Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, colloquially known as C'ville, is an independent city in Virginia, United States. It is the seat of government of Albemarle County, which surrounds the city, though the two are separate legal entities. It is named after Queen Charlotte. At the 2020 census, the population of the city was 46,553. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Charlottesville with Albemarle County for statistical purposes, bringing its population to approximately 160,000. Charlottesville is the heart of the Charlottesville metropolitan area, which includes Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson counties.
Charlottesville, Virginia | |
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Charlottesville Downtown Mall | |
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Seal | |
| Nicknames: C'ville, Hoo-Ville | |
| Motto: A great place to live for all of our citizens. | |
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia | |
Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia | |
| Coordinates: 38°1′48″N 78°28′44″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | None (Independent city) |
| Founded | 1762 |
| Named for | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Juandiego Wade, (D) |
| • City manager | Samuel Sanders, Jr. |
| Area | |
| • Independent city | 10.27 sq mi (26.60 km2) |
| • Land | 10.25 sq mi (26.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 594 ft (181 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Independent city | 46,553 |
| • Density | 4,541.76/sq mi (1,753.41/km2) |
| • Metro | 221,524 (209th) |
| Demonym | Charlottesvillian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 22901–22908 |
| Area code | 434 |
| FIPS code | 51-14968 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498463 |
| Major Roadways | |
| Waterways | Rivanna River |
| Public Transit | Charlottesville Area Transit, University Transit Service, JAUNT |
| Rail Service | Cardinal, Crescent, Northeast Regional |
| Airport | Charlottesville-Albemarle |
| Website | charlottesville.gov |
Charlottesville was the home of two U.S. presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. During their terms as Governor of Virginia, they lived in Charlottesville, and traveled to and from Richmond, along the 71-mile (114 km) historic Three Notch'd Road. Orange, located 26 miles (42 km) northeast of the city, was the hometown of President James Madison. The University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson, straddles the city's southwestern border. Jefferson's home and primary plantation, Monticello, located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of the city, is, along with the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting thousands of tourists from across the country every year.