In 1860, about half of Fauquier County’s population was made up of free and enslaved African Americans. On the heels of the historical periods of slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the great migration, civil rights and integration, descendants of these residents now make up less than 10 percent of Fauquier’s population. Only remnants of their many communities are still present, yet their contributions to Fauquier County remain.

This story map attempts to tell the history of the lives of these often overlooked and forgotten Americans.

As community-driven nonprofit organizations, the Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County and The Piedmont Environmental Council rely on member support, feedback and engagement. If you feel inspired by what you see in the story map, learn more about Fauquier’s historic African American communities and expand or share your knowledge by:

Visiting www.aahafauquier.org and searching the available databases for more information which include 1867 Voters, African American Marriages, Bible Records, Born Free & Emancipated, and AAHA Archives.
Reaching out to info@aahafauquier.org with photos, information, documentation, stories etc…or simply to share your response to the story map. We would love to hear from you!
Contacting your elected officials and asking them to support greater local, state and federal recognition of these important, but often overlooked communities and historic resources.

Looking forward, AAHA and PEC are already thinking on ways to add, enhance or add new resource layers to this story map project. Potential future additions include: church and community cemeteries, burial sites of the enslaved, and known small family burial sites; sites of impactful historical events; names and location of early African-American owned businesses; sites of fraternal lodges and the story of civic role they played in the African American community, and more!

Stay tuned and please contact AAHA with questions and feedback: www.aahafauquier.org/contact