From Farm to Factory . . . And Beyond: Economic History of Northern Shenandoah Valley, 1720 - 2020

From Farm to Factory . . . and Beyond covers the economic history of the the Northern Shenandoah Valley, from 1720 to 2020. It chronicles the transformation of a 1700s backcountry frontier into one of the fastest growing regions in twenty-first century America. The author’s research builds on previous studies of wheat cultivation, iron furnaces and woolen mills. It sheds new light on other economic activity in the eight counties directly south of the Potomac River, nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny plateau.
The book emphasizes the important role the Northern Shenandoah Valley’s strategic location and 300 years of infrastructure improvements played in its economic development. The author provides fresh perspectives on how the region’s leaders responded to outside competitive forces by building a diversified economy that benefits from its proximity to the rapidly growing metro Washington, D.C.

New York native Peter D. Heerwagen has lived in the Winchester area for the past 35 years. Armed with an undergraduate degree in economics and a master's in business administration, he worked on Wall Street, for the federal government, and while a financial advisor, he authored several books on investing.