| The residents of Charlottesville are clearly devoted to the arts, literature and a love of learningÖ an undeniable tribute to an esteemed lineage that began with such notable personages as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and continues today through the influence of the University of Virginia, a venerable institution of higher learning which significantly impacts the artistic and cultural life of the city.
Located just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the Chesapeake Bay only a hundred miles to the east, Charlottesville is an hour from Washington, D.C. and Richmond.
The New York Times has described the city and the surrounding area as a place ìÖwhere the land rolls away toward the mountains in the west with a beauty that snatches the breath at the top of each crest and the bottom of each vale.î
Described by one observer as an ìelegant little city,î in March, 2004, Charlottesville had the honor of being named the best place to live in America by Cities Ranked and Rated, a comprehensive listing of more than 300 cities throughout the country. The book says Charlottesville's high housing prices are the only "negative and directly reflect the quality of life and resistance to sprawl. ... Mr. Jefferson would be proud."
Notwithstanding the price of real estate, Charlottesville remains one of the more affordable places to live in the country. With a population in the city limits of 45,000, the city has a history of low unemployment, a reputation for an excellent education system and outstanding health care facilities. In fact, according to Kiplingerís Personal Finance, it ranks as the second Healthiest Place to Live.
Residents have an incredible selection of artistic and cultural events to choose from throughout the course of each year. One of the foremost of these is the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, a summer-long series of outdoor performances of operas and American musicals held on the grounds of Ash Lawn-Highlands, James Madisonís estate. Other notable events that occur annually include the Virginia Festival of the Book and Virginia Garden Week, when many of the cityís spectacular public and private gardens are open for touring.
Further enhancing the cultural life of the community are the Charlottesville Symphony, several art museums and such well-established venues for live dramatic performances as the Heritage Repertory Theatre and the Four County Players, Virginiaís oldest continuously operating company.
Charlottesvilleís quality of life is not limited to cultural pursuits. Its menu of outdoor activities is almost as broad and inviting. There are several challenging golf courses, public and private, any number of parks and woodlands for hiking, biking and mountain climbing and lakes for boating and kayaking. Just an hour to the south is the ski resort of Wintergreen. For horse lovers, the Foxfield Steeplechase is an annual event, and polo games are held weekly throughout the summer at the Forest Lodge and the Charlottesville Country Club, while the UVA polo teams compete regularly during the autumn months. Of course, fall also heralds the arrival of weekend tailgating parties and major college football with UVA and its ACC opponents.
Not surprisingly, Charlottesville's reputation as a place with a high quality of life and for cultural enrichment plays prominently in attracting retirees to Charlottesville. When combined with the opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoyment afforded by its natural surroundings, the cityís growing stature as a desirable place to retire is totally understandable. Few other cities in the country can offer such a rich and rewarding sense of historical preservation in combination with a forward thinking and progressive civic structure.
Population: Charlottesville (45,000) Albemarle County (79,000) Metropolitan Area (162,000)
Climate: Avg. Jan. Low (27) Avg. July High (86) Rainfall: 38î Snowfall: 18î
Average Home Price: $165,000
|
Retirement
Waterfront
Golf Course
