FINAL REPORT Land use study of Valley Forge National Historical Park

Rhoads, Ann; Ryan, Douglas; Aderman, Ella

Title searches of lands within or adjacent to Valley Forge National Historical Park resulted in confirmation of late 18th century ownership for 24 parcels of land. A variety of documents including deeds, wills, inventories, tax records, depredation claims, and newspaper advertisements provided site specific references to land use and local agricultural practices during the pre-encampment and post-encampment periods. The picture which has emerged is one of general farming with a center of industrial and commercieal activity located near the mouth of Valley Creek. Farms averaged 189 acres in size and were divided into small, fenced-enclosed fields of 1 to 10 acres. Chestnut rail fences bordered many of the fields. Wheat was the major cash crop but a variety of other grain and vegetable crops were also grown. Farms in the late 1700's were approximately one-third wooded. Depredation claims filed by six Valley Forge area residents provide a vivid picture of the impact of the military activity on the local farmers. Losses of livestock, stored crops, timber and fencing are detailed. Another major impact on the landscape was the cutting of all forested areas. Field and aerial surveys show over twelve miles of encampment era property lines are still visible within the Park as patterns in the vegetation and subtle landscape changes. Recommendations are included for the interpretation and management of the landscape to represent the historic setting more accurately and to preserve traces of early land use that persist in the current landscape.