County fare.

• Position: Statistics on North Carolina

Here are 19 economic measures by which to judge North Carolina's 100 counties.

Haven't gotten your fill of data yet? How about a six-page breakdown of all 100 counties by 19 economic measures - everything from income to out migration.

The numbers tell the story. Counties along the mostly urban Piedmont Crescent posted the best ones. Mecklenburg, for example, had the highest per capita income in 1995. Wake was first in number of residential building permits and second in annual population growth. Orange had the lowest unemployment rate. Resort destinations did well, too. Dare had the highest rate of population growth, and Avery had the highest average value of residential building permits.

Greenville economist James W. Kleckley compiled the data and made the 1995 projections. Want more numbers? On the last page, take a look at the 25 largest cities and check how they've grown, both by annexation and internally.

POPULATION GROWTH average...