CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA 

This central Virginia city of about 40,000 people leans against the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the headwaters of the Rivanna River . While located 100 miles southwest of the nation's capital and 70 miles northwest of the state capital, Charlottesville does not depend on its proximity to these urban centers for its sophistication and quality of life. Steeped in a history that begins in pre-Revolutionary days, basking in the shadow of Thomas Jefferson's diverse and scholarly legacy, surrounded by rolling farmland and abutting Shenandoah National Park , Charlottesville has recently received recognition from several national magazines as one of the finest places to live.  

History  

Charlottesville , created as the Albemarle County seat in 1762, was named after Queen Charlotte, King George III's young bride. Thomas Jefferson, who built his famous home Monticello on a mountaintop overlooking the town, founded the University of Virginia (UVa) in 1819. Subsequent esteemed presidents, including James Monroe and James Madison, built estates nearby. Charlottesville 's pastoral location and status as a center for higher learning have fostered considerable growth in the past 50 years.  

Demographics and Weather  

While the city population hovers around 40,000, inclusion of the surrounding counties brings the number up to about 140,000, with a median age of 28.9 years. It sits at an elevation of 400-600 ft. above sea level, averages a July high temperature of 86 degrees F, and a January low of 27 degrees F. Average annual rainfall is 38-44 inches, average annual snowfall 18 inches, with the last frost coming in early May. Charlottesville holds the distinction of having the second best climate on the east coast (rated by the American Association of State Climatologists).  

Cost of Living, Taxes, Employment  

The cost of living in Charlottesville is below the national average. The state personal income tax for a married couple with two dependents and a single income of $30,000, would be about $995. In addition, there is a 4.5% retail sales tax. Personal property in Charlottesville is taxed at $4.20 per $100 assessed value. Real estate taxes on a house valued at $150,000 would be about $1600 in town and about $1100 in the county. Charlottesville boasts a low unemployment rate of 1.7%, with a forecast job growth of over 5% during the next two years, considerably better than the national averages. The economic base is higher education, tourism, light manufacturing, agriculture and retail trade.  

Education and Medical Facilities  

Charlottesville and the surrounding counties reflect high standards in K-12 public education by spending well over the national average per student, and supporting almost a 10 to 1 pupil/teacher ratio. UVa, with an enrollment of 18,000, is considered one of the best public universities in the nation. Health care is available at two major hospitals, as well as from many private physicians and clinics. The University of Virginia Hospital was certified as one of the nation's top 100 hospitals in 1999.  

Recreation  

In town: attractions include a rich variety of cafes, restaurants and bars, 26 movie screens, at least 2 theater companies, an orchestra, light opera, art museums, and numerous visiting speakers, musicians and artists, many of whom are brought to town by the university. In addition, Charlottesville is known as a mecca for golfers and a haven for active retirees. Recreational activities include touring historical sites and estates, driving in the rolling countryside, visiting local Virginia wineries, biking, hiking, camping, paddling, fishing or scenic driving in the Blue Ridge Mountains, both in and outside of Shenandoah National Park.