Culpeper

Culpeper is a town in and the county seat of Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. It lies in the Piedmont region of the state, near the Blue Ridge foothills, along the Rapidan River, about 70 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. The town has a historic downtown and serves as a regional commercial center for the surrounding county.

The name Culpeper honors the Culpeper family, including Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper, a proprietor in colonial Virginia. Culpeper County was formed in 1839 from Orange County and named for the same family, with the town becoming the county seat.

Historically, Culpeper grew as an agricultural and market center in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was strategically located during the Civil War, with roads and rail lines passing through the area; nearby battles include Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station, and the Culpeper National Cemetery was established in 1867 to inter Union and later Confederate dead.

Today, Culpeper maintains a mix of services, retail, manufacturing, and light industry. Old Town Culpeper retains numerous 19th-century buildings and hosts shops, restaurants, and cultural events. The surrounding countryside supports orchards, farms, and a growing wine and agritourism sector.

Education in the area includes the Culpeper campus of Germanna Community College and the Culpeper County Public Schools system.