Farms and land in Albemarle County attract investors, developers, homebuyers and businesses looking for a highly skilled labor pool, great infrastructure and a high quality of life. The 726-square-mile county has a population of 109,300. The Albemarle County land surrounds the independent City of Charlottesville and borders on the surrounding counties of Greene, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Buckingham, Nelson, Augusta and Rockingham. Albemarle has multiple access points to I-64 and easy access to I-95 and I-81. The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport offers daily nonstop flights to and from Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Atlanta and Chicago. The county is home to two University of Virginia research parks: UVA Research Park and Fontaine Research Park. Included in the top private employers are Northrop Grumman Corp., Crutchfield Corp. and Pharmaceutical Research Association. Agriculture still plays a role in its economic foundation. Farmland encompasses 182,781 acres, and 64% of agricultural sales are for crops. Thirty-nine percent of the farmland remains as woodlands, which can be a boon for hunters looking for deer, turkeys and occasionally bears. The Rivanna and James rivers provide excellent fly fishing opportunities for fishermen. Attractions include Monticello, home to Thomas Jefferson, and Ash Lawn, home to James Monroe. The University of Virginia offers a diverse range of cultural activities open to the public. Shenandoah National offers camping and hiking in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Albemarle Public School provides K-12 public education. University of Virginia offers higher learning opportunities.
