Functionally classified barn

[2] A majority of the farmers took the buyout and hundreds of historic tobacco barns were rendered instantly obsolete.

[3] Design elements which were common to American tobacco barns include: gabled roofs, frame construction, and some system of ventilation.

The interior would have its framing set up in bents about ten to fifteen feet apart so that laths with tobacco attached to them could be hung for drying.

Ostego, Chenango, Madison, Oneida, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties were the primary areas contained within the hop belt.

[5] Later hop barns evolved into taller, more narrow buildings, often topped with a cupola over the drying kiln area.

[5] Barns designed to store potatoes are semi-subterranean (partially below ground) to naturally moderate the indoor temperature like a giant root cellar.

Pole barns are often used for hay storage or livestock shelter, and larger structures are also used for indoor horse stables and riding arenas.

This type of barn is not only very common in modern agriculture but is also used for other applications where large spaces are needed, including boat and truck storage, warehouses, strip malls, retail stores, public exhibit buildings at a fairgrounds, and related uses.

Residential garages are also built as pole barns because of their quick construction time and efficient use of materials.

The advantages of pole barns include their low cost and their ability to store large quantities of hay or other materials in areas easily accessible by vehicles, machines, and people.

[10] In the 1930s, post-frame construction had its start with the development of two key components: availability in rural areas of wood telephone and electricity poles, and corrugated steel sheeting.

[11] Since the 1980s, pole barns have been adapted for a variety of uses, including residential garages, retail stores, light commercial buildings, and professional offices.

In the United States climate allows regional barn variation to easily be divided along a north/south axis.

In the north, where cold, harsh winters are common, buildings were more extensive and spacious, to house animals, crops and vehicles.

All over the United States barn designs, such as those discussed above, were developed based upon the individual needs of specific crops or livestock.