City Profile

FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET

Background

The City of Charlottesville is nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia and encompasses 10.4 square miles with a population of 51,278 (2022 est.) . Its rich history began with the town’s establishment in 1762, and it was named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III of England. Charlottesville was incorporated as a city in 1888.


Centrally located just 120 miles from the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and 70 miles from the state capital, Richmond, Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County is an area rich with culture and deeply rooted in history, having been the home of three Presidents. However, Charlottesville may best be known as the home of Thomas Jefferson and his mountaintop estate Monticello, as well as the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson in 1825 and consistently ranked one of the top public universities in the nation. Both Monticello and the University of Virginia are listed on the World Heritage Foundation list of prized cultural or natural assets, making them two of the area’s top attractions. The City has earned a reputation as being one of the most livable places in the country.

Image of the City of Charlottesville's location in the context of the State of Virginia.

City Stats and information

Date of Incorporation....................................................................................................1888

Form of Government..................................................................................Council-Manager

Current Population Estimate (2022)...........................................................................51,278

Land Area (square miles)................................ ..............................................................10.4

Population Density (population/square mile)...............................................................4,931

Unemployment Rate (2022)............................................................................................2.4%

Total Real Estate Assessed Values (2023)....................................................$10,460,742,200

Taxable Sales (2021).........................................................................................$995,966,121

Median Household Income (2017-2021 ACS)............................................................ .63,470

Number of Households (2017-2021 ACS)....................................................................19,312

Building Permits (2022).................................................................................................1,587

City School Students (2022-2023 school year)..............................................................4,491

Miles of Streets (2022).....................................................................................................160

Acres of Park Land (2022).............................................................................................3,443

Linear Feet of Trails (2022).......................................................................................143,085

Number of Public Libraries (includes Historical Society)....................................................3

Number of Registered Voters (2020)..........................................................................33,056

Public Utilities (2022, number of customers)

Gas........................................................................................................................ 21,473

Water..................................................................................................................... 14,570

Sewer..................................................................................................................... 14,470

Bond Rating (General Obligation Bonds)..............................Moody’s Investor Services Aaa

.......................Standard & Poor’s Corporation AAA

Staffing (Full Time Equivalents):

City.............................................................................................................................1089

Schools.........................................................................................................................850


Sources:

City of Charlottesville, City of Charlottesville Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022; US Department of Commerce, Census Bureau; Weldon C. Cooper Center for Public Service; University of Virginia; Virginia Employment Commission

Image of City Hall.

City Government

The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government with legislative powers vested in a five-member Council. City Council members are elected at-large for four-year, staggered terms, with the Mayor and Vice-Mayor being elected from within the Council for two-year terms. Administrative and executive duties are performed by the Council-appointed City Manager. The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer for the City, responsible for implementing the policies and directives of the City Council throughout the various City departments and agencies, and is charged with recommending, implementing, and monitoring policies and procedures that maintain the well-being of the City. There are approximately 1,081 City full-time equivalent employees.

Business and Economy

With its small-town charm and historical setting, Charlottesville attracts new businesses each year. Charlottesville provides a strategic location for major employers, including the largest employer, the University of Virginia, where there are approximately 28,000 University employees, 16,000 facility and staff, 7,000 UVA Health employees, and approximately 23,800 students. The area also boasts a thriving wine touring and tasting business. Over 30 local vineyards make up the state’s largest collection, with several wineries winning national recognition. Tourism also plays an important role in the City’s economy, with much of the tourism based on the area’s rich historical legacy. Approximately two million travelers visit the area each year to see its historic sites and the spectacular scenery of Central Virginia. All of this has resulted in the City’s low unemployment rate, 2.4% in December 2022 as compared to 3.0% in Virginia and 3.5% in the nation.


Sources: University of Virginia – UVAHR; Virginia Employment Commission, Economic Information & Analytics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.

Top Ten Employers in the City of Charlottesville

  1. University of Virginia/Blue Ridge Hospital
  2. County of Albemarle
  3. UVA Health Services Foundation
  4. City of Charlottesville
  5. Charlottesville City School Board
  6. Sevicelink Management Company
  7. Labormax Staffing
  8. Morrison Crothall Support
  9. RMC Events
  10. Association for Investment Management – CFA Institute

Source: Virginia Employment Commission, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), 3rd Quarter 2022.

Image of a cafe on the Downtown Mall.