The Work Environment

POPULATION
According to the 2000 Census, there are 65,615 people in Augusta County. Combined with Staunton and Waynesboro, VA, the area population exceeds 110,000. The median age in Augusta County is 39.
GOVERNMENT
Augusta County is governed by a seven member Board of Supervisors. The County is divided into seven magisterial districts with Board members elected from each district. The Board of Supervisors meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
TAX RATES
The real estate tax rate for Augusta County is 0.58 per $100 of assessed value. Automobiles and trucks are taxed at $1.90 per $100 of their NADA - Bank Loan value. Due to recent legislation, the tax on the first $20,000 of vehicle value is being eliminated over the next several years.
ECONOMY
Augusta County has a diverse economy. While manufacturing accounts for approximately 30% of the jobs in the County, the governmental, services, and trade sectors are also very strong. In fact, the Augusta Correctional Center and Target are two of the County's largest employers. Please see our Links page for the area's major employers.
AGRICULTURE
Agriculture has traditionally been an important part of the County's economy. This remains true today. As of January 1, 2000, Augusta County had 37,400 beef cows and 75,000 sheep and lambs, ranking first in both categories in Virginia. According to the latest Census of Agriculture, there are 1,499 farms in Augusta County covering more that 282,000 acres. The average farm in the County is 188 acres. The market value of agricultural products sold was over $138 million in 1997.
TOURISM
Another significant component of the area's economy is tourism. Attracted by the scenic beauty of the area and the easy accessibility via the interstate system, thousands of tourists visit the area each year. The economic benefit of the tourism industry is significant. In 1999, visitors spent more that $60 million in the County and generated over $2.5 million in local meals and lodging taxes.
INCOME
In 1998, the adjusted gross income for married couples in the County was $43,190. The per capita personal income for the Augusta-Staunton-Waynesboro area in 1999 was $23, 612. While total income is important, a better indicator of the wealth in a community is the effective buying income of households. In 1999, the effective buying income of Augusta County households was $32,834. Twenty-four percent of households in the County had a buying income of $50,000 or more.
HOUSING
According to recently released 2000 Census data, there are 18,903 families and 24,818 households in the County. There are more that 26,700 housing units in the County, of which 24,818 are currently occupied. Over 80% of the housing units (20,628) are owner occupied. The average household size in the County is 2.57.
RETAIL SALES
In 2000, taxable sales in Augusta County exceeded $316 million, up 2.6% from 1999. Not surprisingly, the highest amount of sales comes in the food group sector which includes grocery stores and restaurants. Other leading sectors include general merchandise and machinery, equipment, and supplies.
LABOR FORCE
Augusta County has a labor force of nearly 32,000 workers. Combined with the Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro, the area labor force is over 52,000 strong. Currently, the County's unemployment rate is 1.7%. This figure is lower than both the state and national averages.