Piedmont Region Of Virginia
Counties in the region
The following counties are located within the Piedmont region of the state. There are 32 counties.
- Amherst
- Appomattox
- Bedford
- Buckingham
- Brunswick
- Campbell
- Charlotte
- Culpeper
- Cumberland
- Fauquier
- Fluvanna
- Franklin
- Goochland
- Greene
- Halifax
- Henry
- Loudoun
- Louisa
- Lunenburg
- Madison
- Mecklenburg
- Nelson
- Nottoway
- Orange
- Patrick
- Pittsylvania
- Powhatan
- Prince Edward
- Rappahannock
- Spotsylvania
Overview
The Virginia Piedmont is largely characterized by rolling hills and numerous ridges near the boundary with the Blue Ridge Mountains. Lying between the mountain and coastal plain regions, the Piedmont region is a naturally diverse landscape. The bedrock consists mostly of gneiss, schist, and granite rocks at a typical depth of between 2 and 10 feet. Soils developed from these rocks and minerals form acid, infertile soils, with sandy loam surfaces. Many of the clayey subsoils are red or yellowish red due to the oxidized iron weathered from the primary minerals. Natural fertility is low; however, these soils respond well to liming and fertilization. Historically, much of the Piedmont region was cleared and farmed intensively, causing extreme erosion over much of the region. Before modern soil fertility and managerial practices were adapted to these soils, agricultural production diminished and most farms reverted to forests. Over two thirds of this region is wooded today. The best soils are still agriculturally productive through well managed soil fertility and erosion control plans. The region contains several areas and stretches of land which are of relatively high agricultural value.
See also
References
External links
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy
38°24′28.9″N 77°43′6.5″W / 38.408028°N 77.718472°W