Here are the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their February 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Imperial County, Calif., 31.29

2. Lyon County, Nev., 28.41

3. Merced County, Calif.,28.27

4. San Benito County, Calif., 27.51

5. Sutter County, Calif., 26.24

6. Yuba County, Calif., 25.52

7. Stanislaus County, Calif., 25.27

8. San Joaquin County, Calif., 24.7

9. Iosco county, Mich., 24.43

10. Nye County, Nev., 24.4

11. Taney County, Mo., 24.22

12. Lapeer County, Mich., 24.04

13. Cheboygan County, Mich., 23.68

14. Lake County, Calif., 23.39

15. Marion County, S.C., 23.01

16. Boone County, Ill., 22.97

17. Clark County, Nev., 22.81

18. Kern County, Calif., 22.79

19. Luna County, N.M., 22.6

20. Sanilac County, Mich., 22.5

A list of the 20 least economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their February 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:

1. Ford County, Kan., 4.08

2. Ellis County, Kan., 4.16

3. Brookings County, S.D., 4.36

4. Brown County, S.D., 4.64

5. Finney County, Kan., 4.76

6. Riley County, Kan., 4.85

7. Grand Forks County, N.D., 4.89

8. Buffalo County, Neb., 4.98

9. Burleigh County, N.D., 5.11

10. Ward County, N.D., 5.23

11. Platte County, Neb., 5.27

12. Arlington County, Va., 5.43

13. Cass County, N.D., 5.45

14. Johnson County, Iowa, 5.52

15. Sioux County, Iowa, 5.55

16. Lafourche County, La., 5.56

17. Lincoln County, S.D., 5.63

18. McPherson County, Kan., 5.65

19. Lincoln County, Neb., 5.76

20. Albany County, Wyo., 5.78

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Source: AP Economic Stress Index