The Bureau of Economic Analysis has issued the following press release:
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 864 counties, decreased in 2,234 counties, and was unchanged in 14 counties in 2020, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The percent change in real GDP ranged from 91.0 percent in Foard County, TX, to –29.0 percent in Skagway Municipality, AK (table 1).
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on 2020 GDP by County and Metropolitan Area Estimates
The 2020 estimates of local area GDP were impacted by the response to the spread of COVID-19, as governments issued and lifted "stay-at-home" orders and government pandemic assistance payments were distributed to households and businesses. The full economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be quantified in the local area GDP estimates, because the impacts are generally embedded in source data and cannot be separately identified. For more information, see Federal Recovery Programs and BEA Statistics.
GDP is the value of goods and services produced within a county. The size of a county's economy as measured by GDP varies considerably across the United States. In 2020, the total level of real GDP ranged from $18.8 million in Petroleum County, MT, to $659.3 billion in Los Angeles County, CA.
Highlights
Large counties (141 counties with populations greater than 500,000 in 2020)
- Real GDP increased in 9 counties and decreased in 132 counties.
- GDP ranged from $12.3 billion in Pasco County, FL, to $659.3 billion in Los Angeles County, CA.
- Santa Clara County, CA (4.4 percent), was the fastest growing large county. The information industry was the leading contributor to the county's growth.
- Queens County, NY (–11.2 percent), had the largest percent decrease in GDP. The transportation and warehousing industry was the leading contributor to the decrease.
- Real GDP increased in 50 counties, decreased in 415 counties, and was unchanged in 2 counties.
- GDP ranged from $2.2 billion in Saline County, AR, to $48.7 billion in Morris County, NJ.
- Guadalupe County, TX (5.9 percent), was the fastest growing medium county. The durable-goods manufacturing industry was the leading contributor to the county's growth.
- Clayton County, GA (–24.3 percent), had the largest percent decrease in GDP. The transportation and warehousing industry was the leading contributor to the decrease.
- Real GDP increased in 805 counties, decreased in 1,687 counties, and was unchanged in 12 counties.
- GDP ranged from $18.8 million in Petroleum County, MT, to $12.9 billion in Reeves County, TX.
- Foard County, TX (91.0 percent), was the fastest growing small county. The utilities industry was the leading contributor to the county's growth.
- Skagway Municipality, AK (–29.0 percent), had the largest percent decrease in GDP. The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry was the leading contributor to the decrease.