Did you know that the City of Charlottesville is home to one of the largest universities in the world? The University of Virginia has more than 60,000 employees and is home to many world-class corporations, including the National Radio Astronomy Headquarters and the GE Research Center. In addition to these large corporations, Charlottesville is also home to the Monticello National Historic Site, seven breweries, and the Virginia Film Festival.
The City is home to many notable individuals, including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner, and Ralph Horween. Many movie stars have lived in Charlottesville, including Rob Lowe, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, and Rita Dove. In addition, many multi-millionaires have chosen Charlottesville as their home, including John Kluge and Ray Austin.
The number of people living below the poverty line in Charlottesville varies based on family size and composition. Generally, if a family earns less than the poverty line, they are considered poor. This means that nearly one in three residents in Charlottesville live below the poverty line. While the percentages of white people living below the poverty line are lower than average, Asian and Black residents are also highly concentrated in this area.
Before the Civil War, Charlottesville was becoming an economic center for the region. This economic growth grew from the railroad, which was more important than the river or canal system of the state. The Virginia Central Railroad established rail tracks in Charlottesville's West Main Street area, which became the City's transportation hub. The railroad's presence in Charlottesville's early years made it the primary rail link between Piedmont Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.