Augusta County, Virginia

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Augusta County, Virginia
Augusta County VA Courthouse.jpg
The Augusta County Courthouse in March 2005
Flag of Augusta County, Virginia
Flag		 Seal of Augusta County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Augusta County
Location in the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1738
Named for Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha
Seat Staunton
Largest community Stuarts Draft
Area
 • Total 971 sq mi (2,515 km2)
 • Land 967 sq mi (2,505 km2)
 • Water 3.9 sq mi (10 km2), 0.4%
Population
 • (2010) 73,750
 • Density 76.3/sq mi (29/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.augusta.va.us

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Augusta County is a United States county located in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the second-largest county in Virginia by total area, and it surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. The county seat of Augusta is Staunton,[1] although most of the administrative services have offices in neighboring Verona.

The county was created in 1738 from part of Orange County, Virginia, and was named after Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. It was originally a huge area, but many parts of Augusta County were carved out to form other counties and several states, until the current border was finalized in 1790.

As of the 2010 census, the county population was 73,750, which represented an increase of more than 34 percent over the 1990 figure.[2] In addition, Augusta County is part of the Staunton–Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Augusta Stone Church built in 1749

Augusta County was formed in 1738 from Orange County, although, because few people lived there, the county government was not organized until 1745.[3] It was named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and mother of the future King George III of the United Kingdom.[4]

Originally, Augusta County was a vast territory with an indefinite western boundary. Most of what is now West Virginia as well as the whole of Kentucky were formed from it, and it also claimed the territory north and west of those areas, theoretically all the way to the Pacific Ocean.[5]

A series of maps show the formation and division of Augusta County from 1738 through 1791.

Reductions in its extent began in 1770, when its southern part became Botetourt County. In 1776 part of western Augusta County, an area also known as the District of West Augusta, became Monongalia County, Ohio County, and Yohogania County (abolished in 1786). In 1778 the portion of Augusta County west of the Ohio River became Illinois County (abolished in 1784); the northeastern part of what was remained became Rockingham County, and the southwestern part was combined with part of Botetourt County to form Rockbridge County. In 1788 the northern part of the county was combined with part of Hardy County to become Pendleton County. Augusta County assumed its present dimensions in 1790, when its western part was combined with parts of Botetourt County and Greenbrier County to form Bath County.

During the Civil War, Augusta County served as an important agricultural center as part of the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy." The Virginia Central Railroad ran through the county, linking the Shenandoah Valley to the Confederate capital at Richmond. One of the bloodiest engagements fought in the Shenandoah Valley took place on June 5, 1864 at the Battle of Piedmont, a Union victory that allowed the Union Army to occupy Staunton and destroy many of the facilities that supported the Confederate war effort. Augusta County suffered again during General Philip H. Sheridan's "Burning," which destroyed many farms and killed virtually all of the farm animals.

Staunton, the county seat for many years, was incorporated as a city in 1871 and separated from Augusta County in 1902. However, it remained the county seat.

Geography

View of Augusta County countryside across the Shenandoah Valley toward the Blue Ridge Mountains.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 971 square miles (2,510 km2), of which 967 square miles (2,500 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6] It is the third-largest county in Virginia by land area and second-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties and independent cities

Districts

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Beverley Manor, Middle River, North River, Pastures, Riverheads, South River, and Wayne.

School systems

The county is serviced by Augusta County Public Schools.

Map of Augusta County and neighboring Counties.

National protected areas

Regional park

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 10,886 —
1800 11,712 7.6%
1810 14,308 22.2%
1820 16,742 17.0%
1830 19,926 19.0%
1840 19,628 −1.5%
1850 24,610 25.4%
1860 27,749 12.8%
1870 28,763 3.7%
1880 35,710 24.2%
1890 37,005 3.6%
1900 32,370 −12.5%
1910 32,445 0.2%
1920 34,671 6.9%
1930 38,163 10.1%
1940 42,772 12.1%
1950 34,154 −20.1%
1960 37,363 9.4%
1970 44,220 18.4%
1980 53,732 21.5%
1990 54,677 1.8%
2000 65,615 20.0%
2010 73,750 12.4%
Est. 2014 73,862 [7] 0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2]

As of the Census[12] of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26/km²). There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.02% White, 3.60% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,818 households of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.70% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 20.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,045, and the median income for a family was $48,579. Males had a median income of $31,577 versus $24,233 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,744. About 4.20% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Town Populations

According to the 2010 US Census data, below are the populations of the towns within Augusta County:

# Town Population
1 Stuarts Draft 9,235
2 Fishersville 7,462
3 Verona 4,239
4 Weyers Cave 2,473
5 Crimora 2,209
6 Lyndhurst 1,490
7 Dooms 1,327
8 Swoope 1,323
9 Jolivue 1,129
10 Greenville 832
11 Fort Defiance 780
12 Sherando 688
13 Mount Sidney 663
14 Churchville 194

Government

Board of Supervisors

  • Beverley Manor district: David A. Karaffa (I)
  • Middle River district: Larry J. Wills (R)
  • North River district: Marshall W. Pattie (I)
  • Pastures district: Tracy C. Pyles, Jr. (I)
  • Riverheads district: Michael L. Shull (R)
  • South River district: Carolyn S. Bragg (R)
  • Wayne district: Jeffrey A. Moore (R)

Constitutional Officers

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: John B. Davis (R)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: W. Jean Shrewsbury (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: A. Lee Ervin (D)
  • Sheriff: Randall "Randy" Fisher (R)
  • Treasurer: Richard T. Homes (R)

Augusta County is represented by Republican Emmett W. Hanger in the Virginia Senate, Republican Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, Republican Ben L. Cline, and Republican R. Steven "Steve" Landes in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Robert W. "Bob" Goodlatte in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Economy

According to the County's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[13] the top employers in the county are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Augusta County Public Schools 1,000+
2 Augusta Health 1,000+
3 McKee Foods 500-999
4 Hershey 500-999
5 Target 500-999
6 AAF-McQuay 500-999
7 Hollister 250-499
8 Blue Ridge Community College 250-499
9 Augusta Correctional Center 250-499
10 Ply Gem 250-499

Communities

The independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro (incorporated as such in 1902 and 1948 respectively) are located within the boundaries of Augusta County, but are not a part of the county, despite Staunton's status as the county seat. Most county administrative offices, however, are located in Verona, rather than in Staunton.

Towns

Unincorporated communities

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Notable people

See also

References

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  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ "History of Augusta County, Virginia" Page 1, 1882
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  14. ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 'The History of Dubuque County,' Western Historical, 1880, Biographical Sketch of Thomas McKnight, pg. 975

External links

 Highland County Pendleton County, West Virginia Rockingham County
Bath County Albemarle County
  Augusta County, Virginia  
Rockbridge County Nelson County
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