the second highest category, increased from 2,809 persons in 1956 to 14,783 in 

 1978. Half of this growth was in the subcategory of health services, which 

 had 37% of the workers in the category of services. Third in employment among 

 the major employment categories was manufacturing. It was dominated by the 

 subcategory of chemicals and allied products, which employed between 5,000 

 and 9,999 workers in 1978 (one-half or more of the total employees in manufac- 

 turing), and paper and allied products, which accounted for between 1,000 and 

 2,499 employees. 



Escambia County has a large number of government workers, mostly em- 

 ployees of the U.S. Navy. 



Franklin County 



This county has the smallest number of employed persons in Northwest 

 Florida most of which are employed to process oysters and shrimp in Apalachi- 

 cola and, to a lesser extent, in East Point and Carabelle. In 1978, 211 

 people were employed in manufacturing (Table 14). About 80% worked with food 

 and kindred products. The other principal employment categories were retail 

 trade and wholesale trade. 



Gulf County 



Although data are not available to demonstrate it, industrial employment 

 in Gulf County is greatest in the manufacture of paper and allied products. 

 Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka are centers of the paper and allied products 

 industry. In 1978, the county had between 500 and 999 workers employed in 

 this subcategory of manufacturing (Table 15), but the number of workers em- 

 ployed in manufacturing has steadily decreased since 1956. The number of 

 employees in construction, transportation, and wholesale trade also declined 

 from 1956 to 1978. Services, finance, insurance, and real estate showed 

 increases. 



Okaloosa County 



Although Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, and Niceville are popular tourist 

 centers, they also are heavily influenced by military employment at the Eglin 

 Air Force Base. In 1978, about one-third of all persons engaged in non- 

 agricultural employment worked for the government. The influence of military 

 employment has affected other employment categories as well. For example, 

 employment in the retail trade subcategory increased about fivefold from 1956 

 to 1978 (Table 16). 



In addition to the air force base, the county has extensive recreation- 

 oriented development around Destin. This development has further increased 

 employment in eating and drinking places, hotels, and other lodging places. 

 Consequently, in 1965-78, employment in construction rose at a rate greater 

 than the State average. 



Despite a limited area for new development, the economy and population of 

 the coastal area of Okaloosa County is growing rapidly. Growth inland, such 

 as in Crestview, is much slower. 



74 



