A Few Little Numbers Tell A Good Story

By Scott R. Cooper, Crook County Judge
This column originally appeared in the Central Oregonian in June 2006

Numbers Indicate An Economy On The Upswing

That’s the case with changes to Crook County’s economic structure in recent years. Employment, housing and construction data all point to renewed prosperity for our community in a region buffetted by economic hardship for more than a decade.

The numbers below are gathered from publicly available sources, mostly the U.S. Census, Oregon Labor Market Information System and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. Together, they tell a compelling story of a community which is definitely on the economic upswing.

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Crook County Population, July 1, 2005..................................................................... 22,775
Rank of Crook County in Population among 36 Oregon counties................................. 24th
Prineville, Population, July 1, 2005.............................................................................. 9,080
Rank of Prineville in Population among 241 Oregon cities............................................ 51st

Crook County in square miles....................................................................................... 2,979
Density (population per square mile) of Crook County..................................................... 10
Entire state closest in size to Crook County.......................... Delaware (1,954 square miles)
Density (population per square mile) of Delaware.......................................................... 430

Rank of Crook County among 36 Oregon counties in unemployment.......................... 19th
Crook County unemployment rate, latest...................................................................... 6.1%
Crook County unemployment rate one year ago........................................................... 6.6%
Crook County unemployment rate five years ago......................................................... 8.2%
Crook County unemployment rate 10 years ago......................................................... 12.1%

Total Crook County Employers, latest............................................................................ 563
Total Crook County Employers one year ago.................................................................. 525
Total Crook County Employers five years ago ............................................................... 470
Total Crook County Employers 10 years ago.................................................................. 441
Percent increase in 10 years ........................................................................................... 28%

Average annual wage per employee, latest............................................................... $31,666
Average annual wage per employee one year ago.................................................... $30,779
Average annual wage per employee five years ago.................................................. $26,508
Average annual wage per employee 10 years ago.................................................... $23,030
Percent increase in average annual wage over 10 years............................................... 37.0%
U.S consumer price index increase over 10 years........................................................ 28.1%

Median Crook County Household Income 1999..................................................... $40,746
Median Crook County Household Income 2005 (HUD estimated)........................ $48,050
Percent change, Crook County.................................................................................... 17.9%
Percent change, United States (non-metro)................................................................. 15.8%

Commercial/Industrial Building permits issued, 2005....................................................... 59
Commercial/Industrial Building permits issued, 2000......................................................... 6
Percentage increase in 5 years........................................................................................ 33%

Residential building permits issued, 2005....................................................................... 267
Residential building permits issued, 2000....................................................................... 401
Percentage increase in 5 years........................................................................................ 50%

Assessed real market value of Crook County, 2005-06............................... $1,706,790,132
Assessed real market value of Crook County, 2000-2001........................... $1,037,527,994
Percentage increase in 5 years..................................................................................... 64.5%

Home ownership rate, 2000......................................................................................... 74.3%
Home ownership rate, 1990......................................................................................... 71.4%

Residents 5 and over who speak a language other than English in the home
Crook County................................................................................................................ 6.3%
Oregon......................................................................................................................... 12.1%
United States............................................................................................................... 17.9%

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I’m always interested to hear from people what they “know” to be true. The facts sometimes tell a different story. When it comes to the economy of Crook County, there is definitely a story to be told, and the numbers seem to say that it’s one of which we can all be proud.