A descriptive analysis of discrete US industrial complexes

We use the Getis/Ord local G statistic and detailed county-level industry employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to isolate discrete industrial complexes-or groups of nominally linked industries clustered in particular locations-for two recent years: 1989 and 1997. We describe the characteristics of the complexes in terms of their number, spatial extent, broad regional distribution, and other factors. Data from the two periods help illustrate key shifts in industrial locations, including the continuing concentration of the apparel industry in the Southeast and the ongoing southern shift in U.S. vehicle production.