Cooper's economy relied heavily on agriculture from its founding until the 1950s, especially on the growing of cash crops.
In 1880, cotton, corn, sorghum, and other crops were grown on over 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) of farmland.
The county also produced large quantities of livestock, with almost 3,000 cattle and 10,000 hogs grazing on land near Cooper.
The logging industry began to grow in the region, and several mills were constructed, producing furniture and lumber.
In 1886, the Santa Fe Railway built a line through the county, and the shipping of crops and lumber became a major business in Cooper.
During the early 1890s, the livestock industry in Delta County struggled, with the number of hogs being raised dropping to half of what it had been the previous decade.
However, the agricultural business boomed, with the number of farms in the area around Cooper increasing to 1,188, and the value of the farms doubled to $1,400 (equivalent to $3,142,900, respectively in 2020) each.
The production of cotton tripled, and the poultry industry began to boom.
Within the city limits, Cooper housed a hotel, a shoemaker, a grocery store, a wagon maker, feed stores, general stores, drug stores, and several cotton and oat gins.
Delta County contained 18 manufacturing establishments, but they only employed 33 people.
The average income for someone working in the region was $208 (equivalent to $3,142,916 respectively in 2020).

At the turn of the century, the cotton industry was booming.
The crop made up 69% of the agricultural business in the region.
Livestock production was booming, as was poultry production, especially chicken.
In addition, the shipping of agricultural goods and livestock was the other main business in Cooper.
The First National Bank was rebuilt in 1909 and became an important factor in Cooper's economy.
In the 1910s, potatoes become an important part of the economy due to the sudden drop in the livestock business.
In 1926, the cotton crop failed and Cooper's economy plummeted.
Many of Cooper's inhabitants became deep in debt as the price of crops plummeted.
The lumber businesses had exhausted the regions resources, forcing most of them to go out of business.
Many people moved away to find new work.
The local economy stabilized in the mid-1930s, and cotton, potato, and corn production began to rise.
The growing of oats, however, had ended.
In addition, the railroad going through Cooper had failed a few years before, so the shipping industry in Cooper was struggling.
Cotton and alfalfa carried Cooper's economy through the 1950s and 1960s, until the shift to the growing of wheat in the 1970s.
Cooper reported 60 businesses in the 1970s, more than half of which were dairies.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Cooper's economy shifted to the manufacturing and shipping of local goods, and in 1991, Cooper had 70 businesses.

Currently, Cooper's economy features several unique industries.
According to the 2010 Census, the industries in the town (by percentage of employed civilian population 16 years and over) were educational, health, and social services at 34.6%, manufacturing at 18.7%, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services with 13.6%, construction at 10.2%, transportation, warehousing, and utilities at 5.1%, professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services at 4.9%, public administration with 4.3%, retail trade at 3.9%, finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing with 2.0%, other services (except public administration) with 1.6%, and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining at 1.0%.

Of the people in the labor force over the age of 16, 679 people (49.3% of the population) were in the civilian work force, while 697 people (50.7% of the population) were not in the labor force at all.
At the time of the Census, 70 people (5.1%) were unemployed, with none in the armed forces.
Of the 609 employed residents over the age 16, private-sector wage and salary workers accounted for 475 of them (78.0%).
One-hundred-nine people (17.9%) were classified as federal
Cooper's economy relied heavily on agriculture from its founding until the 1950s, especially on the growing of cash crops. In 1880, cotton, corn, sorghum, and other crops were grown on over 100,000 acres (40,000 ha) of farmland. The county also produced large quantities of livestock, with almost 3,000 cattle and 10,000 hogs grazing on land near Cooper. The logging industry began to grow in the region, and several mills were constructed, producing furniture and lumber. In 1886, the Santa Fe Railway built a line through the county, and the shipping of crops and lumber became a major business in Cooper. During the early 1890s, the livestock industry in Delta County struggled, with the number of hogs being raised dropping to half of what it had been the previous decade. However, the agricultural business boomed, with the number of farms in the area around Cooper increasing to 1,188, and the value of the farms doubled to $1,400 (equivalent to $3,142,900, respectively in 2020) each. The production of cotton tripled, and the poultry industry began to boom. Within the city limits, Cooper housed a hotel, a shoemaker, a grocery store, a wagon maker, feed stores, general stores, drug stores, and several cotton and oat gins. Delta County contained 18 manufacturing establishments, but they only employed 33 people. The average income for someone working in the region was $208 (equivalent to $3,142,916 respectively in 2020).
At the turn of the century, the cotton industry was booming. The crop made up 69% of the agricultural business in the region. Livestock production was booming, as was poultry production, especially chicken. In addition, the shipping of agricultural goods and livestock was the other main business in Cooper. The First National Bank was rebuilt in 1909 and became an important factor in Cooper's economy. In the 1910s, potatoes become an important part of the economy due to the sudden drop in the livestock business. In 1926, the cotton crop failed and Cooper's economy plummeted. Many of Cooper's inhabitants became deep in debt as the price of crops plummeted. The lumber businesses had exhausted the regions resources, forcing most of them to go out of business. Many people moved away to find new work. The local economy stabilized in the mid-1930s, and cotton, potato, and corn production began to rise. The growing of oats, however, had ended. In addition, the railroad going through Cooper had failed a few years before, so the shipping industry in Cooper was struggling. Cotton and alfalfa carried Cooper's economy through the 1950s and 1960s, until the shift to the growing of wheat in the 1970s. Cooper reported 60 businesses in the 1970s, more than half of which were dairies. During the 1980s and 1990s, Cooper's economy shifted to the manufacturing and shipping of local goods, and in 1991, Cooper had 70 businesses.
Currently, Cooper's economy features several unique industries. According to the 2010 Census, the industries in the town (by percentage of employed civilian population 16 years and over) were educational, health, and social services at 34.6%, manufacturing at 18.7%, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services with 13.6%, construction at 10.2%, transportation, warehousing, and utilities at 5.1%, professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services at 4.9%, public administration with 4.3%, retail trade at 3.9%, finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing with 2.0%, other services (except public administration) with 1.6%, and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining at 1.0%.
Of the people in the labor force over the age of 16, 679 people (49.3% of the population) were in the civilian work force, while 697 people (50.7% of the population) were not in the labor force at all. At the time of the Census, 70 people (5.1%) were unemployed, with none in the armed forces. Of the 609 employed residents over the age 16, private-sector wage and salary workers accounted for 475 of them (78.0%). One-hundred-nine people (17.9%) were classified as federal
Cooper, Texas