Historic Agricultural Survey Report, Washington and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania, 2007-2008

Ammerman, Jeremy; Cole, Hannah; Collins, Aaron

From introduction: "The Historic Pennsylvania Agricultural Survey 2007-2008: Washington and Greene Counties was a partnership between local, state, and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. Its purpose was to document the agricultural history and resources of Pennsylvania. Its intent is to create a comprehensive resource that will support efforts to preserve working farms, develop heritage education and tourism, and raise awareness of Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry. The Washington and Greene County Survey was funded by the federal Preserve America program, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF), and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). From July 2007 through March 2008 the field survey team was in Washington and Greene Counties conducting a reconnaissance level survey of the farms and landscapes of this region. This level of survey is the most basic approach for systematically recording and evaluating historic buildings and this final report serves as a record of that fieldwork and analysis. Reconnaissance surveys are designed for dealing with large groups of buildings or properties rather than for individual sites and involve only a visual evaluation of properties, not an assessment of associated historical events or individuals. That information can only be obtained through historical research conducted as part of an intensive level survey. The survey area of Washington and Greene Counties, located in southwestern Pennsylvania, encompasses approximately 917,120 acres. The area is bounded by Beaver and Allegheny Counties to the north, the Monongahela River to the east, and West Virginia to the south and west. It is generally rural with somewhat rugged topography. Greene County, for example, is 89 percent rural. The areas total population consists of a scant 243,569 people. Within the area, there are approximately 3,387 active farmsteads, most of which are 50 years or older. 2,506 of these are located in Washington County while the remaining 881 are located in Greene County. Approximately 153 agricultural resources within the area were previously inventoried; 16 of these properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places." Funding was provided in part by a 2006 Preserve America grant to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 42-06-PA-2029) for the The Pennsylvania Rural History Project. The grant was administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Preserve America is a federal initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities

Historic Agricultural Survey Report, Washington and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania, 2007-2008

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