Recession over? Not in these four cities.

Once a major industrial center, the city on the north branch of the Potomac River has seen a long decline as one by one its industrial plants closed – the final one in 1987. The economy seemed more stable in the 2000s, but the Great Recession has left its imprint. The metro area has lost 4.3 percent of its employed workers in the past year and unemployment has jumped up to 8.6 percent, up from 7.6 percent a year ago. In keeping with the mood, perhaps, residents on Nov. 2 elected Grim – Brian Grim – as their new mayor. He pledges to keep spending under control and improve the city's infrastructure.