Albemarle County is located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its county seat is Charlottesville, which is an independent city entirely surrounded by the county. Albemarle County is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 112,395.
Albemarle County was created in 1744 from the western portion of Goochland County, though portions of Albemarle were later carved out to create other counties. Albemarle County was named in honor of Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle. Its most famous inhabitant was Thomas Jefferson, who built his estate home, Monticello, in the county.
History
At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Albemarle County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Saponi. In 1744, the Virginia General Assembly created Albemarle County from the western portion of Goochland County. The county was named in honor of Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle and titular Governor of Virginia at the time. The large county was partitioned in 1761, forming Buckingham and Amherst counties, at which time the county seat was moved from the formerly central Scottsville to a piece of newly central land, christened Charlottesville. In 1777, Albemarle County was divided and Fluvanna County established, finalizing the boundaries of modern Albemarle County.
Albemarle County is well known for its association with President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, who was born in the county at Shadwell, though it was then part of Goochland County.Henry Stephens Randall, The Life of Thomas Jefferson However, his home of Monticello is located in the county. When the American Revolutionary War started in 1775, Jefferson was made colonel of the Albemarle Militia.
During the Civil War, the Battle of Rio Hill was a skirmish in which Union cavalry raided a Confederate camp in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Until the Civil War, the majority of Albemarle County's population consisted of enslaved African Americans.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water.
Waterways The Rivanna River's south fork forms in Albemarle County and was historically important for transportation. The south fork flows in-between Darden Towe Park and Pen Park. Boat ramp access is available at Darden Towe Park. The James River acts as a natural border between Albemarle and Buckingham Counties.
Major highways
Protected areas Albemarle's western border with Augusta and Rockingham Counties is located within the Shenandoah National Park.
Adjacent counties
Albemarle County borders eight other counties, more than any other county in Virginia.
Charlottesville (surrounded by Albemarle County) Greene County (north) Orange County (northeast) Louisa County (east) Fluvanna County (southeast) Buckingham County (south) Nelson County (southwest) Augusta County (west) Rockingham County (northwest)
Parks and recreation Beaver Creek Lake Biscuit Run Park Brook Hill Park Chris Greene Lake Park Darden Towe Park Charlotte Humphris Park Beaver Creek Park Dorrier Park Charlotte Y. Humphris Park Ivy Creek Natural Area Mint Springs Valley Park Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve Park Preddy Creek Park Simpson Park Totier Creek Park Walnut Creek Park Western Park
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Albemarle County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)48,58258,70066,21877,13080,33587.09%86.27%83.57%77.93%71.48%Black or African American alone (NH)6,1456,7997,5869,4879,79311.02%9.99%9.57%9.59%8.71%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4172113150960.07%0.11%0.14%0.15%0.09%Asian alone (NH)5041,6232,2674,5978,1860.90%2.39%2.86%4.64%7.28%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census64244xx0.01%0.04%0.04%Other race alone (NH)92601371736040.16%0.09%0.17%0.17%0.54%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census8801,9744,884xx1.11%1.99%4.35%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4197862,0295,4178,4530.75%1.16%2.56%5.47%7.52%Total55,78368,04079,23698,970112,395 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 112,395. The median age was 38.8 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% White, 8.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.6% from some other race, and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.5% of the population.
59.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 40.4% lived in rural areas.
There were 43,468 households in the county, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 47,291 housing units, of which 8.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 64.7% were owner-occupied and 35.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.
2010 Census The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Albemarle County are English 16.3%, German 16.0%, Irish 12.7%, "American" 11.4% and Italian 5.2%.
As of the census of 2010, there were 98,970 people, 38,157 households, and 24,578 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 42,122 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 80.6% White, 9.7% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. 5.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 38,157 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females there were 92.69 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.59 males.
22% of Albemarle residents have a graduate or professional degree, compared with 10% nationwide.
The median income for a household in the county was $63,001, and the median income for a family was $98,934. Males had a median income of $55,530 versus $52,211 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,718. About 3.8% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
35% of people working in Albemarle live in the county, while 65% commute in. 19% of those commuting in live in Charlottesville, while the remainder live in the surrounding counties. 26,800 people commute out of Albemarle for work. 48% of which commute to Charlottesville, making up 51% of Charlottesville's in-commuters. In 2022, Albemarle had a 2.7% unemployment rate, compared with a national rate of 3.6%.Local Area Profiles virginiaworks.com
The top 10 employers as of Q4 2022 were: University of Virginia Sentara Healthcare U.S. Department of Defense County of Albemarle Crutchfield Corporation Walmart Piedmont Virginia Community College Northrop Grumman Corporation Boar's Head Inn Atlantic Coast Athletic Club
Government Albemarle is governed by an elected six-member Board of Supervisors. Management of the county is vested in a Board-appointed County Executive.
+Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County Name Party First election District Jim Andrews (chair)Dem2021Samuel Miller Diantha McKeel Dem 2013 Jack Jouett Mike Pruitt Dem 2023 Scottsville Ned Gallaway Dem 2017 Rio Ann Mallek Dem 2007 White Hall Bea LaPisto-Kirtley Dem 2019 Rivanna
There are also several elected Constitutional Officers: Clerk of the Circuit Court: John Zug (D) Commonwealth's Attorney: James M. Hingeley (D) Sheriff: Chan Bryant (D)
The nonpartisan School Board is also elected. Its members are:
Kate Acuff (Jack Jouett Magisterial District) Chuck Pace (Rio Magisterial District) Judy Le (Rivanna Magisterial District; chair) Graham Paige (Samuel Miller Magisterial District) Ellen Osborne (Scottsville Magisterial District) Rebecca Berlin (White Hall Magisterial District) Allison Spillman (At-Large)
Emergency services
Albemarle County has two branches of law enforcement, the Albemarle County Police Department, which handles criminal matters and is directed by the appointed police chief, Colonel Sean Reeves. The second branch is the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office, which handles civil service in the county, and they are directed by the elected Sheriff Chan Bryant.
Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR) provides essential emergency services to the residents and visitors of Albemarle County including, fire suppression, emergency medical treatment, and transport, technical rescue, water rescue, and hazardous materials mitigation. In addition, the department provides a wide array of non-emergency services such as investigations, business inspections, burn permits, child safety seat inspections, smoke detector installations, public education, and emergency management.
Services are provided through a combination of career staff, nine volunteer fire and rescue agencies, and regional partners. Fire and rescue stations are placed strategically throughout the county to ensure proper coverage:
Fire stations East Rivanna Volunteer Fire Company – Station 2 – (combination career/volunteer) North Garden Volunteer Fire Company – Station 3 – (combination career/volunteer) Earlysville Volunteer Fire Company – Station 4 – (combination career/volunteer) Crozet Volunteer Fire Department – Station 5 – (combination career/volunteer) Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company – Station 6 – (combination career/volunteer) Scottsville Volunteer Fire Department – Station 7 – (volunteer) Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department – Station 8 – (combination career/volunteer) Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport Department of Public Safety – Station 9 – (career) Monticello Fire Rescue – Station 11 – (career) Hollymead Fire Rescue – Station 12 – (career) Ivy Fire Rescue – Station 15 – (career) Pantops Fire Rescue – Station 16 – (career)
Rescue squads Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad – Rescue 1 – (volunteer) Western Albemarle Rescue Squad – Rescue 5 – (volunteer) Scottsville Rescue – Rescue 17 – (career) Berkmar Rescue – Rescue 18 – (career)
Combination career/volunteer – stations supplemented by career staff Monday - Friday, 6 AM - 6 PM. Volunteers operate these stations weeknights from 6 PM - 6 AM as well as weekends and holidays Volunteer – stations that operate with an all-volunteer, 24/7 team. Career – stations that operate with an all-career, 24/7 shift that work three distinct schedules
Law enforcement The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) provide law enforcement services in the county.