The Valley of the Shadow

Augusta and Franklin: Regional Comparison




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."

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