Report Introduction: The prospects for fostering a sound and expanding economy in slow-growing rural areas by increasing farm and nonfarm income, eliminating underemployment, stimulating business activities, and restructuring community facilities and services may be helped by an appraisal of the resources and markets of such areas. This study appraises the economic resources of a sparsely populated rural section of North Carolina to provide a basis for the initiation of Federal programs. A comprehensive examination of the economy of a rural area necessitates an analysis of five major economic categories: population, income and employment, agriculture, business, and local government. Choice of statistical series used to describe trends and inputs under the five economic categories depends heavily on the availability of data.