The figure is a stacked column chart titled “Employment Shares in Rural America, 1880–1940.” The key takeaway is that, between 1880 and 1940, manufacturing’s share of total employment increased in both the hinterland and old cities while agriculture’s share shrank. Manufacturing’s share in new cities in 1940 was almost 30 percent.
"Rural America" is defined as the counties with the highest agricultural employment shares that collectively accounted for 50% of total employment in 1880. Hinterland refers to areas in rural counties outside of old or new cities.