Augusta and Franklin's difference in land value by acre and average farm value differed markedly but in a pattern shared by other counties on the border region. In general, non-slaveholding Northern counties along the border had a much higher value per acre than their southern neighbors. However, these counties also had a lower average farm value.
When measured against their neighboring contiguous counties, Franklin and Augusta stand out as successful central places. Neighboring counties were less wealthy and diversified.
| Acres of | Value of | ||||||
| Number of Farms | Improved Land | Unimproved Land | Total Land | Farms (Total) | Farms (Average) | Land (per acre) | |
| Augusta County | 1552 | 224644 | 213515 | 438159 | 10997286 | $7,085.88 | $25.10 |
| Counties Bordering to Augusta | 770 | 126880 | 174100 | 300890 | 4752593 | $6,001.50 | $14.45 |
| Franklin County | 2494 | 261390 | 139925 | 401315 | 16265894 | $6,522.01 | $40.53 |
| Counties Bordering Franklin | 1635 | 164670 | 79738 | 244408 | 8538389 | $5,197 | $33.06 |
| Border County Average | 1591 | 146456 | 90537 | 236993 | 7663344 | $4,816.68 | $32.34 |
| Non-Slaveholding Border County Average | 2514 | 185237 | 111458 | 296695 | 12000408 | $4,773.43 | $40.45 |
| Slaveholding Border County Average | 905 | 117647 | 74996 | 192643 | 4441525 | $4,907.76 | $23.06 |
| Number of | Manufacturing Capital | ||||
| Free Individuals | Families | Slaveholders | Total Investment | Investment per capita, free population | |
| Augusta | 22133 | 3740 | 811 | $639,010.00 | $28.87 |
| Counties Contiguous to Augusta | 9478 | 1668 | 447 | $118,951.00 | $16.09 |
| Franklin | 42126 | 7709 | 0 | $1,146,320.00 | $27.21 |
| Counties Contiguous to Franklin | 27305 | 4988 | 0 | $740,468.00 | $26.11 |
| Border Average | 31023 | 5666 | 161 | $1,175,755.00 | $37.90 |
| Non-Slaveholding County Average | 42476 | 7753 | 0 | $1,798,431.00 | $29.92 |
| Slaveholding County Average | 22514 | 4115 | 281 | $713,196.00 | $27.43 |
Note: The "contiguous" counties are all those counties (whether in the same state or not) whose border connects with Augusta or Franklin. The "border counties" are the 61 counties running along the north and south sides of the boundary between Ohio-Kentucky, Ohio-West Virginia, Pennsylvania-West Virginia, Pennsylvania-Maryland (the West Virginia counties were all part of Virginia in 1860). The "per capita capital investment in manufacturing" and the "per capita capital investment in manufacturing, free population" were both computed by dividing the total value of capital invested in manufacturing by the relevant population figure. The "total farmland" was computed by adding the "improved" and "unimproved land" categories. The "average farm value" was determined by dividing the "cash value of farms" by the "total number of farms" while the "land value, by acre," was computed by dividing the "cash value of farms" by the "total farmland."
