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

1860 Census and Summaries

Soil Types in the Counties


Augusta was larger by a factor of 22 percent, but contained a higher percentage of land poorly suited for agricultural purposes.

Franklin Soil Types

Soil Type Suitability for Agriculture Total Area, in square miles Area as a percent of whole county
Hagerstown-Duffield high suitability 230.81 30.2
Highfield-Glenville good suitability 7.72 1
Murrill-Laidig suitable 68.22 8.9
Weikert-Berks-Bedington suitable 235.02 30.7
Laidig-Buchanan poor suitability 166.09 21.7
Dekalb-Laidig not suitable 56.91 7.4
County Total 764.76 99.9

Augusta Soil Types

Soil Type Suitability for Agriculture Total Area, in square miles Area as a percent of whole county
Types 1 - 3 good suitability 409.1 42
Types 11 - 14 good suitability 160.32 16.5
Type 4 suitable 43.28 4.4
Types 5 - 10 poor suitability 361.35 37.1
Unidentified 0.2 0.0002
County total 974.05 100