The county in 1850

According to the U.S. Census from that year.

THE PEOPLE

It was the year Rappahannock had its highest population— 9,782 people lived

here, although almost 40 percent were slaves, according to the the 1850 farm census:

THE LAND More than 92% of the county was farmland,

96,068 of those acres were “improved”—the ninth highest total in the state. e cash value of the county’s farms was $2.039 million, seventh highest in Virginia.

LIVESTOCK The value of livestock here was $343,910,

ranking ninth in the state. e livestock included: 15,180 swine 9,130 sheep 6,884 head of cattle 2,500 horses 2,270 milking cows 620 oxen

CROPS AND PRODUCTS

The value of products from the county’s orchards was $2,420,

at year, Rappahannock’s farms produced:

• 281,216 bushels of “Indian corn”

• 157,699 bushels of wheat

• 55,726 bushels of oats

• 15,249 bushels of “Irish potatoes

• 2,745 bushels of sweet potatoes

• 3,273 tons of hay

• 94,104 pounds of butter

• 24,948 pounds of wool

• 2,785 pounds of tobacco

• 213 pounds of hops

• 15 gallons of wine