Charlottesville History

A Presidential Heritage

The area around Charlottesville had long been inhabited by the Monacan Indian tribe until the 1730s when the first permanent settlement was created on the banks of the Rivanna River.

In 1762, the burgeoning community was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III, and established itself as a tobacco-trading point along the Blue Ridge, becoming an important crossroads town during colonial times.

Charlottesville grew into the cultural and commercial center of the area, which produced national leaders whose lives contributed richly to the newly-formed nation. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe would go on to lead America as presidents, while George Rogers Clark and Meriwether Lewis would become renowned skilled explorers who opened the American West.

Center of Higher Learning

In 1819, Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, used his influence to have the state donate land and founded the University of Virginia on the outskirts of the city in a quest to reinvent higher education in America.

His lavish and stately home Monticello, just outside of town, as well as the Academical Village he designed for the university, stand as examples of his architectural genius.

The university grew into one of the most prestigious public colleges in the country, and although it had been constructed outside of town in keeping with Jefferson’s focus on the importance of an agrarian society, business prosperity, and city growth eventually brought it within the city limits, cementing the university’s role as the center of the community.

The arrival of the railroad changed the city forever.

In the 1850s, the first coal train transformed Charlottesville into one of Virginia’s biggest transportation hubs. Despite its role in support of the Confederacy, Charlottesville emerged from the Civil War largely unscathed, and the textile and agricultural industries flourished, with the city becoming nationally known for its woolens and wines.

The city’s close ties to Thomas Jefferson appealed to travelers worldwide, and a strong tourism economy developed, turning Charlottesville into a top destination during the early years of the travel industry.

“I am as happy no where else and in no other society.” – Thomas Jefferson 

What was once a humble tobacco trading post has developed into a vibrant community that combines the historic charm of an 18^th-century village with the hustle and bustle of a busy college town.