Charlottesville Real Estate
Search For All Available Properties in the City Limits of Charlottesville
A lovely city located in the Virginia county of Albemarle, Charlottesville is an independent entity from the surrounding county of Albemarle. However, it does play the role of county seat to Albemarle and has a population of around 40,000, to the county’s 90,000. The city is named after the wife of England’s King George III, Princess Sophia Charlotte.
Charlottesville is blessed by Providence – it escaped most of the damage of the American Civil War and has gone on to become one of the best places to live in the U.S. according to studies published as recently as 2004. Independent writers Sperling and Sander have named the city of Charlottesville the #1 Best Place to Live, according to Cities Ranked & Rated, 2004. Life magazine named the Charlottesville area amongst the top ten perfect weekend escapes. It is also featured on Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” list. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance named Charlottesville “The 2nd Healthiest Place to Live in America” and Men’s Journal placed it at #3 of America’s healthiest small cities.
These numerous distinctions are a testament to the city’s wonderful atmosphere, excellent facilities, and four real seasons of weather annually. Further, the city is home to the prestigious University of Virginia, established by Thomas Jefferson in 1825. Great men have been born here, and Jefferson’s own home of Monticello stands at the top of a mountain and is a popular destination for visitors. Charlottesville is also the home of Presidents James Madison and James Monroe.
The excellent quality of life is evident in the bustling center of activity that forms the heart of the Charlottesville real estate market. The Downtown Mall, one of the largest outdoor pedestrian malls in the country, is located in the city. It is a home of culture and contains many social venues including, The Paramount Theater, The LiveArts Theater, Virginia Discovery Museum, and the mammoth Charlottesville Pavilion. This is the place to go for great restaurants and plenty of fun.
Charlottesville’s location in Central Virginia places it at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is thus, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Numerous hiking and bike adventures are in a very short drive. The ocean is a three-hour drive. There are three ski resorts within an hour and a half, one only 45 minutes from the city’s center. Rivers traverse the area making access to canoeing and kayaking easy. With Richmond an hour away, and Washington, D.C. two hours away, the city possesses the best of all parts of the Commonwealth.
The Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport and Amtrak connect the city to the outside world, providing ample links to various cities. Additionally, the Richmond airport is only 85 minutes from town, and both Washington’s Dulles and National airports are within a two-hour drive. School facilities are also well developed, with the Charlottesville City School System supporting six elementary schools, one upper elementary school, one middle school, and Charlottesville High. This high school is known throughout the state as having one of the preeminent fine arts programs. There are also several private academies that are available to residents looking for alternative educational options.
|
