Charlottesville dates to 1762, and 18% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 96% of U.S. towns · #5 of 253 in Virginia. What drives it
71 places in town are on the National Register, among them ten historic districts with 1,583 buildings between them. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1870.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Charlottesville is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #5 of 253 in Virginia. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Charlottesville’s overall grade.
Virginia towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Virginia town has 3.6 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Charlottesville’s 421 sits above most of its state (88% of Virginia towns have fewer) while its 1,914 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1762.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share (±1.9 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Charlottesville’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
At the time of European settlement, part of the area that became Charlottesville was occupied by a Monacan village called Monasukapanough. They were pushed off their land by English settlers and were forced to disperse to North Carolina, Tennessee and possibly as far as Canada.
An Act of the Assembly of Albemarle County established Charlottesville in 1762. Thomas Walker was named its first trustee. It was situated along a trade route called Three Notched Road (present day U.S. Route 250), which led from Richmond to the Great (Shenandoah) Valley. The town took its name from the British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Charlottesville. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1935Charlottesville And Vicinity sheet · 1:31,680
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Charlottesville.
Every building
Charlottesville, building by building, 1886–1920
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
In 1762, according to Wikidata. the census of 1870 counted 2,838 people here.
How does Charlottesville rank for history?
Charlottesville is more historic than 96% of U.S. towns, #5 of 253 in Virginia. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Charlottesville?
71 listings: 54 buildings, 12 historic districts with 1,583 contributing buildings, 2 sites, and 3 objects. 1,914 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Charlottesville?
18% of Charlottesville’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±1.9 points), against a typical 1.9% for a Virginia town; the median home was built in 1968.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikidata (4), the National Register of Historic Places (71), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
