Charlottesville

Charlottesville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies in the Piedmont region near the eastern base of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Rivanna River. The city is autonomous from Albemarle County and serves as the urban core of the Charlottesville metropolitan area.

Historically, the area was inhabited by Native American peoples, including the Monacan and Powhatan, before European settlement. The city grew in prominence as the site of the University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. UVA remains a major educational and research institution and a significant employer, shaping the city’s economy and cultural life.

Charlottesville features a compact, walkable downtown centered on the Downtown Mall, a long pedestrian street with shops, restaurants and venues. The surrounding region is known for wine production and countryside tourism in Albemarle County and the Blue Ridge foothills. The city is also home to a regional health system and several museums and cultural institutions.

Transportation options include major highways, an Amtrak station serving national routes, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport nearby. The climate is humid subtropical, with four seasons and moderate temperatures by regional standards.

In August 2017, Charlottesville was the site of a political rally that led to clashes and a fatal vehicle attack, an event that drew national attention and prompted ongoing discussions about extremism and history.