the county saw limited conflict during the civil war. most of the activity was centered around the towns of orange and gordonsville. the exceptions were the battle of mine run and the battle of the wilderness in the eastern portion of the county. the battle of the wilderness was a significant turning point in the war. following virginia’s readmission to the union in 1870, and with the loss of slave labor, the agricultural economy resumed with more emphasis on livestock and dairy farming. this was because these activities requiring less physical labor. the dominance of the railroad and the relative ease it offered in delivering goods to larger markets increased the livestock production in the county’s agricultural economy. agriculture and manufacturing continued to expand into the twentieth century, with a peak of 1279 farms and 20 manufacturing companies located within the county as of 1929. a manufacturing survey produced during the great depression noted that orange county’s economy remained relatively healthy due to its accessibility.