Business Climate

Industrial Base

Few locations can boast of a stronger industrial and manufacturing base for the local economy than Longview. With such anchors as Weyerhaeuser, Longview Fibre Company, North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC), and Solvay Interox, the economic principle of one manufacturing job creating three or four other jobs has proven true in Longview.

Financial Institutions

Numerous banking and financial institutions serve Longview's consumer, commercial, and industrial markets.

Major Employers
PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center 1,874
Weyerhaeuser (Wood Products) 1,580
Longview Fibre Company (Kraft Paper) 1,020
Longview School District (Education) 925
Kelso School District (Education) 832
Foster Farms (Chicken Processing) 800
Lower Columbia College 738
J.H.Kelly (Contractor) 600
Cowlitz County (Government) 570
Safeway (Grocery Store) 550
NORPAC (Newsprint) 450
City of Longview (Government) 351
Walmart (Department Store) 321
Steelscape (Steel Coating) 284
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) 263
Fred Meyer (Department Store) 260
RSG Forest Products (Forest Products) 252
Community Home Health and Hospice 240
PNE Corporation (Environmental Serv.) 213
Koelsch Senior Communities 210
Emerald Kalama Chemicals (Chemicals) 150

Annual Income Per Capita (Current Dollars Inflation Adjusted)
2003 25,014 27,871
2004 25,179 27,232
2005 26,048 27,467
2006 26,956 27,657
2007 28,976 28,076
2008 NYA NYA

Cost of Living Index Inflation Rate
2003 186.3 1.4%
2004 191.1 2.6%
2005 196 2.6%
2006 201.1

2.6%

2007 208.556 3.7%
2008 215.389 3.3%