Albemarle

Albemarle is a geographic name and corporate designation used in the United States. It refers to Albemarle County in central Virginia, Albemarle Sound in northeastern North Carolina, and Albemarle Corporation, a multinational chemicals company.

Albemarle County, Virginia, was formed in the colonial era and named for the Duke of Albemarle, a title derived from Albemarle in England. The county seat is Charlottesville, a university town near the Blue Ridge. The area is characterized by rolling hills, historic settlements, and a mix of rural and suburban communities.

Albemarle Sound is a large estuary in northeastern North Carolina, part of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound system. It connects to the Atlantic via inlets and supports commercial and recreational fishing, crabbing, and boating. Towns such as Edenton lie nearby, and the sound is central to the region's ecology and economy.

Albemarle Corporation is a global specialty chemicals company. It produces lithium compounds, bromine, catalysts, and other materials for electronics, energy storage, and industrial applications. The company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and operates production facilities worldwide; it has played a major role in supplying lithium for batteries.

The name Albemarle originates from the title Duke of Albemarle, created in the 17th century for George Monck and derived from Albemarle in England.