Some Facts and Figures

Columbiana County, with a total of 3,921 farms in an area of 543 sq. miles, is distinctly a farm county. More than 91 percent of the entire area of the county is in its farms, and more than 77 percent is under cultivation. The farms are, as a rule, of more than average size, less than 9 percent being under 10 acres. They are almost, without exception, profitable and correspondingly valuable. The farmers, as a class, are the most prosperous folks in the county. In the view of the number of farmers, that is in itself a statement of the wealth of this section.

The farm population of Columbiana County is almost exclusively native born white. There are but few foreign, and only three negro farmers in the entire county, according to the most recent United States Government Statistics.

It is interesting to note the number of farms in the county operated by their owners. Of this class there are 2,923 or nearly 75 percent. Two thousand, one hundred and six or 72 percent of them are reported free of mortgage debt. This is an exceptionally large percentage. On the balance, the remarkably low mortgage indebtedness of only 27 percent, of the entire valuation is carried. Even in the absence of other statistical figures, these mortgage statements alone would indicate exceptional prosperity among Columbiana County farmers.

The largest single crop, and the one produced most generally throughout the entire county is, of course, corn, of which 800,614 bushels were produced in 1910, a notably bad crop year, but the latest for which authoritative figures are available.  Following closely on this for quantity is oats, with a total of 708,086 bushels; wheat comes next, with 386,727 bushels. The combined total value of these three crops was in excess of two million dollars. In spite of the hilly character of the country, the potato crop adds a considerable portion of the agricultural wealth of the county. The same statistics from which the above figures were gathered give the 1910 crop as 448,143 bushels.

Everywhere is an atmosphere of hard work. Everyone takes work seriously and as a matter of course. There is not false pride about it, and no failure to realize its importance and its necessity. Rich farmers' wives, and sons and daughters, take pride in their fine butter, their eggs, their vegetables, their chickens and their stock. The realtions between the people of the farms and the prople of the county seat are most cordial. The farmers deposit their savings in the local banks, and deal in the local stores.

This directory is published in the belief that it will serve to acquaint the residents of one end of the county with those of the other. We believe it to be accurate. We realize, however, that even in the most carefully compiled and printed books certain errors are bound to appear, and we apologize in advance for any such that may be found by our subscribers.