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and retail trade have all experienced high rates of growth. This growth is <br />illustrated by the expansion of dwelling units and taxable sales during the <br />period. Dwelling units expanded from 79, 158 units in 1950 to 550, 576 units <br />in 1973, while taxable sales increased more than 2 1/2 times between 1960 and <br />1973. These indicators are conducive of the rapid ascent of the County from <br />a rural environment to one of increasing urbanization. <br /> <br /> The change in the County's job composition over the past 20 years pro- <br />vides an immediate example of the massive movement toward urbanization. <br />.Between 1950 and 1970, manufacturing employment increased from 11.7 per- <br />cent to 28.0 percent of the labor force. Although substantial growth occurred <br />in ~.oth the services and construction industries, the trade sector reflected the <br />greatest expansion, moving from 13,800 to 101, 300 employees. This increase <br />contributed greatly to the overall expansion of the total labor force; it jumped <br />from 66, 600 workers in 1950 to 482,000 in 1970. <br /> <br /> A further demonstration of the County's massive industrial and <br /> commercial growth since 1950 is illustrated by the relative decline of <br /> agriculture as a viable factor in the local economy. In 1950 agriculture <br /> accounted for 9.2 percent of the County's jobs; by 1970 this percentage has <br /> dropped to 1.3 percent, In addition to losing importance as a major employer, <br /> agriculture also lost status in terms of the land area devoted to production. <br /> Whereas in 1950 agriculture accounted for 150, 523 acres, by 1972 this dropped <br /> to 49, 712 acres, but increased to 51,386 acres in 1973. However, this loss <br /> of acreage and relative importance as an employer was not followed by a loss <br /> in financial importance, ss crop values rose from $79, 233, 550 in 1950 to <br /> to $85,323, 600 in 1970 and $131,104,900 in 1973. Employment on farms <br />· in Orange County reached an annual peak of 11,100 in June 1974o up 900 or <br /> 8.8 percent from the year before. <br /> <br /> The recreation and tourism industry is basic to the economy of Orange <br />County. Millions of dollars flow into the area annually as Californians, <br />residents of other states, and foreigners enjoy the County's leisure-time <br />activities. Two of the nation's most well-known amusement parks, Disneyland <br />and Knott*s Berry Farm, provide family entertainment. Hiking, camping and <br />riding are available in the local mountains, while miles of beaches are <br />available for swimmers, sunbathers, and surfers. <br /> <br /> Orange County ranks as one of the top consumer markets in the United <br />States. Retailers in the County recorded total retail sales of $3.9 billion in <br />1972, an increase of 20 percent from 1971. ]Per capita taxable sales reached <br />$2, 197, advancing almost 13 percent over 1971. <br /> <br /> With population and employment registering substantial <br />increases and inflation running at high levels, it should not <br />be surprising that total personal income in Orange County has <br />also been advancing sharply during each of the past two years <br />of economic expansion. Retail trade, as measured by total <br /> <br />00003[ <br /> <br /> <br />