Enjoy Life in the Slow Lane in Central Virginia
Here, residents can bask in the perks of small-town living while having the big-city amenities nearby.
Located in the heart of Virginia, small towns like Madison, Gordonsville and Afton are attracting newcomers, who are drawn to the area for its relatively low cost of living, scenic landscape and the truth behind the idea that you can make a big impact through small-town living in Central Virginia.
In This Article
Know Your Neighbors
Jerome Thalwitz, owner and chef of the Bavarian Chef in Madison, has experienced the region’s strong sense of community firsthand.
Immigrating from Germany, Thalwitz’s parents opened the restaurant in 1974, and it’s their family recipes that he continues to re-create today, with the support of diners who’ve made themselves regulars.
“My friends and neighbors are warm and kind. People in our community pull together to help others when they are in need. There is a lot of support for local businesses from both residents and community organizations.”
Jerome Thalwitz
Celebrating Small-Town Living
Leney Breeden is a photographer, artist and writer who has traveled from coast to coast, embracing the nomad lifestyle and living on the road – until she and her husband landed in Gordonsville.
Leney Breeden
In 2020, they opened a brick-and-mortar version of her online shop, Folkling, a specialty retail concept that brings new life to vintage finds. After just a year in business, it was featured by the lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy.
Breeden, too, has experienced the perks of living in a close-knit community.
“Gordonsville has the sweetest little community of people who have helped support us. It’s small-town America. … It’s the stuff of movies like living in a little Hallmark town, which is so appealing but not possible in as many places as it once was,” Breeden says.
“I think there is a special and intimate type of community that can be built in a condensed area. In my experience, it’s rare that you know your neighbors in a city.”
Check Out the View
The opportunity to enjoy small-town living in a beautiful area is what drew Will Trager and his brother, Joe, to the region. The pair moved east from Seattle some 30 years ago, opening Trager Brothers Coffee in Afton.
“There’s such easy access to outdoor recreation here that you can get out and take a hike even on a workday,” Trager says. “There are many people who come to visit our wineries, farms and orchards; then, they fall in love with the area and decide to stay.”
Thalwitz and his family are perfect examples.
“The natural beauty of Central Virginia is a tremendous draw. The Blue Ridge Mountains, the woods, the rivers and the streams all feel reminiscent of Germany. That’s why my parents gravitated to this part of Virginia,” Thalwitz says. “If you love the outdoors, there are endless opportunities to hike, bike, paddle and fish, plus countless trails and rivers [to explore]. You could visit for two weeks and not see all there is to see.”
Location Is Key
Despite its bucolic setting, Madison, Gordonsville and Afton are roughly 30 minutes away from the Charlottesville-Albemarle metro area, which has a population of more than 156,000 residents.
“My husband and I value community, and where we are is the perfect triangle – 30 minutes from Charlottesville, 15 minutes from Richmond, and an hour and a half from Washington, D.C.,” Breeden says. “A lot of our regular customers come from other places in Virginia while taking a day trip.”
Whether it’s the former presidents whose homes have been transformed into historic estates, the musicians like native Dave Matthews who’ve put the region’s music scene on the map or the notable alumni who’ve received their degrees from the University of Virginia, many people have been a part of transforming Charlottesville into a destination for residents and visitors alike.
For Thalwitz, it’s the arts and culture offerings that really make Central Virginia a special place to be.
“Central Virginia has many unique independent restaurants, and the breweries and wineries are top-notch,” Thalwitz says. “There are community theaters, and we have all kinds of art galleries and artisan crafters.”
So, for an small-town living experience, you know where to start – in Central Virginia, where community and culture make a lasting impression.
Get to Know Central Virginia
Want to learn more about living and working in Charlottesville, VA, and the surrounding communities? Check out the latest edition of Livability Central Virginia.