The Economic Collapse Blog

#1 The collective net worth of all of the members of Congress increased by 25 percent between 2008 and 2010.
#2 The collective net worth of all of the members of Congress is now slightly over 2 billion dollars.  That is "billion" with a "b".
#3 This happened during a time when the net worth of most American households was declining rapidly.  According to the Federal Reserve, the collective net worth of all American households decreased by 23 percent between 2007 and 2009.
#4 The average net worth for a member of Congress is now approximately 3.8 million dollars.
#5 The net worth of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi increased by 62 percent from 2009 to 2010.  In 2009 it was reported that she had a net worth of 21.7 million dollars, and in 2010 it was reported that she had a net worth of 35.2 million dollars.
#6 The top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, saw his wealth grow by 29 percent from 2009 to 2010.  He is now worth approximately 9.8 million dollars.
#7 More than 50 percent of the members of the U.S. Congress are millionaires.
#8 In 2008, the average cost of winning a seat in the House of Representatives was $1.1 million and the average cost of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate was $6.5 million.  Spending on political campaigns has gotten way out of control.
#9 Insider trading is perfectly legal for members of the U.S. Congress - and they refuse to pass a law that would change that.
#10 The percentage of millionaires in Congress is more than 50 times higher than the percentage of millionaires in the general population.
#11 U.S. Representative Darrell Issa is worth approximately 220 million dollars.  His wealth grew by approximately 37 percent from 2009 to 2010.
#12 The wealthiest member of Congress, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, is worth approximately 294 million dollars.

Insider Trading by Nancy Pelosi - The appearance of impropriety is impropriety!!!

Judge Napolitano: Feds Fix Economic Numbers

The Case for Credibility: A 17-Year Record of Civic Foresight

In the unfolding civic narrative of Hickory, North Carolina—marked by economic repositioning, demographic flux, and cultural realignment—few voices have offered the level of constancy, clarity, and grounded foresight as that of James Thomas Shell. Over the course of nearly two decades, Shell has authored a sustained body of public work whose relevance has only sharpened with time. From the Letters to the Editor of the Hickory Daily Record to the earliest days of The Hickory Hound in 2008 through the continuation and relaunch in 2025, Shell’s contributions offer more than commentary—they constitute a verifiable archive of systems-level analysis that has persistently anticipated the region’s socio-economic trajectory with uncommon accuracy.

In October 2009, Shell’s landmark Fixing Hickory series put forward a blueprint for long-term economic stabilization and community development. These essays were not reactive screeds but structured recommendations drawn from regional data, national comparisons, and institutional knowledge. He called for industry targeting over shotgun development, institutional collaboration with the likes of Appalachian State, Wake Forest University, and NC State, and a reorientation of local education toward practical workforce development through Catawba Valley Community College and its Manufacturing Solutions Center. At the time, such proposals were neither embraced nor widely understood. Fifteen years later, much of this framework has proven prophetic. CVCC’s expanded role in advanced manufacturing, coupled with regional grants for downtown and broadband revitalization, reflect the very reforms Shell laid out before they became fashionable.

Shell’s warnings on population stagnation were similarly ahead of their time. Between 2010 and 2023, Hickory’s population increased by only 8.6%—from 40,093 to 44,415—a modest gain that fell well below the region’s potential and underscored Shell’s early arguments about the dangers of demographic complacency. Meanwhile, other mid-sized cities in the Southeast, such as Greenville and Spartanburg, leveraged cohesive civic vision and bottom-up economic strategies to attract youth, capital, and innovation. Hickory, by contrast, clung for too long to a top-down model of development championed by marketing campaigns and bond-funded infrastructure with uncertain long-term returns. Shell’s criticism of this model—particularly the 2014 bond process—was not a rejection of public investment, but a call for transparent, strategic planning aligned with authentic public needs.

In 2013, alongside collaborators, Shell proposed The Platform for a 21st Century Hickory, a civic framework that demanded term limits, independent citizen boards, and more transparent access to public information. These were not ideological bullet points but governance proposals grounded in the principles of accountability, engagement, and decentralized power. They presaged the broader political moment of distrust in elite management and growing calls for democratic reform across both local and national scales. Hickory’s eventual incorporation of more participatory projects in its $90 million bond rollout—in areas like parks, streetscapes, and trails—bears the imprint of these civic currents.

Between 2017 and 2020, Shell expanded his regional scope through contributions to Foothills Digest. These writings synthesized local experience with broader trends in economics, demographics, and technology. He examined the creeping influence of tech monopolies on cultural identity, the rising threat of housing unaffordability for working-class residents, and the implications of wage stagnation in a service-based economy. Here too, Shell’s perspective found confirmation in the years that followed. As Hickory’s housing values climbed and its poverty rates remained entrenched around 16–17%, his earlier appeals for housing access, wage equity, and community-scale economic tools gained urgency. Likewise, his concerns about digital exclusion—especially in rural or underserved neighborhoods—found echoes in North Carolina’s subsequent broadband grant initiatives and municipal fiber proposals, many of which mirrored the critiques he laid out years prior.

By 2025, Shell had reemerged as a digitally agile civic voice, integrating advanced tools such as AI narration and scripting, while staying rooted in the same community-first ethos that defined his early work. His Substack platform, The Hound’s Signal, broadened the scope of his analysis to the greater Foothills Corridor, weaving together threads of history, policy, and lived experience. Yet his mission remained consistent: to offer citizens a plainspoken, data-grounded view of where their community stands—and where it might go. In this latest iteration, Shell has embraced not just analysis, but pedagogy (methods of teaching). His articles now serve as civic tools, teaching residents how to interpret data, how to demand accountability, and how to reclaim ownership of local narratives.

Shell’s enduring credibility stems not only from the accuracy of his forecasts but from the methodical rigor with which they were constructed. He draws on sources ranging from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index to North Carolina General Statutes, ensuring that each critique is grounded in verifiable fact. This commitment to transparency has enabled him to thread the needle between activism and analysis. While his proximity to local institutions has, at times, prompted claims of bias, his work is distinguished by a willingness to critique both allies and adversaries alike. He praises CVCC for its institutional evolution, but also questions the regional leadership’s hesitance to fully leverage its potential. He critiques Hickory’s development delays, but recognizes the challenges of navigating legacy systems and political inertia.

Crucially, Shell writes not from a posture of theory but from lived investment. His own personal history is intertwined with Hickory’s post-industrial story—a history marked by loss, reinvention, and a refusal to settle for platitudes when deeper accountability is needed. He does not romanticize civic work; he insists on its difficulty. Yet his tone remains measured, his prose accessible, and his appeals unshakably grounded in the belief that better is possible—if we are willing to do the work.

For civic-minded readers, particularly those with who feel they have a personal stake in the region’s trajectory, Shell’s work offers more than insight—it offers orientation. He speaks not only to what is happening but why it matters. Whether writing about the failures of siloed governance, the potential of microlending, or the consequences of unchecked technological drift, Shell’s analysis consistently returns to one question: what kind of place are we building, and for whom?

In an era when noise so often masquerades as knowledge, Shell’s voice remains refreshingly clear, sober, and insistent. His work demonstrates that credibility is not conferred by popularity, institutional credentialism, or media polish. It is earned—through time, accuracy, integrity, and the courage to dissent when the stakes demand it. James Thomas Shell has earned that credibility. And as Hickory enters yet another chapter of reckoning with its past and imagining its future, his archive stands not just as a ledger of ideas, but as a record of care. In a world that too often forgets what it once knew, that is a contribution of rare and lasting value.

1. Economic & Workforce Trends

1. Manufacturing Evolution and Workforce Alignment: Shell’s early advocacy (2009–2010) for advanced manufacturing pivots—through CVCC’s Manufacturing Solutions Center and trade training—mirrored later regional investments into workforce-readiness pipelines.

2. Household Income & Wage Stagnation: He anticipated stagnant wage growth for Millennials; Census data shows Hickory’s median household income rose modestly to $63,361 by 2023, still trailing higher state and national averages datausa.iocensus.gov.

3. Poverty Persistence: Consistent concern over entrenched poverty aligns with recent findings: roughly 16.9% of Hickory residents live below the poverty line—well above North Carolina’s 12.8% .

4. Housing Affordability Crisis: Shell flagged challenges of rising housing costs; in 2023, median monthly housing costs reached approximately $960, with home values climbing ~6% while incomes remained flat Point2HomesInvestopedia.

2. Demographic Shifts & Youth Outmigration

1. Slow Population Growth: Shell warned of demographic stagnation if interventions stalled. From about 40,093 people in 2010 to roughly 44,415 in 2023—a modest 8–11% rise—validates his cautionary outlook .

2. Youth Drain Risks: He frequently cited shrinking 18–34 cohorts as an early signal of cultural and economic decline. This demographic contraction is documented in recent regional data.

3. Median Age Trends: Shell predicted aging without youth retention; Hickory’s median age reached ~37.7 by 2023, approaching statewide norms but signaling persistent risk censusreporter.org.

3. Regional Connectivity & Infrastructure

1. Isolation from I‑85 Corridor: Shell’s commentary on Hickory’s peripheral status versus the I‑85 megalopolis anticipated the slower economic integration and infrastructure lag that followed.

2. Transit & Digital Access Gaps: He prioritized transit expansion and universal broadband early; Local transportation remains limited (Greenway services exist), and broadband “deserts” continue to hinder access, though early 2020s grant programs began addressing this en.wikipedia.orgdatausa.io.

3. Comparisons to Greenville–Spartanburg Growth: Shell’s bottom‑up growth model contrasted Charlotte’s top‑down boom. Greenville–Spartanburg’s sustained small-business growth and equity mirrored the resilient model he advocated.

4. Civic Governance & Institutional Reform

1. Calls for Structural Reform (2013): Advocacy for term limits, independent oversight, and greater transparency anticipated Hickory’s increased civic engagement around bond referenda and public projects.

2. Bond Spending Accountability: Shell’s concerns over 2014 bond transparency became echoes of later citizen-led demand for public participation in downtown redevelopment and infrastructure investments.

3. Mixed‑Use and Redevelopment Incentives: He proposed public-private redevelopment strategies (e.g. repurposing “big box” sites), some of which have appeared in local planning initiatives.

5. Cultural Identity & Tech Critiques

1. Tech Monopoly & Cultural Erosion Warnings: Long before national antitrust scrutiny, Shell warned of tech platforms undermining local identity and access; these themes re-emerged in 2023 legislative focus.

2. Role of Narrative & Local Storytelling: Shell emphasized narrative control—warning that failure to define Hickory’s story would cede ground to homogenizing forces.

3. Community Cohesion through Microlending, Apprenticeships, Hatch Programs: These strategies anticipated community-based economic resilience efforts and recent state microloan programs.

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The Case for Credibility: James Thomas Shell’s Record of Socioeconomic and Civic Foresight (2008–2025)

🔗 Link:
https://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-case-for-credibility-17-year-record.html

📝 SEO Summary:
For nearly two decades, James Thomas Shell has documented Hickory and the Foothills Corridor with uncanny clarity—warning of deindustrialization, youth exodus, infrastructure gaps, and cultural displacement years before they became undeniable realities. This credibility dossier traces his strategic thinking and its alignment with actual civic evolution and policy change.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:
• Early investment in workforce development and trade partnerships (CVCC, ASU, NC State)
• Demographic stagnation and youth outmigration forecasting
• Regional isolation from the I‑85 corridor and infrastructure advocacy
• Governance reform proposals: transparency, term limits, community boards
• Structural equity alerts: wage stagnation, housing affordability, tech monopolies
• Broadband access, entrepreneurship, solar adoption, transit, microlending strategies
• The Foothills Doctrine: local self‑reliance, connectivity, civic narrative, ecological stewardship
• From local analysis to national resonance: alignment with reshoring and anti-monopoly policy shifts

🏷️ Hashtags:
#HickoryNC #FoothillsCorridor #CivicPlanning #RegionalStrategy #EconomicResilience #WorkforceDevelopment #BroadbandEquity #HousingAffordability #GovernanceReform #TechMonopolies #LocalLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #TheHickoryHound #ShellCooperative #CredibilityReport

 

 

Harry Hipps speaks about The Gallup-Healthways Survey

There’s been a good deal of chatter concerning the low rating Hickory received in the Gallup survey. The “public face” by many of the region’s leaders has been to not believe that the survey is accurate and to declare their love for the area. Well, many people do love the area and many like myself have longstanding roots here. But many people I’ve read on social media, talked to in person, or have heard conversing do feel stuck in a dead end area. And to live in denial is not helpful.We need honest assessments about where we are and what we need to do to bring vibrancy back to our community.

The Mayor and others are touting the Inspiring Spaces project as the ticket to economic revitalization. It won’t do it. There are some worthy projects on the list and some real dogs as well. And cities do need to move forward on some infrastructure improvements to keep a decent quality of life. Hickory has some great gems. I know I will leave some out but:  the SALT block, the Museum of Art, the Hickory Community Theater, the Choral Society, the Western Piedmont Symphony, LR, the lake, our natural beauty, good location, climate and more….

We also have some real downsides: poor educational attainment by a large segment of the population, worse than average unemployment, wages, and household wealth. These things work in tandem to create our low rating. Poor education correlates with poor income which correlates with poor eating choices which correlates with poor health, which correlates with lower satisfaction with life and so on. We have some other negatives that I believe impact our well being that I will list below.

I don’t believe that city amenities are the key to reversing our fortunes. I will offer the following observations and hope others may add their keener analysis to my list.

First, we have a corporate community that does not build clusters. If you look at Charlotte for example, you see that they are a banking city, but they also try to add related businesses to the community like insurance companies. It’s not banking, but if you have banks, insurance companies, venture capital and related businesses you can attract talent that will work for a company, but if they want or need a change there are options and the whole sector can keep the talent pool working without having to leave town as their only option. When you have clusters, not just individual businesses, you can feed off each others ideas, talent pool, and synergies instead of being a collection of lone rangers.

Charlotte is a Duke Energy town. But they are working to build an energy cluster with some solar (manufacturing as well as generation), batteries and other related industries.

The airport (despite the management problems) is seeking to become a multimodal hub with air, railroad, and trucking being facilitated so that even goods that come by ship into Charleston can flow from this hub.

What is our corporate community doing (with city, private individuals, and investors) doing? Not much that I can see. We have MDI, a major food distributor, a tortilla manufacturer, a couple of commercial bakeries and you would think we could build on this core. What businesses are CommScope helping to move here? They are good community members and give to arts, and charity groups, but why aren't we building clusters like the old furniture and textile guys did?

Secondly, our media is pitiful. The radio does present a good local talk show, but the tv station is Mickey Mouse and shows shopping shows and drivel most of the day. I cringe to think about what someone from another city thinks when looking at our local tv to see what’s happening in Hickory. The local newspaper has no idea of investigative reporting and really won’t dig into issues in depth. Don’t look for them to win awards like the Charlotte paper anytime soon.

Thirdly, we have a risk adverse culture. Innovation depends on taking risk, and some of the most prosperous regions of the country have people who actually are proud of working on start up companies that failed, because they realize that it’s one form of education. No one likes to fail, but if you’re too scared to try you certainly aren’t going to be an innovator. We used to have a good deal of innovation, but no longer.

Fourthly, the City’s strategy of making us a ‘retirement village’ has been too successful. While they have changed their tune lately (with some kudos to the Hound for the focus on the issue), we are older and younger people have shunned Hickory. It’s too bad they didn’t have the foresight years ago to see what they have sown. Driving away a good music and entertainment community hasn’t done much to gain younger interest in Hickory. And it won’t be easy to change Hickory’s image.

Finally, and most worrisome to me is the culture of apathy. Too many people believe the “system” is rotten, not concerned with their situation, and only the “important” people will get their concerns addressed. So they either leave or accept mediocrity, getting by as best they can and chalking it up to just living in sad times.

Maybe I haven’t seen all the picture here and I don’t claim to have every solution. But, though I love this area and some of the great people I know here, we have a malaise here that I don’t find to the same degree in some of the places I visit. I believe Hickory can turn this around, but it will be lengthy and difficult. Denial won’t get us anywhere; work, commitment, and vision will.

Hickory Metro 2014 - Tied for 4th Most Miserable in the United States

Thoughts about the Ridgeview Citizen Review meeting

Disappointing to see how few people in the Ridgeview community showed up for the "Citizen Review" that occurred on Tuesday. If they don't care about their community, then why should anyone else? Let's go back and look at how few people in Ridgeview have even bothered to vote in Hickory City elections, but will show up to vote in the national elections. That is the reason why Ridgeview falls behind, because they have chosen to be politically irrelevant... and they will continue to get what they want.

The majority of people who attended were ministers from inside and outside the Ridgeview community. They all seemed very enthusiastic about what has been presented so far. The ministers in the area that I have seen are very much hooked up with the Hickory Inc. structure. I interpreted what they were saying as that they were all in and going to work with the city and help sell this to their congregations.

There are still no specifics as to the 3Ps -- projects, priorities, and price. City Manager Berry has said that the City Council will prioritize the projects and the Bond Referendum will be broad and refer to categories such as "Business Park" and "Transportation" with monetary values attached to each, but the City Council will be the entity that decides on the projects and the priorities.

Last week the Mayor talked about the tipping point in this community and the reason why we need to act. I've told you and shown you that we are past the tipping point. Maybe we aren't past the tipping point for the Council, the local Powers that Be, or the upper echelons of Hickory City Staff. These people are in the upper 10% of wealth holders in this community. They cannot fully relate to the negative economic momentum that the people at lower income levels have dealt with.

Citizen Review - Power Point Presentation


Just The Facts about Hickory's Loss of the Younger Demographic: Mr. Berry is showing graphs that were available five years ago that show the job losses and the devastating losses in the younger demographics that we have seen in this community over the past decade. Also factor into this that we have the lowest Per Capita Income of any major Metro area in the State of North Carolina. The encouraging sign is that the local Powers that Be are starting to freak out about the signs. The signs have been there for years, but I guess they have finally come to the realization that we have structural problems in this community and this downturn is not part of a normal economic cycle.

Hickory Area Population Remains at a Standstill. There are at least 4,000 fewer (January 2013 numbers) people living in Catawba County today than were here in 2009. We know that the eastern part of the county (Sherrills Ford and West Denver) has grown, because of it's accessibility to Charlotte. So, if the area there has grown by 4,000 or 5,000 people, then what does that mean for western Catawba County? It means that we have lost several thousand people here and it will soon be reflected in the numbers. We are beyond the tipping point. 

The 1764 Business Park project is the type of economic investment we need to see. Mr. Berry talked about this business park being located at Robinson and Robinwood Roads over in the Startown Road area near CVCC and the Mall area. This type of Commerce Center can bring good paying jobs. These types of jobs can help with the underemployment issues we have been facing in this community.

If we are going to see the younger demographics come back into the community, then we are going to have to see these good paying productive jobs come to the community. The demographic structure of the community is not going to change because young people move here to be servants for Octogenarians. There is no money in that, but for a few doctors, some nurses, and a few administrators. They are going to move here if they can find stability and a career path created by complex industries.

The two main infrastructure project concepts that have been talked about are the Mainstreet Linear Park and the Lake Greenway at Geitner Park. The development at Geitner Park is already moving forward thanks to Bob Lackey and it is notable because we are seeing true public private development. The Mainstreet Linear park is pie in the sky. It is basically a $27 million dollar (the price mentioned late last year) sidewalk to connect Union Square to what has been defined before as the Wingfoot District and then up to Lenoir-Rhyne. There is already a sidewalk there and people use it all the time. It just seems that we are once again throwing Hickory Tax Dollars to the same ole group of people.

Make no mistake, most people aren't against infrastructure improvements. What they want to see are tangible benefits and mechanisms of accountability and fairness to ensure that we don't throw good money after bad in an effort that only benefits a few people. Every one of these cities that the Council has been to and touted have "Business Improvement District" Taxes for their Downtown areas. Why are Hickory citizens from the outskirts of town supposed to continue supporting Union Square through tax dollars, when about five people own the vast majority of property surrounding Union Square?

I've heard it bandied about by the oldsters here that support the proposed bond referendum that they are planting trees that they may never get a chance to sit under. Some of us view it as that you are writing checks that others are going to have to cover for you and there may not be money to cover those checks when the bills come due... but ain't that Amerika.

A marketplace is all about people. I have also heard the notion of marketing Hickory as a small town. Folks, that is what got us here. That was exactly what they were pushing in the early 2000s, when the goose got cooked. I don't like the idea of a Quaint Hickory. I want to see a Hustling-Bustling Hickory like we were 20 years ago. Hustling and Bustling people in a contemporary reality. That is what leads to growth.

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Steve Ivester and Harry Hipps have talked about developing clusters around our existing industries. Any economic development we see should center around development of Cluster Industries in our area. Harry gets it right in what he writes below:

Harry Hipps speaks about The Gallup-Healthways Survey

Hickory Metro's 2017 Economy versus North Carolina MSAs

This article is a continuation of the last series I did eight years ago, Hickory - Time to put the Puzzle together. Here, I compare all of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas within the State of North Carolina. In looking at the comparison data between the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area and the other MSAs in North Carolina, we see that our MSA ranks 9^th in terms of population. With the second worst growth rate, an actual loss of .36% of the area’s population base, we see that we have fallen 4 spots (to #147) in terms of our MSA rank in the United States.  Out of 15 defined MSAs in our State, Hickory ranks 14^th in terms of growth with a loss of .3% of its population. Only Rocky Mount has worse growth, losing 3.3% of its population.

Since 2010, The State of North Carolina’s population has grown by just shy of 9% with a population of over 10.3 million people. The Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham, and Wilmington areas grew by double digits during that period.

As of 2016, Hickory is the largest city in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton MSA and Catawba County, the county in which Hickory resides, is by far the largest county in the metro area so we shall call it the Hickory MSA. Hickory (Pop. 40,567) is more that twice the size of both Lenoir (Pop. 17,973) and Morganton (Pop. 16,665). Catawba county's population is over 154,000, while Burke’s is around 90,000 and Caldwell County has about 83,000. The new addition of Marion and McDowell county as part of our MSA come in with populations of 7,849 and around 45,000 respectively.

Our state's MSA populations range from a high end of the nation's 22nd largest MSA, Charlotte, with a population of 2,474,314 to a low end of Goldsboro, North Carolina with a population of 124,150.  We have many diverse populations within our state. The largest MSA population growth, since 2010, was (Raleigh) at 15.5%, while Rocky Mount lost 3.3% of its population. Out of the 10 largest MSAs, all grew but one. Only Hickory did not grow. Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington, and Durham continued the double digit increases they had seen since 2000. Hickory's growth rate was the second worst amongst major metros in North Carolina. Winston-Salem and Fayetteville had the next smallest growth rates at over 3%.

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank determined to increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs and improve health. They do this through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented meetings, and meaningful policy initiatives. In their study defining America’s Best Performing Cities, they do an analysis in two segments, the top 200 MSAs and 124 small markets. There are 9 NC metro areas that fall within the Large Market analysis. The smallest of the large MSAs in North Carolina is Wilmington with an MSA population of 282,573. It is the 167th largest market in the United States. It's MSA has been redefined since I last did this analysis, but Wilmington has grown by 10.86% in six years (2010-2016). 

The defined data I looked at for comparison includes MSA Population rank, Population growth from 2010 to 2016, Milken Best Performing Cities ranking, Gallup-Heathway ranking, Per Capita Income in 2008 and 2016, and Income growth from 2008 to 2016. Milken rankings look at the local, modern business environment of the various MSAs in the U.S. The Gallup-Healthway study looks at the quality of overall health in an MSA. Per Capita Income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. There are others keys into looking at the overall viablity of a community, but I believe that the defined data are good reference points to look at in judging the Macroeconomic viability of a community.

The Gallup Healthways Well-being index has been recently renamed the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index and it will be the largest collection of data related to the health and wellbeing of large populations ever assembled. This information will lead community leaders, policy makers, and employers to make decisions positively affecting the health and wellbeing of millions of people.

The Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index is designed to be the Dow Jones of health, giving a daily measure of people's wellbeing at the close of every day. With a daily measure, determining the correlation between the places where people work and the communities in which they live, and how it impacts their wellbeing, is now possible. Additionally, the index will increase an understanding of how those factors impact the financial health of corporations and communities.  The research and methodology underlying the Well-Being Index is based on the World Health Organization definition of health as "not only the absence of infirmity and disease, but also a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing."

Unfortunately, the Hickory MSA has ranked at or near the bottom in all of these defined categories for years, we do see some glimmers of a chance to move forward.  As I pointed to above, we have lost population. Hickory's Milken ranking is 167, which is in the bottom quartile of the MSA's looked at. Our numbers have increased substantially since ranking in the bottom 10 of the study for years. Raleigh is ranked #6, Charlotte is ranked #12, and Wilmington is ranked #54. These cities have all seen times when they have been ranked in the top 10 over the past decade. The Gallup-Healthway study has ranked us in the Bottom 10 of healthy cities since its inception in the earlier part of this decade. At present, we are ranked next to last in the overall quality of health compared to other cities in the United States. Durham, Asheville, and Raleigh are in the top 50 and Charlotte is #54.

The optimistic side is that although we remain at the bottom in terms of income, we have come a long way. Hickory is no longer at or near the bottom of unemployment numbers and it ranks  #1 in terms of income growth in the State of North Carolina. In 2008, Hickory’s average income was 66% of the highest MSA income, which was Charlotte’s at over $44k. In 2016, Hickory’s income is 73% of top dog Raleigh’s $48k average income. Hickory’s incomes have risen by 15.5% during this timeframe. The low incomes of 2008 could be because of the issues that Hickory was having transitioning out of its heavy, low-skill manufacturing production economy during the first decade of the new century. Now that we have also lost many younger folks in the 18-45 age bracket (productive labor force group), that labor supply reduction with a manufacturing capacity that has stabilized is going to mean that companies are going to have to pay more for workers. Not only that, the evolution towards technical jobs that require more skills will demand higher wages, but Hickory still has a ways to go in relation to the incomes seen elsewhere.

When we look at our larger MSAs, which qualify as national cities, Charlotte and Raleigh as examples, they have seen an influx of the exact younger demographic populations that Hickory has lost. Wages increased some in Raleigh, but were down in Charlotte. The influx of the productive demographic past the point of growth in labor demand is keeping wages in check. Raleigh has seen more wage growth than Charlotte, because most economic growth was centered around the growth in the governmental sector during the years of the Obama Administration. Charlotte lagged, because of the problems with the Banking/Financial sector during the crisis of 2008.  Similarly, other communities in this State that had suffered a lack of income growth in the first part of the last decade were the ones that made the greatest strides forward since 2008. Like Hickory, they have a long way to go to catch up.

We need to realize that we face challenges that larger cities don’t. Those communities have broader economies and more diverse industries based upon Economies of Scale. A larger city, like Charlotte or Raleigh, is afforded more resiliencies, because while one sector of their economy may suffer in recessionary periods, another may not suffer as much and may even do well. This is because of the multitude of large employers located in their area. Hickory has been mainly manufacturing for over 100 years and that manufacturing was mainly in textiles and furniture with only a handful of large companies. These two industries saw huge job losses since the turn of the new century. When those larger companies laid off hundreds of workers in 2008, it ballooned our unemployment rate and the issues that lay there-in. Our area thought it had properly diversified with the addition of several companies associated with telephony and fiber-optics, but the evolution of those industries created some flux in our economy in the latter part of the past decade. Much of the economic employment woes that we saw a decade ago have stabilized, but we have not been able to gain traction towards sustained growth. That is the reason why we must continue to renovate the local economy.

40 years ago, we were on a positive growth path. Our local airport was viable and Interstate 40 had just opened. We had viable retail sectors in the city’s core and along Highway 70 in the southwest section of Hickory. Through our community’s economic evolution, we have seen those areas stagnate or decline. We have spent several millions of dollars towards the revitalization of our Downtown area, but many feel it could do better and the investment hasn’t netted the results expected. The Hickory Regional Airport is a shadow of what it once was and many feel that it could be so much more and it is a poster child (represents) for wasted economic opportunity.

Below is information showing each of North Carolina’s MSA, their characteristics, and statistics. You will see their populations, population growth, Milken Statistics, Unemployment Statistics from the last recession to January of this year, Gallup-Healthway rankings, per capita income, Largest City, Higher Education opportunities, Economy and Employers, and their public transportation system.

North Carolina's 10 major airports, ranked by corporate jet activity – Triangle Business Journal -  July 8, 2014

1. Asheville Regional Airport: 30 corporate aircraft among a total of 158 planes based at the airport.

2. It’s a tie: Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro: 27 corporate aircraft, 356 total; and Wilmington International Airports: 27 corporate aircraft, 155 total.

4. Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville: 23 corporate aircraft, 702 total.

5. Coastal Carolina Regional Airport: 22 corporate aircraft, 140 total.

6. Charlotte Douglas International Airport: 21 corporate aircraft, 541 total.

7. Albert J. Ellis Airport in Richlands: 17 corporate aircraft, 74 total.

8. Fayetteville Regional Airport: 15 corporate aircraft, 175 total.

9. Concord Regional Airport: 14 corporate aircraft, 161 total.

10. Pitt Greenville Airport: 10 corporate aircraft, 124 total.

International Airports

Charlotte-Douglas

Raleigh-Durham

Piedmont-Triad (Greensboro)

Wilmington

Commercial Service Regional Airports

Asheville

Coastal Carolina (New Bern)

Fayetteville

Albert J. Ellis (Richlands, Jacksonville)

Pitt-Greenville

22 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: +2
Pop: 2010 (2,217,012) - 2016 (2,474,314) = +11.61%

Milken:  2009:(47)   -  2013:(27)  -  2016: (12)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.9) - 2017: (5.1)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(56)  -  2016:(54)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($46,576)   to   2015: ($44,935) = -3.52%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 106.47 Rank: 23
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 108.13 Rank: 11
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 102.83   Rank: 62

Largest City – Charlotte, NC,  Pop. 842,051, as of 2016,  is the county seat of Mecklenburg County

Higher Education
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University, Queens University of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College (Central Campus), King's College, Johnson & Wales University, Carolinas College-Health Science, Carolinas Medical Center, The Art Institute of Charlotte, New Life Theological Seminary, Pfeiffer University-Charlotte, devry University‎, Keller Graduate School of Management, Keller Graduate School of Management, ITT Technical Institute, Brookstone College of Business, University Park Creative Arts, University of Phoenix - Charlotte Campus, ECPI College of Technology, Strayer University, Tech Skills Charlotte, Wake Forest Babcock Graduate School of Management, Charlotte school of Law, davidson College (20 miles north of center city).

Economy and Employers - Charlotte has become a major U.S. financial center, and the nation's largest financial institution by assets, Bank of America, calls the city home. The city was also the former corporate home of Wachovia until its purchase by Wells Fargo in 2008; Wells Fargo continues to operate Wachovia as a wholly-owned subsidiary, with its east coast headquarters in Charlotte. Bank of America's headquarters, along with other regional banking and financial services companies, are located primarily in the uptown financial district. Thanks in large part to the expansion of the city's banking industry, the Charlotte skyline has mushroomed in the past two decades and boasts the Bank of America Corporate Center, the tallest skyscraper between Philadelphia and Atlanta. The 60-story postmodern gothic tower, designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli, stands 871 feet tall and was completed in 1992.

The following Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Charlotte metropolitan area, in order of their rank: Bank of America, Lowe's in suburban Mooresville, Nucor (steel producer), Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, Family Dollar, Goodrich Corporation, and SPX Corporation (industrial technology). Other major companies headquartered in the Metro Charlotte include Time Warner Cable (formerly a business unit of Fortune 500 company Time Warner), Continental Tire North America (formerly Continental/General Tire), Muzak, Belk, Harris Teeter, Meineke Car Care Centers, Lance, Inc, Bojangles', Carlisle Companies, LendingTree, Compass Group USA, Food Lion, and the Carolina Beverage Corporation (makers of Cheerwine, Sun Drop, and others) in suburban Salisbury, North Carolina. Charlotte is home to several large shopping malls, with Carolina Place Mall and SouthPark Mall being the largest. Also, neighboring Gastonia is home to the Parkdale Mills world headquarters. Concord Mills Mall is also the largest shopping outlet in the state and one of the largest in the nation and single biggest draw in NC and its exterior is lined with many trendy colorful restaurants that parallel Myrtle Beach.

Charlotte is also a major center in the US motorsports industry, with NASCAR having multiple offices in and around Charlotte. Approximately 75% of the NASCAR industry's employees and drivers are based within two hours of downtown Charlotte. Charlotte is also the future home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, expected to be open May 10, 2010, a week prior to the Sprint All-Star Race. The already large presence of the racing technology industry along with the newly built NHRA premier dragstrip, zMAX Dragway at Concord, located just north of Charlotte, is influencing some of the top professional drag racers to move their shops from more expensive areas like California to the Charlotte area as well. The recently announced small racetrack at the former Metrolina Fairgrounds location which is at Sunset and Statesville Roads is expected to bring more local racing to the area along with a skate park, shoppes, restaurants and an upscale hotel will offer recreation of many types. Located in the western part of Mecklenburg County is the National Whitewater Rafting Center, consisting of man-made rapids of various degrees and is open to the public year round.

The center city/uptown area of Charlotte has seen remarkable growth over the last decade. Numerous residential units continue to be built uptown, including over 20 skyscapers either under construction, recently completed, or in the planning stage. Many new restaurants, bars and clubs now operate in the Uptown area. Several projects are transforming the Midtown Charlotte/Elizabeth area.

Public Transportation – (Charlotte) - CATS operates light rail transit, historical trolleys, express shuttles, and bus service serving Charlotte and its immediate suburbs. The LYNX light rail system comprises a 9.6-mile line north-south line known as the Blue Line. Bus ridership continues to grow (66% since 1998), but more slowly than operations increases which have risen 170% in that same time when adjusted for inflation.[47] The 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan looks to supplement established bus service with light rail & commuter rail lines as a part of a system dubbed LYNX.

43 Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +5

Pop: 2010 (1,130,490) - 2016 (1,302,946) = +15.25%

Milken 2009:(10)  -  2013:(13)  -  2016(6)

U3 Unemployment  (January) 2009:(9.8)  -  2016:(5.3)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(19)  -  2016:(48)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($44,582)  to  2015: ($48,411) =  +8.59%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 106.90 Rank: 18
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 107.65 Rank: 12
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 113.46   Rank: 22

Largest City – Raleigh, Pop. 458,880, as of 2016, is the County seat of Wake County and the Capital of North Carolina

Higher Education

Campbell University, Central Carolina Community College, Duke University, Durham Technical Community College, Louisburg College, Meredith College, North Carolina Central University,

North Carolina State University, Piedmont Community College, Shaw University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern, St. Augustine's College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vance-Granville Community College, Wake Technical Community College,

William Peace University

Economy & Employers

The Research Triangle, commonly referred to as simply The Triangle, is a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina in the United States, anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the cities of Raleigh and Durham and the town of Chapel Hill...     Anchored by leading technology firms, government and world-class universities, medical centers and schools, the area's economy has performed exceptionally well. Significant increases in employment, earnings, personal income, and retail sales are projected over the next 15 years...    The region's growing high-technology community includes such companies as IBM, SAS Institute, Cisco Systems, NetApp, Red Hat, EMC Corporation, and Credit Suisse First Boston. In addition to high-tech, the region is consistently ranked in the top three in the U.S. with concentration in life science companies. Some of these companies include GlaxoSmithKline, Biogen Idec, BASF, Merck & Co., Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, and Pfizer. Research Triangle Park and North Carolina State University's Centennial Campus in Raleigh support innovation through R&D and technology transfer among the region's companies and research universities (including Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

Largest Employers - Research Triangle Region (http://www.researchtriangle.org/regions/research-triangle-region)

State of North Carolina    (24,739), Wake County Public School System (17,572),  Red Hat      (9,800),  North Carolina State University (7,730),  WakeMed (7,607),  Rex Hospital (4,800),  Wake County (4,272),  City of Raleigh (3,811), Progress Energy (2,500), First Citizens BancShares (1,703),  Duke Raleigh Hospital (1,700)              Others - BASF Crop Protection, BASF Plant Science LP, Bayer CropScience LP, Biogen IDEC, Cisco Systems, Credit Suisse, Fidelity Investments, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NetApp, RTI International, Syngenta Biotechnology, Talecris Biotherapeutics, United States Environmental Protection Agency

Public Transportation - Public transportation in and around Raleigh is provided by Capital Area Transit (CAT), which operates 38 bus fixed routes and a historic trolley line within the city, and also by Triangle Transit. From 1995 the cornerstone of Triangle Transit's long-term plan was a 28-mile rail corridor from northeast Raleigh, through downtown Raleigh, Cary, and Research Triangle Park, to Durham using DMU technology. There were proposals to extend this corridor 7 miles to Chapel Hill with light rail technology. However, in 2006 Triangle Transit deferred implementation indefinitely when the Federal Transit Administration declined to fund the program due to low ridership projections.

75 Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: -2
Pop: 2010 (723,801) - 2016 (756,139) = +4.47%

Milken: 2009:(154)   -  2013:(135)  -  2016: (121)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.3) - 2017: (5.1)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(120)  -  2016:(116)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($35,340)   to   2015: ($39,263) = +11.1%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 96.96 Rank: 141
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.33 Rank: 123
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 99.45   Rank: 83

Largest City – Greensboro, NC, Pop. 287,027, is the county seat of Guilford county

Higher Education – Institutes of higher education - University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Bennett College for Women, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Guilford Technical Community College, Elon University School of Law, (For-profit universities) Brookstone College, ECPI College of Technology, DeVry University, Strayer University

Economy and Employers
Notable companies headquartered in Greensboro include the Honda Aircraft Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company, VF Corporation, Volvo Trucks of North America, RF Micro Devices, the International Textile Group, NewBridge Bank, Cook Out, Biscuitville, and Gilbarco Veeder-Root. Greensboro is also a "center of operations" for the insurance company Lincoln Financial Group. Although traditionally associated with the textile and tobacco industries, Greensboro leaders are working to attract new businesses in the nanotech, high-tech and transportation/logistics sectors. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University opened a joint research park, Gateway University Research Park. Downtown Greensboro has experienced construction investment in recent years with developments such as NewBridge Bank Park, and residential developments and office construction. In 1998, FedEx chose to build and operate a $300 million mid-Atlantic air-cargo and sorting hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Largest Employers (More than 1,000 employees) - Guilford County Schools,  Cone Health,  City Of Greensboro,    UNC Greensboro,   US Postal Service,   Guilford County, High Point Regional Health System, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, United Parcel Service Inc.,  Harris Teeter,   NC A&T State University, Thomas Built Buses Inc,  Volvo Group North America Llc,  BB&T,  Labcorp , Key Resources Inc ,  City Of High Point ,  The Lincoln National Life Ins Co, R F Micro Devices, Inc, Guilford Technical Community, Bank Of America,  Food Lion,  Gilbarco Inc, Proctor & Gamble Mfg. Co,  Polo Ralph Lauren Corp 
                                                

Public Transportation - Greensboro is served by Piedmont Triad International Airport, which also serves the nearby cities of High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. Piedmont Triad International is the third busiest airport in North Carolina, averaging 280 takeoffs and landings each day. PTI was a hub for the now defunct Skybus Airlines…                              Amtrak's daily Crescent, Carolinian and Piedmont trains connect Greensboro with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans.         Amtrak trains, taxis, local and long-distance buses arrive and depart from the J. Douglas Galyon Depot, also known as Greensboro station, at 236-C East Washington Street. Originally constructed in the early 1920s, the station and depot were renovated in 2004.

The Greensboro Transit Authority^[72] offers public bus service throughout the city, including a service called Higher Education Area Transit, or HEAT, which links downtown attractions to area colleges and universities. Regional public transportation throughout the metropolitan area is coordinated by PART, Piedmont Area Regional Transportation.

The Greensboro Greenway is a bike trail that is being constructed to encircle downtown Greensboro. It will connect to other trails and lead out to the Bur Mill Park area and further.

97  Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +7

Pop: 2010 (504,357) - 2016 (559,535) = +10.94%

Milken 2009:(6)   -  2013:(60)  -  2016: (85)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (7.3) - 2017: (4.8)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(32)  -  2016:(21)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($44,484)   to   2015: ($45,723) = +2.79%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 100.40 Rank: 81
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.46 Rank: 118
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 80.47   Rank: 183

Largest City – Durham, NC  Pop. 263,016 as of 2016 is the county seat of Durham county

Higher Education - Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Durham Technical Community College, The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham.

Economy and Employers
10 largest employers - Duke University & Medical Center, International Business Machines, Durham Public Schools, GlaxoSmithKline, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, NORTEL Networks, Durham City Government, Lenovo Group, Ltd., Veterans Administration Medical Center, RTI International, Inc.

Public Transportation - the Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus system. Triangle Transit bus - Triangle Transit (known formerly as the Triangle Transit Authority, or TTA). Triangle Transit offers scheduled, fixed-route regional and commuter bus service between Raleigh and the region's other principal cities of Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, as well as to and from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Research Triangle Park and several of the region's larger suburban communities.

Public transportation within the city and to/from its nearby suburbs is provided in the form of local bus routes run by New Jersey Transit. SEPTA also provides bus service to adjacent Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Duke University also maintains its own transit system, Duke Transit operates more than 30 buses with routes throughout the campus and health system. Duke campus buses and vans have alternate schedules or do not operate during breaks and holidays. From 1995 the cornerstone of Triangle Transit's long-term plan was a 28-mile rail corridor from northeast Raleigh, through downtown Raleigh, Cary, and Research Triangle Park, to Durham using DMU technology. There were proposals to extend this corridor 7 miles to Chapel Hill with light rail technology. However, in 2006 Triangle Transit deferred implementation indefinitely when the Federal Transit Administration declined to fund the program.

83 Winston-Salem, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: -2

Pop: 2010 (640,595) - 2016 (662,079) = +3.35%

Milken:  2009:(92)   -  2013:(136)  -  2016: (104)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.9) - 2017: (5.2)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(94)  -  2016:(141)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($36,810)   to   2016: ($40,217)

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 98.21 Rank: 118
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 98.29 Rank: 81
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 99.67   Rank: 80
Largest City – Winston-Salem, NC  Pop. 242,203 as of 2016 is the county seat of Forsyth county

Higher Education –
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Salem College, Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem Bible College, Forsyth Technical Community College

Economy and Employers –
It is the location of the corporate headquarters of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T), TW Garner Food Company (makers of Texas Pete), Reynolda Manufacturing Solutions,HanesBrands, Inc., Lowes Foods Stores, Southern Community Bank and ISP Sports. Wachovia Corporation was based in Winston-Salem until it merged with First Union Corporation in September 2001; the corporate headquarters of the combined company was located in Charlotte, until it was purchased by Wells Fargo in December 2008.

Although traditionally associated with the textile, furniture, and tobacco industries, Winston-Salem is attempting to attract new businesses in the nanotech, high-tech and bio-tech fields. Medical research is a fast-growing local industry, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the largest employer in Winston-Salem. Blue Rhino, the nation's largest propane exchange company and a division of Ferrellgas, is also headquartered in Winston-Salem. In December 2004, the city landed a deal with Dell, Inc. providing millions of dollars in incentives to build a computer assembly plant nearby in southeastern Forsyth County. However to date there is speculation of closing the plant due to mass layoffs. A portion of downtown Winston-Salem has been designated as the Piedmont Triad Research Park for biomedical and information technology research and development. Currently, the research park is undergoing an expansion, with hopes of jumpstarting the city's economy.

Largest Employers (More than 1,000 Employees) - Winston Salem Forsyth County School, Wake Forest University Baptist, Forsyth Memorial Hospital Inc, Wake Forest University School Of Me, Novant Health Inc, Wake Forest Univ., City Of Winston Salem,  Hanesbrands, Inc, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, BB&T, Wells Fargo Bank, Local Government, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, BE Aerospace Inc, Debbies Staffing Services, Forsyth Technical College,  Winston-Salem State University, Integon Corporation, Congruity HR, American Airlines Inc                             

Public Transportation
Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) has the responsibility of providing public transportation since 1972 after taking over the Safe Bus Company, Inc.. WSTA has 27 weekly routes, operating between 5:30am and 12:00 midnight Monday through Friday and from 6:30am through 6:30pm on Saturday , WSTA makes over 2 million passenger trips. The metropolitan area is connected by Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART).

116 Asheville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: +2
Pop: 2010 (424,858) - 2016 (452,319) = +6.46%

Milken:  2009:(75)   -  2013:(100)  -  2016: (77)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.6) - 2017: (4.6)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(140)  -  2016:(26)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($34,550)  to  2015: ($38,813) = +12.34%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 100.52 Rank: 78
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 97.40 Rank: 94
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 97.31   Rank: 98

Largest City – Asheville, NC, Pop. 89,121 is the county seat of Buncombe county

Higher Education –
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Brevard College (Brevard), Mars Hill College (Mars Hill), Montreat College (Montreat), South College (Asheville), Uversity of North Carolina at Asheville, Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa), Western Carolina University (Cullowhee)

Economy and Employers
Asheville has a tourism based economy.

Largest Employers –  (More that 1,000 employees) - Memorial Mission Hospital Inc, Buncombe County Board Of Education, Ingles Markets Inc, Veterans Administration, Biltmore Workforce Management Inc, County Of Buncombe, City Of Asheville, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, Community Carepartners Inc, Asheville Buncombe Technical College, Mission Medical Associates Inc (Other significant employers) -  Grove Park Inn owned by Omni Hotels Management, Borg-Warner Turbo Systems                 

Public Transportation –
The city operates Asheville Redefines Transit, which consists of sixteen bus lines^[93] providing service throughout the City of Asheville and to Black Mountain, North Carolina.

139 Fayetteville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +3

Pop: 2010 (366,383) - 2016 (380,389) = +3.82%

Milken 2009:(31)   -  2013:(82) -  2016: (180)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.7) - 2017: (6.8)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(163)  -  2016:(159)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($31,905)  to  2015: ($36,460) = +14.28%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 91.19 Rank: 195
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 86.29 Rank: 196
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 97.10   Rank: 100

Largest City – Fayetteville, NC, Pop. 204,759 as of 2016, is the county seat of Cumberland County

Higher Education
Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College

Economy and Employers –
Largest Employers (More than 1,000 employess) - Department Of Defense (Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base), Cumberland County Bd Of Education, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, County Of Cumberland, Goodyear Tire And Rubber Inc, City Of Fayetteville, Veterans Administration, Fayetteville Technical Com College, Food Lion, Fayetteville State University (Other Significant Employers) – Purolator, Eaton Corporation

Public Transportation – The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) serves the Fayetteville and Spring Lake regions, with ten bus routes and two shuttle routes. FAST operates thirteen fixed bus routes within the city of Fayetteville. Service is between the hours of 5:45 am and 10:30 pm on weekdays, with reduced hours on Saturdays and no Sunday service. Most routes begin and end at the Transfer Center at 147 Old Wilmington Road in Fayetteville. Other transfer points are located at University Estates, Cross Creek Mall, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bunce and Cliffdale Rds and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center…                             The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station, built in 1911, provides daily Amtrak service with northbound and southbound routes leading to points along the East Coast.

147 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: -4

Pop: 2010 (365,497) - 2016 (364,187) = -.36%

Milken 2009:(185)   -  2013:(190) - 2016: (167)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (13.4) - 2017: (5.2)

Gallup Healthway rank  - 2013:(185)  -  2016:(188)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($30,661)  to   2015: ($35,406) = +15.48%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 94.61 Rank: 180
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 94.28 Rank: 158
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 112.25   Rank: 23

Largest City – Hickory Pop. 40,567, as of 2016, is in Catawba County.

Higher Education – Lenoir-Rhyne University, Appalachian State – Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, Western Piedmont Community College

Economy and Employers - The furniture industry in Hickory is not as strong as in the decades previous, but still a primary component in the area economy. Currently the area is home to many leading manufacturers of furniture, fiber optic cable, and pressure-sensitive tape.

Largest Employers (More than 1,000 employees) - NC Dept Of Health & Human Services (Burke), Public School System (Burke), Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals (Burke), Caldwell County Schools, Bernhardt Furniture Co Inc (Burke), Merchants Distributors Llc (Caldwell), Catawba County Schools, Catawba Memorial Hospital, Gkn Driveline Newton Llc (Catawba), Commscope(Catawba), DLP Partner Frye Hospital Llc (Catawba), Human Resources Dept (Catawba),  Corning Optical Communications Llc (Catawba), Wal-Mart Associates Inc (Catawba), Baxter Healthcare Corp (McDowell), Mcdowell County Schools                      

Public Transportation - Greenway Public Transportation offers bus service to the cities of Conover, Hickory, and Newton. Flex Route service in the Town of Taylorsville and Demand Response Service in the counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba.

167  Wilmington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +8

Pop: 2010 (254,884) - 2016 (282,573) = +10.86%%

Milken:  2009:(34)   -  2013:(77)  -  2016: (54)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.4) - 2017: (5.3)

Gallup Healthway rank - 2013:(124)  -  2016:(124)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($36,237)  to  2015: ($38,922) = +7.41%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 101.33 Rank: 68
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.03 Rank: 129
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 110.17   Rank: 27

Largest City - Wilmington, NC, Pop. 117,525, as of 2016, is the county seat of New Hanover County.

 
Higher Education –
University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College, Shaw University satellite campus

Economy and Employers
Wilmington's industrial base includes electrical, medical, electronic and telecommunications equipment; clothing and apparel; food processing; paper products; and pharmaceuticals. Wilmington is part of North Carolina's Research coast,one of the Country's largest and most successful research parts and major center in the United States. Also important to Wilmington's economy is tourism and film production. Economists have forecast growth in the Greater Wilmington area to be the fastest in the state between 2004–2010, averaging 7%.

Located on the Cape Fear River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is a sizable seaport, including private marine terminals and the North Carolina State Ports Authority's Port of Wilmington. A major international seaport, the North Carolina International Port, is being planned down the river in Southport.

Largest Employers - New Hanover Regional Medical Center, New Hanover County School System, UNC-Wilmington,  PPD Development Llc, County Of New Hanover, Cape Fear Community College, Cellco Partnership, City Of Wilmington NC, Pender County Schools  (Other Significant Employers) – General Electric, Corning                          

Public Transportation –
Public transit in the area is provided by the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority.[14] , which operates fixed bus routes, shuttles, and a free downtown trolley under the brand name Wave Transit.


124 Smallest Metros

227	Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: +2

Pop: 2010 (177,772) - 2016 (187,136) = +5.27%

Milken 2009:(--)   -  2013:(52)  -  2016: (160)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (8.5) - 2017: (5.7)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($39,902)  to  2015: ($43,952) = +10.15%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 94.02 Rank: 142
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 94.02 Rank: 178
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 102.63   Rank: 64

Largest City – Jacksonville, NC, Pop. 67,784, as of 2016, is the county seat of Onslow county.

Largest Employers - Onslow County Board Of Education,  Department Of Defense (Camp Lejeune & MCAS New River),  Marine Corps Community Services, Wal-Mart Associates Inc,  County Of Onslow,   Onslow Memorial Hospital  

Public Transportation –   Jacksonville Transit operates several fixed-route services seven days per week             

236 Greenville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +2

Pop: 2010 (168,148) - 2016 (177,220) = +5.40%

Milken 2009:(41)   -  2013:(13)  -  2016: (91)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (9.6) - 2017: (5.8)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008: 2008: ($32,949)  to  2015: ($37,042) = +12.42%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 97.25 Rank: 92
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 97.25 Rank: 43
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 114.26   Rank: 166

Largest City – Greenville, NC, Pop. 91,495, as of 2016, is the county seat of Pitt county.

Higher Education

East Carolina University, Shaw University (satellite campus), Pitt Community College

Economy and Employers –
The health care community in Greenville is one of the largest in the state of North Carolina. DSM - creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences. NACCO Materials Handling Group, Alliance One International, TRC, Inc., ASMO Greenville of North Carolina. Other Pitt County Businesses

Largest Employers – (More than 1,000 employees) - Vidant Medical Center, East Carolina University, Pitt County Board Of Education, Pitt Community College, Patheon Manufacturing Services Llc, Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc, Wal-Mart Associates, Inc, Pitt County                                      

Public Transportation -The City of Greenville operates a mass transit bus system called Greenville Area Transit or GREAT.

282 Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: -18

Pop: 2010 (152,392) - 2016 (147,323) = -3.33%

Milken:  2009:(78)   -  2013:(169)  -  2016: (192)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (12.4) - 2017: (7.4)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($31,821)  to  2015: ($36,459) = +14.57%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 88.33 Rank: 196
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 88.33 Rank: 193
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 70.91   Rank: 165

Largest City – Rocky Mount, NC, Pop. 55,466 as of 2016, is the largest city in Nash and Edgecombe counties.

Higher Education
Post-secondary institutions include Nash Community College,Shaw University, North Carolina Wesleyan College and Edgecombe Community College

Economy and Employers –
Edgecombe Tarboro Bd Of Education, Qvc Rocky Mount Inc,  City Of Rocky Mount,  Hospira Inc, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools,  Nash General Hospital,   Consolidated Diesel Co    (Other Significant Companies) -  The Hillshire Brands Company, Vidant Medical Center, Alorica Inc,  Mclane Mid-Atlantic Inc, PNC Bank  

Public Transportation – Tar River Transit is a pubic transportation service providing affordable fixed-route bus service throughout the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Rural General Public para-transit transportation for Nash and Edgecombe counties.

                                                   

278 Burlington, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
vs 2010 MSA rank: +9

Pop: 2010 (151,131) - 2016 (159,688) = +5.66%

Milken 2009:(75)   -  2013:(46) - 2016: (117)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (10.8) - 2017: (5.0)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($32,895)   to   2015: ($35,839) = +8.94%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 96.63 Rank: 105
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 96.63 Rank: 101
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 94.68   Rank: 52

Largest City – Burlington, NC, Pop. 52,709, as of 2016, is located in Guilford and Alamance counties.

Higher Education
Elon University, Alamance Community College

Economy and Employers –
LabCorp, one of the largest clinical laboratory companies in the world, has its headquarters and several testing facilities in Burlington. LabCorp is Alamance County's largest employer, employing over 3,000 people in the county. Honda Aero, a subsidiary of Honda, recently announced that it will move its corporate headquarters to Burlington and build a $27 million plant at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport where it will build its HF120 jet engines for use in very light jets. Biscuitville, a regional fast food chain, is based in Burlington. Burlington is also the operations headquarters for Gold Toe Brands, a manufacturer of socks.

Largest Employers - Alamance-Burlington School System, Labcorp, Alamance Regional Medical Center, Elon University, Wal-Mart Associates Inc, Alamance County Government (Other Significant Employers) – GKN Automotive Components, Honda Power Equipment                      

Public Transportation – Link Transit is your local transportation partner, serving Burlington, Gibsonville and Alamance Community College.   ACTA is a Public Authority established July 1, 2002 by the Alamance County Board of Commissioners under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A, Article 25. The Authority is to provide transportation for the elderly, disabled, and general public in Alamance County. The Authority utilizes vans and buses which are ADA equipped, including wheelchair lifts, to assist persons with specialized needs.

312 New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: -4

Pop: 2010 (126,802) - 2016 (126,111) = -.54%

Milken 2009:(--)   -  2013:(--) - 2016: (153)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (--) - 2017: (--)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008 ($36,051)  to  2015: ($39,975) = +10.88%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 93.82 Rank: 148
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 93.82 Rank: 175
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 84.17   Rank: 105

Largest City – New Bern, NC, Pop. 30,101, as of 2016, is the county seat of Craven county.

Higher Education
Craven Community College

Economy and Employers

Largest Employers -  Department Of Defense (MCAS Cherry Point), Craven County Schools, Craven Regional Medical Center, BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Other Significant Employers) – Moen, Marine Corp Community Services                 

Public Transportation – CARTS - The system operates a fleet of 32 vehicles, including specially modified vans to accommodate the elderly and/or handicapped and a variety of other vehicles such as standard vans, converted vans, mini-buses and sedans.

315 Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area

vs 2010 MSA rank: 0

Pop: 2010 (122,623) - 2016 (124,150) = +1.25%

Milken 2009:(--)   -  2013:(76) - 2016: (164)

U3 Unemployment (January): 2009: (--) - 2017: (--)

Gallup Healthway - 2013:(--)  -  2016:(--)

Per Capita personal income   2008: ($31,491)  to  2015: ($35,801)  = +13.68%

5-yr Job Growth (10-15) Score: 91.04 Rank: 182
5-yr Wages & Salaries Growth (09-14) Score: 91.04 Rank: 167
5-yr Relative HT GDP Growth (09-14) Score: 90.56   Rank: 60

Largest City – Goldsboro, NC, Pop. 35,792, as of 2016, is the county seat of Wayne county.

Higher Education
Wayne Community College, North Carolina Wesleyan College - Goldsboro campus

Economy and Employers –

Wayne County Board Of Education, Nc Dept Of Health & Human Services, Wayne Memorial Hospital Inc,                       Wal-Mart Associates Inc, County Of Wayne, Case Farms Processing Inc, Mount  (Other Significant Employers) – US Defense Department (Seymour Johnson Air Force Base), Olive Pickle Company, Georgia-Pacific

Public Transportation – Goldsboro Wayne Transportation Authority (Gateway) – Bus System