MSNBC and Moody's have computed what they call an Adversity Index which attempts to measure the economic health of 381 metro areas and all 50 states and assign an economic health quotient, according to whether the state is assessed to be in recession, at risk, recovering or expanding.
You can mouse over each state to see changes in the four components of the index: employment, housing starts, housing prices and industrial production, whihc are shown as a percentage change from the previous year. If you click on a state you can see information for its metro areas. Maps are available from 1995 through Feb 2009.