Although a mountainous county, it has considerable areas suitable for agriculture and dairy farming. Timber and fishing are the foundation of the county's economy. The area also produces large quantities of shell fish. Coos Bay is considered the best natural harbor between San Francisco Bay and the Puget Sound and the Port of Coos Bay is the largest forest products shipper in world. Gold mining was the magnet that drew people to explore and exploit the mineral resources of the county during the nineteenth century.
Today there are rich deposits of iron ore, lead, and coal that await development.
Vacation and recreational possibilities, such as the National Dunes Recreation Area and many state parks, attract tourists to the area and provide an additional economic stimulus.