Valley of the Shadow
The Eve of War
Fall 1859–Spring 1861

1860 Census and Summaries

1860 Agricultural Productivity


Franklin County wheat farmers were more productive on average and on a per acre basis than their Augusta counterparts, especially on the best soil. Augusta’s corn production exceeded Franklin’s on average and on a per acre basis. In other major agricultural products the counties compared favorably.

Augusta Franklin
Production per farm Production per acre Production per farm Production per acre
Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median
COWS
County Avg. 4.6 4 0.04 0.03 4.8 5 0.06 0.04
Best Soil 4.7 4 0.04 0.03 5.1 5 0.05 0.05
Medium Soil 4.4 3.5 0.04 0.03 4.6 4 0.06 0.05
Worst Soil 3.6 3.5 0.04 0.03 3.8 3 0.06 0.05
CATTLE
County Avg. 12 6 0.06 0.04 7.7 6 0.07 0.06
Best Soil 12.2 6 0.06 0.04 7.7 7 0.07 0.06
Medium Soil 11.6 6 0.06 0.04 6.2 4 0.05 0.04
Worst Soil 9.9 3.5 0.06 0.05 5.5 4 0.06 0.06
SWINE
County Avg. 22.3 19 0.19 0.14 15.1 12 0.18 0.13
Best Soil 22.5 20 0.19 0.14 18.2 15 0.19 0.15
Medium Soil 27.2 16 0.19 0.15 12.1 10 0.16 0.11
Worst Soil 12.7 12 0.24 0.09 7.3 6 0.14 0.07
WHEAT
County Avg. 248.4 165 1.5 1.2 334.2 277.5 3.2 2.7
Best Soil 225.2 175 1.5 1.2 425.3 400 4 3.8
Medium Soil 281.5 200.5 1.7 1.5 246.8 200 2.4 2
Worst Soil 126.4 50 0.9 0.6 111.6 50 1.2 0.9
CORN
County Avg. 548.8 400 3.5 3 286.4 200 3 2.3
Best Soil 556.8 400 3.5 3 343.8 300 3.4 2.8
Medium Soil 561.9 400 3.5 3 222.6 162 2.4 1.8
Worst Soil 441.2 225 3.1 3 203.9 115 2 1.7
HAY
County Avg. 17.1 10 0.1 0.09 21 20 0.2 0.18
Best Soil 16.8 10.5 0.1 0.09 21.6 20 0.22 0.19
Medium Soil 21.9 11 0.12 0.13 18.8 18 0.18 0.17
Worst Soil 13.1 5 0.08 0.06 16 9 0.21 0.18