Virginia Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Charlottesville, Virginia

Population: 40,341

Located in Independent Cities - East County

The City of Charlottesville is nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western central Virginia. Home to a population of over 40,000 residents with a metropolitan population nearing 200,000. The City has earned a reputation as being one of the most livable places in the country. In 2004 the City was given the distinction by Frommer's Cities Ranked and Rated 2004 as the Best Place to Live in America, and for four years in a row, Charlottesville has been listed among Money Magazines’ 100 Best Places to Live.

A city deep in historic value, the area has raised three Presidents and is the home of the University of Virginia founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1825. With a growing enrollment of nearly 20,000, The University is now consistently listed as one of the top five public universities in the country.

The City has also earned a reputation as a writers’ and readers’ paradise, with more newspaper readers per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Every spring the City hosts an annual Virginia Festival of the Book that attracts thousands of avid readers from across the country. The city is also home to many prominent writers including John Grisham and Rita Mae Brown, and past acclaimed authors such as Edgar Alan Poe and William Faulkner.

Thriving Industry
The University of Virginia is the number one employer and provides the city with a stable workforce. With the area’s strategic location and healthy economy Charlottesville attracts many other major employers, including: GE Fanuc, Lexis-Nexus Publishing, Litton Sperry Marine, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and Wachovia

Temperate Climate
Charlottesville’s close proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean allows residents to enjoy a mild climate with four distinct seasons. With an annual average temperature of 57 degrees, the thermometer rarely falls below 20 degrees in the winter or rises above 90 degrees in the summer. With several ski resorts nearby and an average of 18 inches of snow annually, winters are considered mild and manageable. The wettest months are in spring and fall with around 44 inches of rainfall each year. Weather Link

Educational Priorities
Educational opportunities abound in Charlottesville as it's home to the famed University of Virginia, as well as the Piedmont Virginia Community College. The University, located in the heart of the City, invests more than $140 million annually in private and government funds for research and development.

The City School System provides a great place for every child to learn with a low student to teacher ratio and a high commitment to success. Enrichment programs, special and gifted services, technical training, fine and performing arts, and a wide variety of award-winning sports and other extra-curricular activities cater to the individual needs of each student. Students in the City School System consistently score above state and national averages on standardized and advanced placement testing.

City school enrollment is approximately 4,400 students. The system has 6 elementary schools (grades K-4), 1 upper elementary school (grades 5-6), 1 middle school (grades 7-8), 1 high school (grades 9-12), 1 vocational education high school operated jointly with Albemarle County, and 1 alternative program (grades 7-12). A number of local private/parochial schools also provide educational options.

Arts and Recreation Abound
The City offers an impressive variety of cultural, social, and recreational opportunities. There are 26 neighborhood and jointly funded parks and an extensive series of walking trails that run through parkland, residential areas, and along the beautiful Rivanna River. For more information, please refer to the Parks and Recreation site.

There is also a thriving art, music and theater community that keeps the creative spirit alive in Charlottesville. A recently opened 4,000 seat Charlottesville Pavilion amphitheater draws big named acts into the downtown area and hosts a weekly Friday After Five concert, a local favorite to kick off the weekend. The downtown pedestrian mall is one of the most successful of its kind in the country and boasts over 150 shops and award-winning restaurants. A magnet for art, music, dining, shopping and entertainment, the mall is now home to a newly renovated Paramount Theater, one of few community-supported restorations of historic theaters in the country. The 1,200 seat theater has hosted nationally-known entertainers.

Other popular activities in the area include tennis, golf, hiking, ballooning, horseback riding and racing, tubing, fishing, biking, camping, and the occasional hunting for antiques. The area also boasts a thriving wine touring and tasting business. The nearly 30 local vineyards make up the state’s largest collection with several wineries winning national recognition.

Tourism
Tourism plays an important role in the City’s economy, much of it based on its rich historical legacy. Nearly 2 million travelers visit the area each year to see the area’s historic sites and the spectacular scenery of Central Virginia. Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, sits on a nearby mountain overlooking the city and offers tours and special events and ceremonies. Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe, features beautiful gardens and furnishings reflecting the Federal style is just a mile down the road from Monticello. Montpelier, the home of James and Dolly Madison, recently reopened to the public for tours, tastings, and horseracing.

Source:charlottesville.org