Where the jobs are
Especially now, plentiful job opportunities are key to making a great place to live. These 25 counties have experienced the most job growth over the last nine years.
23. Suffolk, VA
Job growth (2000-2009): 25.0%
The birthplace of the monocle-eyed, top hat-wearing Mr. Peanut is also home to a thriving military industry driven by proximity to the U.S. Joint-Forces Command Center.
Top military and technology firms, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, have set up base in Suffolk, Va., to vie for $1 billion worth of federal contracts. And the county's affordability has driven an increase in population that spurred the growth of the service and retail industries in the area.
Suffolk's proximity to major ports has made it an attractive location for distribution warehouses that provide employment opportunities for residents. Those, along with food services like Lipton Tea and Planters, enrich the area's economic diversity. -- N.A.
NEXT: Johnson County, IA
Last updated July 13 2010: 5:14 PM ET
