From 1967 to 1974, more manufacturing plants of all sizes located in nonmetro communities than in metro areas in the five Ozarks States. Most of the new nonmetro plants were located in towns of less than 25,000 population not near metro core cities. New manufacturing plants with 10 or more employees were widely dispersed among nonmetro towns; 497 towns acquired new plants. Over 60 percent of all nonmetro towns of 2,500 or more population acquired new plants employing 10 or more workers; 241 towns of less than 2,500 population acquired such plants. Dispersed nonmetro location was greater during the latter part of the study period than the early part. New plants within the Ozarks nonmetro areas were very diversified, with 286 different industries represented.