While tourism is a major part of its economy, Watauga County looks to manufacturers, including International Resistive Company (IRC), small businesses, and seasonal home buyers to broaden its base. broaden its base.
The 1995 General Assembly passed legislation authorizing charter schools, or schools operated by a private, non-profit organization. The hard question that remains to be answered is how these schools are supposed to operate.
Passage of the 1993 state bond referendum approved $560 million for university system and community college construction. Projects include East Carolina University's Joyner Library expansion and renovation.
C. C. Cameron of Charlotte, former chairman and CEO of First Union Corporation, was elected chairman of the UNC System Board of Governors in July, 1996.
Paul M. Wiles, CEO of Carolina Medicorp, Inc. and Forsyth Memorial, the state's second largest hospital, oversees his group's transition from health care facility to managed care provider.
Watauga County is the state's third largest Christmas-tree-growing county. The 1995 harvest of around 700,000 trees accounts for forty-two percent of the county's $34.5 million farm income.