These three cities comprise Cumberland County, which became an important oyster producer in the early 1800s, and continues its tradition of glassmaking that dates back to its founding in 1732. Today, there are fewer manufacturing jobs in the area since the recession began, but logging, mining, and construction have been hit worse. Those industries’ employment bases have shrunk by an average of 11 percent from a year ago. The heavily agricultural area has seen unemployment climb since the national recovery began in June 2009, when local unemployment was 12.2 percent.
Anne Hermes/The Christian Science Monitor/File
