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The population in the area in 1995 was 1,306,231. During the period from 1986 to 1995 the <br />population of the area is has increased at an average rate of 1.9 % per year. Based on 1995 census <br />data the average per capita income for the area was $13,045 and the average median family income <br />was $28,919. In 1995 the average number of households in the area was 57,773. <br /> <br />Employment <br /> <br />The South Central Piedmont Resource Conservation and Development Area has a very diverse <br />workforce. Unemployment tends to be lower than the state average however many of the jobs are <br />not considered to be high paying jobs. In the more rural counties the workforce is geared towards <br />agricultural related jobs. In the more urbanized counties the workforce is closely tied to industrial <br />types of jobs. The chief industries involve manufacturing, professional services, manufacturing and <br />retail sales. The chief occupations are laborers, trades persons, and administrative. <br /> <br />Approximately half of the South Central RC&D Area is highly urbanized and can offer the citizens <br />living in the this part of the area and those within commuting distance higher paying jobs than are <br />available in the less urbanized part of the area. The most urbanized area includes Mecklenburg, <br />Gaston, Cabarrus, and Rowan County. The more rural portion of the area includes Stanly, Lincoln, <br />and parts of Davidson and Rowan and Union counties. <br /> <br />Urban Areas <br /> <br />The largest town in the area and also in the state of North Carolina is Charlotte which has a <br />population of 437,797. Other towns in the area with populations of over 10,000 include Concord, <br />Lexington, Lincolnton, Gastonia, Salisbury, Albemarle, and Monroe. The growth of the area is <br />directly impacted by the fact that Interstate 85 passes through each county in the area except Lincoln <br />Stanly and Union counties. In 1995 the estimated population of the area was 1.3 million persons, <br />making it one the most developed regions in the state. Because of the number of people residing in <br />the area and the amount of development in the area, tremendous demands are placed on the area's <br />natural resources. <br /> <br /> <br />