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.

4 of 25

4. Douglas County, CO

Towns include: Highlands Ranch
Job growth (2000-2009): 56.2%

Residents of Douglas County love their relaxed community so much they stay home. Telecommuting is very popular, especially within IT services, insurance, and sales, said Steve Dyer, president of Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce.

The bedrock of the county's economy is services. Right near Denver, a regional telecommunications hub, Douglas County is home to tech support centers and call centers, like call center TeleTech, one of the region's heavy hitters. Other regional bigwigs include telecomm giants like Avaya, DISH Network and Sprint Nextel.

Many of the county's commuters work in Denver's aerospace industry and in various military and defense programs in neighboring Colorado Springs. -- F.R.

NEXT: Fort Bend County, TX

Last updated July 13 2010: 5:14 PM ET

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