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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."
Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III
Regional Comparison
2001.
Points of Analysis to this Data:
 "On a per capita basis, Franklin farmers grew far less corn and more wheat than their counterparts in Augusta, and their commitment
to wheat was seen by many as both the symbol of the North's wealth and the evidence of its superior labor system."
"The richest farm households in Augusta, however, had a high correlation with relatively high wheat production and low corn
production, and slavery enabled even greater success on these farms."
"Although Franklin's wealth was concentrated in its rural agricultural commodities, the county was a commercial hub with numerous
businesses and shops more densely concentrated than its Southern counterpart."
"Enslaved labor was integral to Augusta's industries--woolen mills, distilleries, flour mills, lumber mills, and iron foundries--while
skilled white artisan shops were small in number and scale and virtually free of enslaved labor."
"The visible differences that slavery made in the arrangement of the landscape were apparent to many observers, but Northerners
and Southerners interpreted them differently. Northerners focused on land value per acre and Southerners on the dollar value
of their crops."
Citation: Key = E161
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