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. . B.2. Economy The economic characteristics of the project area within Yuma County arC not readily discernible. Available data exist only for the entire county, which is roughly three to four times larger than the project area within it. However, datu do indicate that approximately 83 percent of the county's inhabitants reside within this smallcr area where the project features will be located: in addition, 66 percent of the county's farmland, the foundation of its economy, is also located there. Project area economy, then, is the principal constituent of county economy. and a presentation of data for the latter is a relatively accurate description of the former's economy. The civilian labor force in Yuma County averaged 24,800 in 1974. of which 23,\50 were employed: unemployment was 6.7 percent. Major employment occupations in the area include agriculture, public administration, retail trade, education. construction, and manufacturing. Agriculture, while not a leader in employment, is the base of the county's economy and, in 1974, marketed $224,494,000 worth of crops and livestock. Federal expenditures in the county, which implement agriculture through Bureau of Reclamation work, but also include the area's two military installations and all other Federal agencies, totulled $ I 17,407,000 in ] 974. Business establisftments. enumerated by industry below, ulso account for a substantial portion of the county's economy. Retail sales volume alone totalled $233,432,000 in 1974. YUMA COUNTY BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS BY INDUSTRY Industry No. Industry No. Agriculture and Forestry 33 Wholesale Trade 65 Mining 3 Retail Trade 43 I Contract Construction 90 Finance, Insurance, and Manufacturing Transportation and Utilities 33 Real Estate Services Unclassified 76 335 16 46 . B.3.. Transportation Two major highways traverse the project area: Interstate 8 passes through from east to west. and U.S. 95 from north to south. These highways intersect in Yuma. All 22