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History
The Historic Poor Farm has a complicated past. As we work to revitalize the farm and turn it into a space that will serve the community now, we have made sure that the past informs what we do with the land today. Partnerships with local historians and members of the disability community have been invaluable in our efforts to prioritize historic preservation and ensure that the farm offers equitable access and opportunities for healing.
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In 1855, Johnson County procured the land to establish the Johnson County Poor Farm, 160 acres of which are still under County ownership today. The County ran and operated the farm under the poor farm model until 1988. At one time, the farm housed as many as 70 individuals. The farm produced a mix of corn, wheat, hay, oats, potatoes, cabbage, and tobacco, and it also included an orchard, vegetable gardens, and dairy cows. Residents’ work included tending to livestock and maintaining gardens. Farm products were consumed by residents and sold to customers.
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The practice of care that took place at the JCHPF in the 1800s – where individuals were required to work – is difficult to grapple with. There are first-hand accounts of individuals who felt at home on the farm. There are also family accounts of relatives who “went off to the Poor Farm” when befallen on hard times because they couldn’t face the shame of being a burden to their families. ​​The asylum and cemetery onsite also raise questions and discomfort and force visitors to reflect on how far we have come in our care for individuals with disabilities and also how far we still have to go.​​
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Johnson County recognizes the farm’s difficult history. Care has been taken to ensure that current and future uses of the site situate and reckon with this history. Care has also been taken to ensure that the farm meets the needs and desires of the community today. ​​​
Learn about the Disability Advisory Committee and their work to ensure that the farm provides equitable access to people with disabilities and opportunities for healing. ​
To learn more about the history of the Johnson County Poor Farm, visit our Historic Buildings page.
Specific questions may be emailed to the Johnson County Historical Society by clicking the Historical Inquiries button below. Results on your inquiry will be emailed to you after a JCHS historian researches your question. Individuals may also request to view JCHS archival materials in-person through this process.
FAQs
Who lived at the Johnson County Poor Farm? A variety of people from diverse backgrounds found themselves living at the poor farm, ranging from people who didn't have enough money to sustain themselves to elderly people without any connections to physically disabled people and chronically mentally ill people.
When was the Historic Poor Farm active? Johnson County's Poor Farm, as it was called at the time, first opened its doors in 1855 and operated under the poor farm model until 1988. Life at the farm looked drastically different over the course of 125 years. After 1988, care became privatized and the Poor Farm property lay vacant until the 2010s.
Did everyone live in the Asylum building? No, most people who lived at the farm stayed in the main quarters, which was located where Chatham Oaks is today. This building was called "the County Home." Only people who were determined to be a threat to themselves or others lived in the Asylum building.
Have a question that's not answered here? Go to the contact form on our front page and drop your question inside. We'll answer it as soon as we can!
New Century Farm Plan
In 2016, the Board of Supervisors set out to revitalize this land and make it available to the public through a 10-year plan. What came next was an extensive planning process to ensure that future development of the farm aligned its history with the needs and desires of our current community. The concept of The New Century Farm was adopted as the vision for the farm. This concept prioritizes the preservation of historic farm structures, land access and education for beginning farmers, conservation, recreation, and education.​
The Historic Poor Farm is in its 8th year of plan implementation as of 2025. Historic building construction is finished, the farm has become an established part of the local food landscape, and plans for a Commercial Kitchen and Healing Trail have been realized. Future plans include a farmer education center and adding more trails to the site. Although master plan implementation is not yet complete, Johnson County is excited to offer the farm as a community space where folks can learn, connect, and heal.