Union County lies just southeast of Charlotte, one of the South's largest financial centers. It's geographic location -- two hours from the mountains, three hours from the beach, 30 minutes to Charlotte -- is just one of the things locals say makes the area an attractive place to live and work.
The western reaches of the county, closer to Charlotte, are seeing an influx of suburb-seeking city dwellers. The eastern parts of the county maintain an economy dominated by agriculture and manufacturing.
Near Monroe, the county's largest town, some big employers include the local hospital, chicken processor Tyson Foods, a maker of specialty metals for the aerospace industry, and a company that makes firefighting equipment.
Residents like the laid back atmosphere and the proximity to a major city.
"People are coming here because they like the quality of life," said P.E. Bazemore, a former city councilman. "It's clean, it's quiet, and there's a lot of recreational opportunities."
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