A look at the hardest hit counties, according to the AP Economic Stress Index

A look at the hardest hit counties

The AP Economic Stress Index uses unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure rates from each U.S. county to calculate the recession’s impact on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the worst-case scenario. Here are counties larger than 25,000 residents with the biggest spike in the AP Economic Stress score from April 2008 to April 2009, indicating worsening economic health; the point-change in score; and the actual score in April:

1. LaGrange, Ind., 12.8, 18.8

2. Elkhart, Ind., 12.77, 20.19

3. Chester, S.C., 11.83, 22.21

4. Deschutes, Ore., 11.13, 19.35

5. Noble, Ind., 11.09, 18.9

6. Monroe, Tenn., 10.98, 20.09

7. Lyon, Nev., 10.91, 21.68

8. Williams, Ohio, 10.86, 17.68

9. Union, S.C., 10.83, 21.05

10. Adams, Ind., 10.18, 16.10

11. Marion, S.C., 10.10, 21.44

12. Chesterfield, S.C., 10.05, 17.49

13. Rutherford, N.C., 9.87, 16.74

14. Marlboro, S.C., 9.86, 21.98

15. Columbia, Ore., 9.74, 16.67

16. York, S.C., 9.67, 15.62

17. Linn, Ore., 9.51, 17.21

18. Steuben, Ind., 9.44, 16.94

19. Douglas, Ore., 9.43, 19.25

20. Clark, Wash., 9.23, 16.91