Augusta County, Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Augusta County, Virginia | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Virginia |
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 Virginia's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1738 |
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| Seat | Staunton |
| Largest Town | Stuarts Draft |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
971 sq mi (2,515 km²) 970 sq mi (2,514 km²) 1 sq mi (1 km²), 0.06% |
| PopulationEst. - (2006) - Density |
70,910 67/sq mi (26/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| Website: www.co.augusta.va.us | |
| Named for: Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha | |
Augusta County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau gives an estimated population of 70,910 residents,[1]. Its county seat is Staunton, although most of the administrative services have offices in neighboring Verona.
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[edit] History
Augusta County was formed in 1738 from Orange County, although county government was not organized until 1745. It was named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales and mother of the future King George III of the United Kingdom.
Originally, Augusta County was a vast territory with an indefinite western boundary. Most of what is now West Virginia as well as all 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.
A series of maps show the formation and division of Augusta County from 1738 through 1791. An animated map shows the formation of Virginia and West Virginia counties from 1617 to 1995.
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 part of Augusta County west of the Ohio River became Illinois County (abolished in 1784); the northeastern part of what was left 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 still shrinking 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.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 971 square miles (2,515 km²), making it the second largest in Virginia. 970 square miles (2,513 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
[edit] Districts
The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Beverley Manor, Middle River, North River, Pastures, Riverheads, South River, and Wayne.
[edit] School systems
The county is serviced by three school districts: Augusta County Public Schools, Staunton City Schools, and Waynesboro City Schools.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Pendleton County, West Virginia - north
- Rockingham County, Virginia - northeast
- Albemarle County, Virginia - east
- Nelson County, Virginia - southeast
- Rockbridge County, Virginia - southwest
- Bath County, Virginia - west
- Highland County, Virginia - northwest
In addition, two cities are enclaved within the county:
Under Virginia law in effect since 1871, all municipalities in the state incorporated as cities are legally and politically independent of counties.
[edit] National protected areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- George Washington National Forest (part)
- Shenandoah National Park (part)
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] 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 out 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.
[edit] Towns
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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.
[edit] Notable residents
- Thomas Adams, born in Augusta County, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and signer of the Articles of Confederation[2]
- Robert Allen, born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Tennessee[2]
- George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879), born in Augusta County, noted painter and State Treasurer of Missouri [2]
- Gideon Blackburn (1772-1838), born in Augusta County, noted clergyman and founder of Blackburn College[2]
- Samuel Brown, born in Augusta County, noted surgeon and editor[2]
- John Wilson Campbell, born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Ohio [2]
- William Campbell, born in Augusta County, militia leader in the American Revolutionary War[2]
- John Colter (c.1774–May 7, 1812(?)), born near Stuarts Draft, was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804−1806); best remembered for his explorations made after being honorably discharged in 1806 when he became the first person of European descent to enter the region now known as Yellowstone National Park
- Samuel Doak, (1749-1830), born in Augusta County, noted Presbyterian clergyman, founder of Washington College, the first college west of the Alleghenies, noted abolitionist[2]
- John H. Fulton, (died 1836), born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Virginia[2]
- John P. Gaines, (1795-1857), born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Kentucky and governor of the Oregon Territory. [2]
- John D. Imboden, (1823-1895), born in Augusta County, member of the Virginia General Assembly, Confederate Army cavalry general and partisan fighter in the American Civil War.[2]
- Thomas Lewis, Jr., born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Virginia. [2]
- Robert D. Lilley, (1836-1886), born in Greenville, Augusta County,Confederate Army general in the American Civil War. [2]
- William J. Lewis, (1766-1828), born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Virginia. [2]
- Benjamin Logan, (c.1742-1803), born in Augusta County, United States Congressman from Kentucky. [2]
- George Mathews, (1739-1812), born in Augusta County, later United States Congressman and Governor of Georgia. [2]
- Robert McKnight (c.1789-1846), born in Augusta County, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1809, member of a trading expedition under Zebulon Pike to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1812, captured by Spanish and imprisoned until 1821, eventually renounced his United States citizenship, moved to Mexico, and became owner of the Santa Rite del Cobre copper mine in the state of Chihuahua. [2]
[edit] References
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- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
[edit] External links
- Augusta County at the Open Directory Project
- Augusta County official website
- Local News
- Valley Conservation Council
- Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
- Peyton's History of Augusta County, Virginia (1882), searchable online edition of the 1882 edition by J. Lewis Peyton.
- Waddell's Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871, searchable online edition of the 1902 second edition by Jos. A. Waddell. Waddell wrote about people from all walks of life.
- Augusta County Resources, a Rootsweb page of historical and genealogical links and references, including maps.
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