Best for job growth

Towns include:  Delaware, Dublin, Westerville
Job growth (2000-2007): 42.14%

Delaware County has plenty of reason to rejoice - and not because it just celebrated its bicentennial. As Ohio's fastest-growing county, it's located just 20 minutes from Columbus, the state capital and one of Ohio's biggest metropolitan areas. The county has a diverse mix of industries including insurance, manufacturing and education.

Wendy's, the nation's third-largest hamburger chain, is headquartered there. Business heavyweights Nationwide Insurance and Verizon Business also have a presence in the county, and State Auto Mutual Insurance recently announced plans to construct an $18 million data center here. --B.B.

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