Slaveholders and Soil Quality
A significant majority of both slaveholders and nonslaveholders farmed on the best soil. The largest planter and slaveholder
in the Augusta GIS data set resided on medium soil and achieved significantly higher productivity than nonslaveholders and
slaveholders on the best soil.
|
Best Soil |
Medium Soil |
Worst Soil |
Totals |
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
0 slaves |
476 |
79.3 |
71 |
11.8 |
53 |
8.8 |
600 |
100.0 |
1 slave |
40 |
90.9 |
2 |
4.5 |
2 |
4.5 |
44 |
100.0 |
2 - 5 slaves |
53 |
82.8 |
6 |
9.4 |
5 |
7.8 |
64 |
100.0 |
6 - 10 slaves |
42 |
87.5 |
2 |
4.2 |
4 |
8.3 |
48 |
100.0 |
11 - 20 slaves |
44 |
89.8 |
2 |
4.1 |
3 |
6.1 |
49 |
100.0 |
21 - 30 slaves |
1 |
100.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
100.0 |
31+ slaves |
0 |
0 |
1 |
100.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
100.0 |
Total |
656 |
81.3 |
84 |
10.4 |
67 |
8.3 |
807 |
100.0 |
The data are based on the GIS of Augusta and Franklin households--maps are derived from a D. H. Davison map of Franklin County,
published in 1858, and a Jedediah Hotchkiss map of Augusta County, published in 1870, and based on surveys completed "during
the war." The maps have been georeferenced at the Virginia Center for Digital History, using ESRI Arc Info to produce a Geographic
Information Systems map and database of households based on U.S. census data from the population, agricultural, and slaveowners'
schedules.
Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III Slaveholders and Soil Quality 2001.
Points of Analysis to this Data:
"Slaveholders in Augusta did not monopolize the best soil nor did they crowd out nonslaveholders or small slaveholders."
"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."
Citation: Key = E143
|