CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY
City Offices
605 E Main Street
Charlottesville 434-970-3333
www.charlottesville.org
Chamber of Commerce
209 Fifth Street NE
Charlottesville 434-295-3141
http://cvillechamber.com
The City of Charlottesville stands in a class of its own for quality of life, a fact that has been proven by accolades and awards for everything from livability to intelligence, venture capital, and well-being. Maintaining an independent government, Charlottesville infuses its four-county metropolitan statistical area with the vitality of nationally recognized research, healthcare, and business institutions crowned by exceptional culinary, arts, and entertainment attractions. The city is well-served by Interstate 64 and US Routes 29 and 250 and commercial airline service is available at Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
Services
The city’s reputation for quality educational opportunities begins with Charlottesville City Schools, where students are exposed to a global perspective that prepares them for further studies—and for life. Neighborhood schools are characterized by small classes with a computer for every student, a collaborative spirit, extraordinary fine arts programs, and the latest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) technologies. The city is home to Piedmont Virginia Community College, a non-residential, regional two-year institution that focuses on transfer degrees, career education, and job training. The magnificent 1,682-acre campus for the University of Virginia draws students from all 50 states and 150 countries to an internationally recognized public-private research institution that US World & News Report consistently ranks as #1 or #2 among America’s best public universities. UVA offers more than 120 majors across 8 schools and 3 professional programs, with graduate programs that include the highly ranked Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, Curry School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law, and School of Medicine.
The powerful presence of the University of Virginia also sets a high benchmark for healthcare services and overall clinical excellence through the UVA Health System. Anchored by a state-of-the-art 570-bed Magnet® hospital, UVA Health encompasses a Level I Trauma Center and nationally recognized cancer and heart centers as well as primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia. UVA Hospital and UVA Health consistently earn top rankings in publications such as US News & World Report and national Top Doctor lists, garnering honors for superior nursing processes, quality patient care, and programs and specialties from orthopedics to UVA Children’s Hospital. Charlottesville is also home to Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, a 176-bed facility with a patient-centered philosophy and all private rooms. Offering a beautiful, healing environment, the Hospital recently received national accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center by Det Norke Veritas Healthcare.
Lifestyle
With an extraordinary cultural scene and an inexhaustible list of leisure activities, little wonder the US National Bureau of Economic Research recently named Charlottesville “the happiest city in America.” World-class dining, cozy cafes, famous breweries and wineries, and a lively pedestrian Downtown Mall combine with grand and intimate performance centers, famous museums, a lively indie music scene, and spectacular annual events. Throngs of visitors including Hollywood luminaries and famous authors arrive in Charlottesville for the Virginia Film Festival and the Virginia Festival of the Book, while the Fralin Museum of Art on the University of Virginia campus continually showcases exhibits from around the world. Residents enjoy a variety of musical and artistic programs at unique venues like The Southern Café & Music Hall and the beautifully restored 1931 Paramount Theater. Larger venues for sold-out concerts, college sports competition, and special events include a spectacular 3,500-seat pavilion and the 15,000-seat John Paul Jones Arena on the University of Virginia campus. Families appreciate the interactive exhibits that focus on exploration, the arts and sciences, nature, and humanities at The Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center and the Virginia Discovery Museum.
Nestled in a region known for its stunning natural beauty, the Charlottesville cityscape is graced by the picturesque Rivanna River and the Rivanna River Trail for walking, hiking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and birding. Residents are just a short drive from the vast expanse of Shenandoah National Park, a premier destination for camping, cycling, nature study, and hiking against a backdrop of breathtakingly beauty. Stretching the entire length of the park, Skyline Drive winds through thick forests and emerges again to showcase sweeping scenic overlooks. Closer to home, the Charlottesville Parks & Recreation Department oversees scores of parks, trails, and sports facilities as well as activities and programs for all ages. One of the most popular events is the weekend City Market that offers fresh produce, herbs, plants, grass-fed meats, crafts, and baked goods from more than 100 local vendors. Newcomers to Charlottesville will be amazed at the variety of attractive neighborhoods and residential settings, beginning with a vibrant downtown living scene surrounded by first-rate amenities. Other developments take advantage of natural beauty with walking trails, golf courses, playgrounds, and recreation areas. Whether your dream is an historic home in the heart of the city, a cozy neighborhood setting, or an elegant country estate, Charlottesville has the perfect place to call home.
