Economy
In addition to arts, culture, tourism and education, the local economy includes a thriving manufacturing base with a growing presence of high tech and biotech industries that are drawn to the region by the relatively low costs, high levels of cultural support for the lifestyle expectations of their educated workforce, and a cultural and technical interest in the clean air and other environmental factors upon which such “clean industries” depend.
Some other top employers include the local hospital system, Gold Kist, and Seaboard Farms. Major agricultural products in the county are poultry and timber.