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Wikipedia / Augusta County, Virginia

Augusta County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The second-largest county of Virginia by total area, it completely surrounds the independent cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Its county seat is Verona.

The county was created in 1738 from part of Orange County and was named after Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. It was originally a huge area, but many of its parts were carved out to form other counties and several states until the current borders were finalized in 1790.

As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 77,487. Along with Staunton and Waynesboro, it forms the Staunton–Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Augusta County was formed in 1738 from Orange County, although, because few people lived there, the 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 the whole of Kentucky were within its early bounds. Additionally, the territory north and west of those areas, theoretically all the way to the Pacific Ocean, were as well.

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 portion of Augusta County north and west of the Ohio River became Illinois County (abolished in 1784); the northeastern part of what was remained 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 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.

During the Civil War, Augusta County served as an important agricultural center as part of the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy." The Virginia Central Railroad ran through the county, linking the Shenandoah Valley to the Confederate capital at Richmond. One of the bloodiest engagements fought in the Shenandoah Valley took place on June 5, 1864, at the Battle of Piedmont, a Union victory that allowed the Union Army to occupy Staunton and destroy many of the facilities that supported the Confederate war effort. Augusta County suffered again during General Philip H. Sheridan's "Burning," which destroyed many farms and killed virtually all of the farm animals.

Staunton, the county seat for many years, was incorporated as a city in 1871 and separated from Augusta County in 1902. Staunton remained the county seat until June 15, 2026, when the county seat was changed to Verona due to hazardous building conditions in the Staunton courthouse.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Virginia by land area and second-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties and independent cities

Districts

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Beverley Manor, Middle River, North River, Pastures, Riverheads, South River, and Wayne.

School systems

The county is serviced by Augusta County Public Schools.

National protected areas

Regional park

Major highways

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 77,487. The median age was 44.9 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population.

15.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 84.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 30,233 households in the county, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 32,590 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.6% were owner-occupied and 21.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

2000 Census

As of the Census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of . 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, 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.

Area populations

According to the 2010 US Census data, below are the populations of the two towns and select unincorporated communities within Augusta County:The majority of Grottoes is located in Rockingham County. Only seven of the town's 2,668 residents reside in Augusta County.

Government

Board of Supervisors

  • Beverley Manor district: Butch Wells (R)

  • Middle River district: Gerald W. Garber (R)

  • North River district: Jeffrey “Jeff” Slaven (R)

  • Pastures district: Pam L. Carter (R)

  • Riverheads district: Michael L. Shull (R)

  • South River district: Carolyn Bragg (R)

  • Wayne district: Scott Seaton (R)

Constitutional Officers

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Steve Landes (R)

  • Commissioner of the Revenue: George Price (R)

  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Tim Martin (R)

  • Sheriff: Donald L. Smith (I) (Elected as Independent but Republican)

  • Treasurer: David Bourne (R)

State and Federal

Augusta County is represented by Republican Mark Obenshain and Chris Head in the Virginia Senate, Republican Ellen Campbell and Republican Chris Runion in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Ben Cline in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Law enforcement

The Augusta County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Augusta County. The ACSO was created in 1745 when James Patton was elected as the first sheriff. The ACSO was accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Accreditation Coalition. The agency is currently headed by Sheriff Donald Smith. The ACSO currently has 72 sworn deputies and 6 dispatchers.

In 2021, the sheriff's department arrested eight individuals for protesting outside the Sheriff's Office. In response to the shooting of two men by deputies earlier that year, the protestors wanted deputies to use body cameras. Most of the charges were thrown out by a judge in 2022. Body cameras were not included in the 2022 budget: initially the county board of supervisors instead created a fund for body cameras that the community could donate to, but they shortly rescinded that decision over a desire to avoid contributions to the fund by the protesting group.

Economy

According to the county's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the county are:

Communities

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.

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References

Further reading