Before Nelson County became one of Virginia’s most popular tourist destinations, the area was home to the Monocans, a Native American tribe, then to early English settlers and finally to Scotch-Irish and German pioneers

How the area compares with the nation.

Louisa County was named for Princess Louisa, daughter of King George II and Queen Caroline of England and wife of King Frederick V of Denmark. It was formed in 1742 from Hanover County, and its central location in Virginia placed it amid several historical events from the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

The county is facing significant growth in the coming years - in 2000, the county reported a population of 84,186, but officials estimate that number to reach 97,200 by 2010.

Tourists from the world over visit Central Virginia each year to savor the region’s rich history.

Local representatives

Information about Fluvanna County

Information about Greene County

Information about Buckingham County

Information about Madison County

Charlottesville’s climate is as diverse as Virginia’s landscape and geography and is marked by four distinct seasons that are tempered by precipitation spread rather evenly throughout the year.

Welcome to Central Virginia. Now that you’re one of us, you should know more about who you are.

Important dates in local history

The wine industry began to re-emerge in Virginia in the latter half of the 20th century. In 1979, there were just six wineries in the state, but today the number has grown to more than 130. Virginia ranks fifth in the country for the number of wine producers.

Index of advertisers from the 2007-2008 Welcome Guide

Central Virginia is not just a place to live, it’s a place to love living. Here the mountaintop vistas of the Blue Ridge Parkway balance the peaceful pastures of the Ivy Creek Natural Area and both offer an alternative to the funky, neo-grunge of the Downtown Mall with its free Friday evening concerts and food from Oaxaca to Shaanxi.