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‘‘Historically Rappahannock County has been an agricultural community with most residents depending on the production of agricultural products for their employment and income,” states the comprehensive plan adopted by the board of supervisors in 1980.
But judging by a report compiled from 1980 census data by the RappahannockRapidan Planning District Commission, most local people are no longer employed on farms—at least not on Rappahannock farms.
In 1980, Rappahannock led the five-county district in percentage of local workers out-commuting to employment. Over half the local work force—50.1 percent— left the county for jobs.
The figure represents a substantial increase that corresponds to a decline in farming in the county.
Between 1949 and 1974, the total number of farms in Rappahannock dropped nearly 63 percent from 687 to 257, according to the comprehensive plan. During the same period, the percent of county land area devoted
78.5%