Poor Farms in Albemarle County
In the 18th and 19th centuries, communities dealt with poverty by placing the indigent (and often insane or socially unwelcome) in Poor Farms (also referred as The Poor House). Work is on-going to locate and document the farms in Albemarle and Amherst Counties. Each county had several poor farms between the early 19th century and the mid-20th century (when the farms were closed and replaced by other relief measures, such as social security and welfare).
"It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations." Chapter 28, Charles Dickens, Bleak House
Poor Farms in Amherst County
Under Construction
Most Poor Farms were closed between 1930 and the 1950s. Below is a photo of the runied, Albemarle County Poor Farm.
Poor farms are usually found in rural areas, but some cities built asylums or poorhouses (seen below in the Richmond Poor Farm).
Rural Poor Farms are more difficult to locate, but old maps are an invaluable resource. In the 1930s USGS Map Above, we see the location of the 29S Albemarle County Poor Farm. Labeled here as "County Farm."