Discover the Neighborhoods of Central Virginia
Take a tour of Charlottesville and the eight counties that make up the dynamic region of Central Virginia.
In This Article
City of Charlottesville
Population: 47,217
Home to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville has a diverse economy with strong bioscience, business & finance and education technology sectors. Accolades for “C’ville” have included Best Place to Live in America, Best Digital City and Best Place to Start a Small Business. Major employers are Apex Clean Energy and S&P Global Market Intelligence, and I-64 offers an easy connection to the I-81 and I-95.
Orange County
Population: 36,501
Orange County is primarily rural and robust in business sectors like manufacturing, retail trade and health care. Over 370 miles of high-speed broadband connect businesses and residents alike, and 50% of Orange County is connected by broadband. In addition, the historic Montpelier is a key tourist attraction, along with a booming craft beverage scene dubbed 4 “Corks and Caps.”
Fluvanna County
Population: 26,594
Located between Charlottesville and Richmond, Fluvanna County is a growing rural county with transportation assets like Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 15. The county recently opened a science-focused high school and is also home to Fork Union Military Academy, considered among the premier military boarding academies in the U.S. Strong industry sectors in Fluvanna County include advanced manufacturing, agribusiness and much more.
Louisa County
Population: 36,654
Twenty miles of Interstate 64 run along the southern end of Louisa County, and local businesses that ship cargo also benefit from miles of railroad track. The economy is strong in advanced manufacturing and business and financial services. Major attractions are Lake Anna and Spring Creek Golf Club, a Top 100 nationally recognized golf course.
Madison County
Population: 13,208
Madison County is home to tourist attractions like Old Rag Mountain and Whiteoak Canyon Falls. U.S. Route 29 runs through the heart of the county. Agribusiness is one of the rural county’s key economic sectors, and two thriving companies enjoying success are Early Mountain Vineyards and Bald Top Brewing.
Albemarle County
Population: 108,819
This county is known for its natural beauty and historic sites, and it’s the region’s largest in both population and acres. It offers easy access to highway, rail and air transportation; its most famous tenant is the University of Virginia. A big attraction is the Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival. Nationally recognized companies in Albemarle County include Emerson, Northrop Grumman and WillowTree.
Nelson County
Population: 14,812
This county balances economic growth with natural beauty on the sunrise side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Residents and businesses are served by 38 miles of high-speed fiber optic network, and critical economic sectors include agribusiness, business & finance, and forestry. In addition, Nelson County offers recreation options like Wintergreen Resort. Also, it is home to 12 wineries, seven craft breweries, three cider operations and three distilleries.
Culpeper County
Population: 51,935
In the northernmost locality of Central Virginia is Culpeper County, with a strong economy led by agriculture, IT and manufacturing sectors. Top employers include Cintas, EUROCOMPOSITES and Equinix, and the county houses one of Virginia’s five strategically placed Foreign Trade Zones. Growing every day, Culpeper County’s population is 51,935.
Greene County
Population: 19,734
At the intersection of major highways, U.S. Routes 29 and 33, in Greene County, a dynamic and growing community known as the gateway to Charlottesville, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Local students can attend a branch campus of Piedmont Virginia Community College. In addition, the county offers access to scenic spots like Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail.
If you’d like to learn more about the Central Virginia area, check out the latest edition of Livability: Central Virginia.