In 1860, free and enslaved African Americans made up half of Fauquier County’s entire population. After the Civil War, Black communities like Morgantown, two miles south of Marshall, that grew out of emancipation held powerful meaning as community centers where African Americans could freely worship, conduct commerce, obtain education and own land. 

In a new online story map, the public can now learn more about Morgantown and many other important African American communities in Fauquier County. The Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County and The Piedmont Environmental Council teamed up to create this web resource to shed new light on the county’s history. Staff at AAHA have spent years researching and documenting the African American experience in Fauquier County.

A special thanks to the PATH Foundation for financial support, and to Fauquier County GIS for technical assistance. 
Explore and share the story map at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c1ea9dfa76c6493d853d0543feed09db