FREDERICKSBURG AREA LEADS THE STATE
	 IN RECENT TOTAL INCOME GROWTH

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., June 8 -- The RADCO (Fredericksburg
area) Planning District generated the greatest growth in total
personal income among Virginia's 21 planning districts from 1989 to
1994, according to an analysis by Sam Kaplan, an economist at the
University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.  
	Located in the fast-growing Interstate 95 corridor between
Washington and Richmond, the Fredericksburg area saw its total
personal income grow 38.8 percent, compared to 28.3 percent for the
state as a whole.  The localities of the planning district were
among the state's top 10 in income growth, with the exception of
Caroline County.  Total personal income is the total of all
residents' income from all sources.   
	An impressive 35 percent jump in the Thomas Jefferson
(Charlottesville area) Planning District income was led by Fluvanna
County, whose 49.8 percent increase was tops in Virginia.  Fluvanna,
however, contributed less than 10 percent of the total personal
income in the planning district.  
	Hampered by defense cutbacks and federal government
downsizing, the Northern Virginia Planning District still managed to
grow 30.2 percent in personal income.  In 1994 the planning district
produced one-third of Virginia's $147.3 billion in total personal
income.
	During the same five-year period, income growth was slowest
in the rural Accomack-Northampton Planning District (Eastern Shore;
19.3 percent growth), followed by the Southside manufacturing area
of the West Piedmont Planning District (Danville-Martinsville; 19.5
percent growth).
	Perhaps the most surprising performance was the 28.4 percent
increase in LENOWISCO Planning District, located in Southwest
Virginia, an area plagued by high unemployment.  Many residents
benefitted from commuter jobs in Tennessee.
	Per capita personal income is total personal income divided
by the population.  The planning district with the highest figure
for 1994 was Northern Virginia, whose $31,323 was nearly 40 percent
higher than the statewide $22,493.  Northern Virginia includes the
top three localities, the county of Arlington ($35,376), the city of
Alexandria ($35,333), and the combined area of Fairfax, Fairfax City
and Falls Church ($33,529), respectively.
	The planning district in second place was Richmond Regional,
whose $25,347 exceeded the state's figure by 12.7 percent.  The New
River Valley Planning District ($15,204), which includes Radford,
ranked last in per capita income among Virginia's 21 planning
districts.  The counties of Bland ($13,541), Lee ($13,552) and
Brunswick ($13,574) ranked the lowest among 105 localities and
combined areas in the study.  The Cooper Center findings were based
on data released June 4 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
###
June 7, 1996
	For interviews or additional information Sam Kaplan may be
reached at (804) 982-5819.  Television reporters should contact our
TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.