Three Ozarks counties among fastest-growing

Stone, Taney and Christian counties are among the fastest-growing in the country, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, a division of the state Department of Economic Development.

According to MERIC, the three Ozarks counties were among the 100 fastest-growing in the country based on increased housing units from July 2007 to July 2008.

Stone County added 700 units, growing by 3.9 percent and putting it at No. 26 on the list. Taney County ranked No. 56, adding 775 units for a growth rate of 3.1 percent, and Christian County came in at No. 77, adding 834 units or 2.8 percent.

The information, compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, lists Geary County, Kan., as the fastest-growing; that county added 1,046 units for a growth rate of 8.3 percent.