| Augusta County,
Virginia nestles in the shadows of the
Blue Ridge and
Allegheny Mountain chains, extending
over 970 miles of VA’s breathtakingly beautiful
Shenandoah Valley. Formed in
1738 and named for the
Princess of Wales,
the Augusta County, VA borders originally reached all the way to the
Mississippi River.
Today, Augusta County is Virginia’s second largest county in
terms of land area. Located within Augusta County’s borders are the two independent cities of
Staunton and
Waynesboro, with Staunton, VA designated
as the county seat. Census 2000 recorded
Augusta County’s population as 65,615. Combined with the Staunton-Waynesboro metro
areas, the population rises to more than 110,000. The remainder of the region
consists of quaint small towns and sleepy hamlets, such as
Craigsville,
Steele's Tavern
and Stuart's
Draft. The community of
Verona contains most
of the Augusta County, Virginia administrative offices.
Augusta County,
VA boasts a diverse economy, with
manufacturing accounting for 30% of the jobs. Governmental and trade service
sectors are also strong, with the
Augusta
Correctional Center and Target retail stores
being the top employers. Other businesses located in Augusta County, VA include
Hershey Foods Corporation,
Alcoa, Inc.,
Nibco Piping, and
Hollister Medical Products.A strong agricultural region since its inception, Augusta County farmers sold more
than $138 million of goods, (1997 Census
of Agriculture data). The county ranks first in VA’s sheep, lamb, and beef industries.
The Augusta County, Virginia unemployment rate is 1.7%, significantly lower than
both state and national averages.
Augusta County's natural scenic beauty attracts many tourists. Easily accessed
by Interstate 64 and several of Virginia’s fine state highways, Augusta County,
VA delights visitors with its spectacular
Skyline Drive, which
leads into Shenandoah National Park.
Grand Caverns is America’s oldest
‘show cave’, with phenomenal stalagmites over 70 feet tall forming the famous
Cathedral Hall.
Also found in Augusta County, VA are the
Natural Chimneys, a stunning
display of nature’s finest handiwork. Visitors can come to Augusta County
via the Blue Ridge Parkway, designated
one of the finest All-American
Roads.
Augusta County,
Virginia retains a traditional spirit and awareness of its national heritage.
Steeped in colorful history, Augusta Count, VAy houses the
Frontier Culture Museum and
Augusta Expoland, where numerous arts,
crafts and dance festivals occur. Augusta County’s
historic districts contain a variety of outstanding
Bed and Breakfast Inns for
immersion in the ambience of this lovely region. Augusta County, VA offers
a strong and stable environment, surrounded by the finest in natural splendor.
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