Rockingham County, VA

Headnote
ROCKINGHAM was formed in 1778... The western part is very mountainous, and the Peaked mountains lie between Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah. Much of the soil is extremely fertile, and the farming economical and judicious. A large portion of the population is of German origin, and many still speak that language. Pop. in 1840, whites 14,944, slaves 1,899, free colored 501; total, 17,344. (Historical Collections, 1852)
Place Unit Type
County
Containing Unit
Virginia

Rockingham County, Virginia (Howe)

Gazetteer/Almanac
ROCKINGHAM was formed in 1778, from Augusta. It is 38 miles long, and 23 broad. The main Shenandoah runs through the eastern portion; North River drains the southern part; north fork of Shenandoah runs through the N. and NW. portion; and Smith's creek, a branch of the latter, the central portion. The western part is very mountainous, and the Peaked mountains lie between Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah. Much of the soil is extremely fertile, and the farming economical and judicious. A large portion of the population is of German origin, and many still speak that language. Pop. in 1840, whites 14,944, slaves 1,899, free colored 501; total, 17,344.
Henry Howe, Historical Collections of Virginia… (Charleston, SC: William R. Babcock, 1852), 460.
Birthplace of
Name Type
Clover Hill, VA City or Town
Dayton, VA City or Town
Harrisonburg, VA City or Town
Port Republic, VA City or Town
Date Title
Abraham Lincoln, Autobiography, circa June 1860
How to Cite This Page: "Rockingham County, VA," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/17888.