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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.
Location
Augusta
County is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, between the
Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Allegheny Mountains on the
west. It is the second largest county in Virginia, and has within its
borders two independent cities, Staunton (the county seat) with a population
around 25,000 and Waynesboro with a population around 18,000. There
are a number of small towns with interesting histories in all parts
of the county.
Demographics
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 26/km² (68/mi²). There were 26,738 housing units at an average
density of 11/km² (28/mi²). 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. 5.80% of the population and 4.20% of families were below the poverty line. 6.40% of those under the age of 18 and 6.60% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Recreation, Attractions, Dining & Shopping
Website
The traditional county fair has been a part
of Augusta County history for well over 100 years. The initial effort
to establish a county fair began in 1811 when the Augusta Agricultural
Society was organized. One of the initial goals of this group was to
start an agricultural fair in Augusta County.
The early
fairs featured agricultural “stock” exhibits and competitions and also
included home exhibits including hair and stock mattresses, currant and
gooseberry wine, and homemade butter, lard, and soap, just to mention a
few of the fair attractions.
From 1949 until 1953, the event was designated as the official State
Fair of Virginia and expanded to one full week in length. In 1954, the
State Fair of Virginia moved to its current location in Richmond. After
the move, the local fair was renamed the Staunton-Augusta County
Agricultural Fair.
During
the 50’s and 60’s, the fair included horse races which were held on a
half-mile track that circled Lake Tams. The last fair was held at the
Staunton Fairgrounds beside Gypsy Hill Park in 1963.
In
1970, the assets and charter of the Augusta County Fair was purchased
by a group of five investors. In 1971, the name of the fair was changed
to the Greater Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Fair. Although not
agricultural in emphasis, this fair is still in operation and held each
year on the Eastside Speedway grounds on Route 340 in Dooms.
About
this same time, another group of agricultural leaders and Ruritan Club
members in the county organized an effort to form a “agricultural fair”
in Augusta County similar to those held in the past. The Augusta
Agricultural and Industrial Exposition, or Augusta Expo, as it is now
known, opened on the grounds on the Wilson Elementary School near
Fishersville in 1969. The initial Augusta Expo fair was held under
tents for two years until it moved to its present 200 acre site in
Tinkling Spring at the Intersection of Interstate 64 and Route 608.
Augusta Expo sponsored an annual fair until 1992 when it was decided by
the Board of Directors to cease having a county fair.
In September of 1993, a letter was sent out from David Fiske, then
Agriculture Extension Agent for the County, to civic groups and
interested individuals concerning a meeting to discuss starting the
Augusta County Fair as we know it today. As a result of that meeting,
the first Augusta County Fair opened on Wednesday, August 23, 1995.
2005 will be the 11th year for the Augusta County Fair since that 1993
reorganization effort. The fair will be held August 9th – 13th.
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