City of Charlottesville, Virginia
Quick answer: The City of Charlottesville is an independent city in Virginia. Its estimated population in 2025 was 44,388, down 4.6% since 2020. It covers about 10 square miles of land.
| Type | independent city |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1762 |
| Population, 2025 estimate | 44,388 |
| Population, 2020 estimate | 46,433 |
| Change 2020–2025 | -4.4% |
| Rank by population in Virginia | 39 of 133 |
Overview
The City of Charlottesville is one of Virginia's 38 independent cities. In Virginia, an independent city is not part of any county; it runs its own local government, courts and schools.[1] Charlottesville is also the county seat of Albemarle County, even though the city is legally separate from that county.[2] Its founding date is recorded as 1762.[2] The name comes from Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[2]
Population of Charlottesville
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of the City of Charlottesville at 44,388 in July 2025, down 4.6% from the April 2020 base of 46,518.[1] That made it 39th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 128th for growth since 2020.[1]
From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 2,863 births and 1,633 deaths, a natural increase of 1,230.[1] More people moved away to other parts of the United States than moved in. Net domestic migration was -4,636. Moves from abroad added 1,257.[1]
Geography
The City of Charlottesville covers 10.2 square miles of land and 0.0 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 118th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 4,333 people per square mile in 2025, so it is one of the more densely settled places in the state. Its geographic center lies near 38.04° N, 78.49° W.[3]
The city borders Albemarle County.[4]
The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 1 spring in the city.[5]
Frequently asked questions
Is Charlottesville in a county?
No. Charlottesville is an independent city, so it is not part of any county.
What is the population of the City of Charlottesville?
About 44,388 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
How big is the City of Charlottesville?
About 10 square miles of land, plus 0.0 square miles of water.
References
- [1] U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [2] Wikidata, Charlottesville city, Virginia (open data, CC0) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [3] U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files: Counties – last checked 11/08/2026
- [4] U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File (2024) – last checked 11/08/2026
- [5] U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Domestic Names – last checked 11/08/2026
Official website: www.charlottesville.org
Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.