Loudoun County Slave Ownership Timeline

From Loudoun County's formation in 1757 until 1860 (the last census taken, before emancipation) Loudoun's enslaved population grew from 16 percent of the population to more than 28 percent of the population. Here's a quick chronological look at Loudoun's enslaved population by the numbers according to Loudoun's census records.  My project will share the primary source documents that records the enslaved community at Belmont from 1800 the height of Loudoun's slave population to January 1, 1863, the adoption of the emancipation proclamation.

• 1757: At Loudoun’s formation there are about 550 slaves, 16 percent of a total population of about 3,500.

• 1764: At the close of the French and Indian War there are about 1,100 slaves, or 19 percent of 5,800 persons.

• 1773: On the eve of the American Revolution, the population is 11,000, among them 1,950 slaves—17 ½ percent of the population.

• 1790: The first U. S. census lists 18,962 persons; 4,213 slaves, or 22 percent of the total population.

• 1800: Loudoun registers its largest slave population, 6,078 slaves, or 28 percent of a total 20,523 persons.

• 1820: Loudoun registers its largest pre-Civil War population, 22,072. Slaves number 5,729, about 25 percent,

• 1830: 5,343 slaves, 23.8 percent of 22, 796 persons, a pre-war high.

• 1840: Free Negroes comprise 6.45 percent, of 1,318 persons of a population of 20,431. Slaves comprise 25.8 percent of 5,273 persons.

• 1850: Of a population of 22,679, 5,641 or 24.1 percent are slaves. 

• 1860: On the eve of war, 5,501 or 25 percent of 21,774 persons are slaves.

For more history of Loudoun's African American population visit http://www.loudounhistory.org/history/african-american-chronology/