Charlottesville Relocation Guide
Welcome to our relocation guide to Charlottesville, Virginia. If you plan to move to this city in the near future, or if you simply want to learn more about Charlottesville from a real estate angle, you are in the right place!
In this article we will discuss many aspects of Charlottesville, Virginia, including information related to the city's geography, climate, culture, educational opportunities and more. If you are planning to buy real estate in Charlottesville in the near future, this information will be especially valuable to you.
Geography and History
Charlottesville is part of Albemarle County in the state of Virginia. The city lies within the north-central part of the state, along the Rivanna River (an offshoot of the James River). Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, is located about 50 miles southeast of Charlottesville.
The city was founded in 1762 and was named after Queen Charlotte, the queen consort of King George III. Roughly 100 hundred years after its creation, the city of Charlottesville found itself at the center of the Civil War, much of which was fought in and around the state of Virginia. Thankfully, however, Charlottesville escaped much of the damage of that war, so most of the city's original history is still intact.
Climate and Weather
Being located in the central part of Virginia, the city of Charlottesville enjoys distinct seasons throughout the year. The fall is an especially beautiful time of year in the city, as the many hardwood forests around Charlottesville being to change colors. In fact, thousands of people from elsewhere in the country flock to this part of Virginia every fall to witness the beauty of "leaf season."
The climate in Charlottesville is heavily influenced by the Blue Ridge Mountain range to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Being located between these geographical features gives Charlottesville an enjoyable climate through most of the year.
The temperature in summer is mostly pleasant with an occasional hot spell. To a certain extent, the Blue Ridge Mountains shield Charlottesville from the harshest winter weather. Winter temperatures average between the upper 40's (high) and upper 20's (low).
Population of Charlottesville, Virginia
To get an idea of the city's growth, one simply has to look at the population figures over the last few years. In 2000, the population of Charlottesville was around 45,000 people. In 2005, the population dropped to around 40,000, and in 2006 it had risen slightly to around 41,000 people. So the overall population for the city seems to be holding fairly steady.
Schools and Education
When buying real estate in a particular city, it pays to learn about the public school systems and the opportunities for higher education. Both of these things have a direct impact on property values. And if you have school-aged children, the quality of local schools is even more important. Fortunately, most of the news related to education in Charlottesville is good news.
Public schools are operated under the purview of the Charlottesville City School Division, or CCS. This school system has a number of distinctions within Virginia and also within the country at large. The average SAT scores within CCS (combined for verbal, math and writing) are more than 100 points above both the Virginia average and the national average. The CCS also invests more money per student than the national average.
Charlottesville City School Division serves more than 4,000 students who are spread across six elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.
As for institutes of higher learning, the most notable in Charlottesville is the University of Virginia (UVA), a nationally renowned university founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. In 2008, U.S. News and World Report ranked UVA #2 in its list of best public universities. The University of Virginia has collected many other awards and acknowledgements over the years as well.
In addition to UVA, there are a variety of smaller colleges and technical training schools in and around Charlottesville, Virginia. A student considering college in this area would have many great opportunities from which to choose.
Entertainment and Recreation
The city of Charlottesville has invested a lot in its parks and recreation facilities over the years. Today, the city maintains nearly two-dozen public parks, in addition to miles of walking and biking trails. There are also many cultural venues throughout the city, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center, the Paramount Theater, and many historical sites including Thomas Jefferson's plantation at Monticello.
Real Estate in Charlottesville
What do all these things mean for the real estate market in Charlottesville? Well, for one thing, there are many great reasons to buy real estate in the Charlottesville area. If you are considering a move to this area, you have plenty of things to justify that decision. The many attributes of the city also play a role in supporting property values. After all, any time you have a city with as much to offer as Charlottesville, Virginia, you have all the makings of a strong real estate market as well.
Learn more about the benefits of Charlottesville real estate.
