Culpeper | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
| Motto: "Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future" | |
 Show Culpeper Show Culpeper County Show Virginia Show the United States | |
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| Coordinates:38°28′19″N77°59′57″W / 38.47194°N 77.99917°W /38.47194; -77.99917 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County | Culpeper |
| Founded | 1759 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| • Mayor | Frank Reaves Jr. (Ind.) |
| • Vice Mayor | William M. Yowell |
| Area | |
• Town | 7.32 sq mi (18.96 km2) |
| • Land | 7.28 sq mi (18.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.042 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| • Urban | 9.4 sq mi (24 km2) |
| Elevation | 413 ft (126 m) |
| Population | |
• Town | 20,062 |
• Estimate (2025) | 21,575 |
| • Density | 2,756/sq mi (1,064.2/km2) |
| • Urban | 22,834 |
| • Urban density | 2,436/sq mi (941/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 22701, 22735 |
| Area code | 540 |
| FIPS code | 51-20752[3] |
| Major Roadways |      |
| Airport | Culpeper Regional Airport |
| Website | www |
Culpeper (formerlyCulpeper Courthouse, earlierFairfax) is an incorporated town inCulpeper County,Virginia, United States. It is the county seat and part of theWashington–Baltimore combined statistical area. At the 2020United States Census, the population was 20,062, an increase from 16,379 in 2010. Its growth has been influenced by the town's location alongU.S. Route 15,U.S. Route 29, andU.S. Route 522, as well as its rail and bus connections and proximity to theWashington metropolitan area.[5]
The town was laid out in 1749 by a youngGeorge Washington while working as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax, and formally established in 1759 by the Virginia House of Burgesses under the name Fairfax.[6] During theAmerican Revolutionary War, theCulpeper Minutemen militia organized here in 1775.[7] In theAmerican Civil War, Culpeper was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces due to its strategic position along theOrange and Alexandria Railroad, and the surrounding county saw engagements including theBattle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry battle of the war.[8]
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Culpeper grew as a regional rail and market center. A major cultural landmark is thePackard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation, opened by theLibrary of Congress in 1997 on the site of a former Federal Reserve facility.[9] The town's historic core, including East Davis Street, has been recognized for preservation and revitalization, with theAmerican Planning Association naming it one of "America's Great Places" in 2011.[10] Culpeper has also been affected by modern events such as the2011 Virginia earthquake, which damaged downtown structures,[11] and recent technology-related investment, including data centers within the Culpeper Technology Zone.[12]
By the early 18th century, settlers from the Tidewater and Northern Neck regions began pushing westward into the Piedmont. German, English, and Scots-Irish colonists established farms along the Rapidan and Crooked Run valleys between 1714 and 1720 as part of the Germanna Colony settlement founded by Governor Alexander Spotswood.[13] These settlers built homesteads, mills, and trading routes that later became part of Culpeper County. The region’s fertile soil supported wheat, corn, and tobacco cultivation, while trade developed along wagon roads connecting Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1748, theVirginia House of Burgesses formally created Culpeper County fromOrange County, effective May 17, 1749. It originally included what are nowMadison andRappahannock counties.[14]
AfterCulpeper County was established, theVirginia House of Burgesses voted on February 22, 1759, to create the Town of Fairfax. The name honoredThomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781),[15] the proprietor of theNorthern Neck of Virginia, which included a large tract of land between theRappahannock River and thePotomac River.
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The original plan for the town included ten square blocks forming the present downtown grid. The layout was surveyed in 1749 by a youngGeorge Washington, who was then employed by Lord Fairfax to map the Northern Neck proprietary lands.[16][17] During the colonial period, Culpeper became a small market town centered around tobacco warehouses, taverns, and blacksmith shops. Roads linking Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah Valley increased its commercial importance.
During theAmerican Revolutionary War, local residents organized theCulpeper Minutemen militia in 1775 at Clayton’s Old Field, now Yowell Meadow Park. Their green hunting shirts, emblazoned with “Liberty or Death” and a coiled rattlesnake, was used as a symbol of Virginia’s independence movement. The unit fought at theBattle of Great Bridge and later joined the 3rd Virginia Regiment.[18]
Culpeper’s central location in the Piedmont made it a crossroad for commerce and transportation in the early 1800s. Taverns, blacksmith shops, and wagon yards surrounded the courthouse square, and by the 1850s the arrival of theOrange and Alexandria Railroad connected the town with Alexandria and Gordonsville, increasing trade in agricultural goods and timber.[19][failed verification]
During theAmerican Civil War, Culpeper and the surrounding county became strategically important for both Union and Confederate forces. The town changed hands more than sixty times between 1861 and 1865, serving alternately as headquarters for GeneralRobert E. Lee and Union GeneralGeorge G. Meade.[20] The nearbyBattle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863, remains the largest cavalry engagement of the war, while theBattle of Cedar Mountain (August 1862) and theBattle of Kelly's Ford (March 1863) further established Culpeper’s wartime importance.[21] PresidentAbraham Lincoln visited Culpeper twice during the war, inspecting Union camps in 1862 and again in 1864.[22] Confederate scout networks operated in the area, including the Brandy Station Signal Corps, which gathered intelligence for Lee’s army.
The courthouse and much of the town suffered extensive damage during repeated occupations. Following the Confederate surrender, Culpeper was rechartered in 1869. The Reconstruction era saw the rise of new civic and religious institutions established by formerly enslaved residents, including churches, the Culpeper Colored School (1903), and St. Stephen’s Industrial School for vocational training.[23]
In 1870, a fire destroyed the courthouse and several surrounding structures, prompting a wave of rebuilding that shaped the modern downtown’s brick architecture. By the early 1900s, Culpeper featured hotels, banks, a trolley line, and telegraph offices.[24] The agricultural economy remained dominant through the Great Depression, but the town also supported canneries, lumber operations, and small textile mills.
During the 1930s, New Deal programs such as the WPA constructed sidewalks, bridges, and schools still in use today. World War II brought further change, with the nearbyCulpeper National Cemetery expanded and military training grounds created in surrounding counties. After the war, population growth and automobile travel shifted commerce toward the U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 15 corridors.[25]
During the mid-20th century, Culpeper modernized municipal services, built new schools, and participated in regional planning initiatives. In the 1950s, local residents took part in early desegregation efforts at Culpeper High School, covered by the *Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune* and *Free Lance Star* newspapers. The 1970s saw downtown revitalization and historic preservation programs led by the Choral Society and American Legion, preserving many 19th-century structures.[26]
During the Cold War, the U.S. Federal Reserve built an underground bunker southeast of town in 1969 as a continuity-of-government site. In 1997, theLibrary of Congress converted the facility into theNational Audiovisual Conservation Center, known as the Packard Campus.[27]
On August 23, 2011, Culpeper was impacted by the2011 Virginia earthquake, which damaged several historic buildings along Main and East Davis streets.[28] The Museum of Culpeper History relocated in 2014 to the town’s historic depot building, expanding exhibits on local archaeology and wartime heritage.[29]
The early 21st century brought a combination of growth and preservation. TheAmerican Planning Association recognized East Davis Street in 2011 as one of "America’s Great Places" for its preserved architecture and active local economy.[30]
In 2024, the state openedCulpeper Battlefields State Park, protecting portions of the Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain battlefields for public use.[31]
Economic diversification has continued with technology and tourism sectors growing in importance. The county’s Department of Economic Development received six Excellence in Economic Development Awards from theInternational Economic Development Council in 2025.[32] Preservation groups have also continued advocating for balance between new development, including proposed data centers and solar installations, and the protection of historic landscapes.[33]
Culpeper is in the Piedmont region of Virginia, approximately 70 miles (113 km) southwest ofWashington, D.C. and 50 miles (80 km) north ofRichmond. The town lies at the intersection ofU.S. Route 29 andU.S. Route 15, two major highways that provide important access to central and northern Virginia. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town of Culpeper has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²), or 1.52%, is water.[34]
Culpeper’s terrain is characterized by rolling hills within the Piedmont Plateau, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet in the east to nearly 600 feet in the west. The county is bounded by theRappahannock River to the north and theRapidan River to the south.[35]
Residential and cultural life centers around a number of historic and modern neighborhoods. The area known as “Fishtown,” located along Commerce Street, Waters Place, and Locust Street, developed as a business and residential district with a strong African American community presence. Nearby enclaves included Tin Cup Alley, Whipple Alley, Slabtown, Jeffrey Town, and Sugar Bottom.[36]
The central business district is largely encompassed by theCulpeper Historic District, a 50-acre area established in 1982 to preserve the town’s architectural and historic character. Buildings within the district are subject to review by the town’s Architectural Review Board for exterior changes visible from public streets.[37] Within downtown, “The Wharf,” at the lower end of East Davis Street, historically served as a center for freight, services, and commercial activity, complementing the residential and business mix of Fishtown.[36]
Culpeper has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa), with very warm, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant and well spread (although the summer months are usually wetter), with an annual average of 45.19 in (1,148 mm).
| Climate data for Culpeper, Virginia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) | 84 (29) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 100 (38) | 103 (39) | 107 (42) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 99 (37) | 86 (30) | 79 (26) | 107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 45 (7) | 49 (9) | 60 (16) | 70 (21) | 79 (26) | 86 (30) | 90 (32) | 87 (31) | 81 (27) | 70 (21) | 59 (15) | 48 (9) | 69 (20) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) | 28 (−2) | 34 (1) | 43 (6) | 52 (11) | 61 (16) | 66 (19) | 64 (18) | 58 (14) | 45 (7) | 37 (3) | 29 (−2) | 45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) | −9 (−23) | 5 (−15) | 18 (−8) | 28 (−2) | 37 (3) | 48 (9) | 44 (7) | 31 (−1) | 18 (−8) | 6 (−14) | −6 (−21) | −14 (−26) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.26 (83) | 2.96 (75) | 3.55 (90) | 3.32 (84) | 4.34 (110) | 4.39 (112) | 4.23 (107) | 4.13 (105) | 4.36 (111) | 3.81 (97) | 3.71 (94) | 3.13 (80) | 45.19 (1,148) |
| Source:[38] | |||||||||||||
Highways directly serving Culpeper includeU.S. Route 15 Business,U.S. Route 29 Business,U.S. Route 522,Virginia State Route 3 andVirginia State Route 229.U.S. Route 15 andU.S. Route 29 pass just southeast of the town limits. US 15 Bus, US 29 Bus and US 522 share the same alignment through downtown, following Main Street. US 29 extends southwest towardCharlottesville andInterstate 64 westbound, while US 15 provides connections southward towardOrange andGordonsville. US 15 and US 29 are concurrent to the north, providing connections toWarrenton andWashington, D.C. US 522 connects southward to I-64 eastbound and northward towardFront Royal,Winchester andInterstate 81. SR 3 extends eastward, connecting toFredericksburg andInterstate 95. SR 229 provides a connection northward towardRixeyville andU.S. Route 211.
Culpeper maintains a locally managed street network under theVirginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), which oversees maintenance and safety improvements on primary and secondary routes throughout the county.[39]
Amtrak operates theCulpeper Station (station code CLP) with daily service by theCardinal,Northeast Regional andCrescent trains, providing connections to New Orleans, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Boston. Approximately 17,386 passengers boarded or alighted at the station in fiscal year 2023.[40]
Freight rail operations also pass through the region as part of the state’s transportation network, providing industrial and logistical connections for local businesses.[41]
Culpeper is served byVirginia Regional Transit, which operates fixed-route and demand-response bus services within the town and county. The “Culpeper Connector” provides scheduled service around major destinations in town, while the “Culpeper Express” offers countywide curb-to-curb rides with advance reservations.[42]
Additional regional bus service is provided through the Virginia Breeze intercity network, which includes a stop in Culpeper on the Piedmont Express line connecting toDulles International Airport andWashington, D.C.[43] Limited commuter connections are also available via Academy Bus.[44]
TheCulpeper Regional Airport (FAA: CJR) is located east of the town and features a 5,000-foot runway that supports general aviation traffic, flight training and business aviation. The airport is owned and operated by Culpeper County and offers hangar facilities, fueling services and maintenance support for private and corporate aircraft.[45]
Culpeper's economy is supported by retail, healthcare, government services, and growing technology interests. The town is home to the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation, a major federal facility just outside town limits.[46] Retail hubs like Culpeper Colonnade also contribute significantly to local employment.[47]
Culpeper has experienced growth in its technology sector, supported by improvements in broadband infrastructure and local government initiatives aimed at encouraging digital innovation.[48]
In 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS), via its subsidiary Marvell Developments, purchased land in Culpeper for eventual data center construction.[49] The news caused concern among residents because of the project's potential environmental effect and alteration of the town's rural nature.[50] A number of public meetings and protests were organized, with citizens speaking out against noise, light pollution, and pressure on public utilities.[citation needed]
Despite public concern, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors approved the zoning changes required for the project.[51] As of 2025, construction has not yet begun.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,056 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,800 | 70.5% | |
| 1880 | 1,613 | −10.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,620 | 0.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,618 | −0.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,796 | 11.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,819 | 1.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,379 | 30.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,316 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,527 | 9.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,412 | −4.6% | |
| 1970 | 6,056 | 151.1% | |
| 1980 | 6,621 | 9.3% | |
| 1990 | 8,581 | 29.6% | |
| 2000 | 9,664 | 12.6% | |
| 2010 | 16,379 | 69.5% | |
| 2020 | 20,062 | 22.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[52] | |||
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the town of Culpeper had a population of 20,062.[52] The racial makeup was 49.3% White (non-Hispanic), 17.3% Black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.8% Native American or other races, and 5.4% identifying as two or more races. Individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.9% of the total population.[53]
The age distribution in Culpeper showed 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% aged 65 and older, with a median age of 34 years.[54]
According to the 2019–2023 American Community Survey, the median household income in Culpeper was $88,702, and the per capita income was $36,327. Approximately 12.4% of residents were living below the poverty line.[55]
Culpeper hosts several arts and cultural programs, particularly centered in its downtown area. Culpeper Renaissance, Inc., a nonprofit organization, has coordinated public art initiatives such as the Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program. Murals include “The Surveyor,” depicting George Washington, and “The Trailblazers,” featuring African American community leaders. In 2024, the initiative expanded to include painted utility boxes throughout the historic district.[56][57]
The Pitts Theatre, an Art Deco structure built in the late 1930s, was reopened in 2013 as a performing arts venue but closed again in 2016. Its facade remains preserved.[58]
The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio‑Visual Conservation, located outside town, offers free film screenings to the public.[59][60]
Annual events in the area include Culpeperpalooza, a music and vendor festival held in April at Mountain Run Winery. The 2025 event featured multiple bands and supported regional nonprofits.[61] Other recurring events include farmers’ markets and concerts held in the downtown district.[62]
The Museum of Culpeper History, located in the town's historic train depot, provides exhibits and tours on local history, including the colonial period and the Civil War.[63] Additional historical sites include the Burgandine House and Culpeper Battlefields State Park.[64]
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Culpeper hosts a range of organized sports activities, from youth leagues to summer collegiate baseball and regional tournaments.
Culpeper County Parks & Recreation oversees both youth and adult league sports programming, operating at facilities such as the Culpeper Sports Complex and the Fieldhouse. Offerings include baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, pickleball and cheerleading, with clinics and youth camps available year‑round.[65][66]
The Culpeper Sports Complex, which opened in 2006, receives over 350,000 visitors annually and features multiple athletic fields, including soccer, football, little league baseball, softball and lacrosse. In 2022, LED lighting was installed for enhanced evening use of 14 athletic fields.[66]
Youth football and cheerleading are organized on a recreational basis by the Culpeper Football Association (CFA), which began operations in 2004 and has grown from approximately 250 participants to over 700 in later years.[67]
At the high school level, Culpeper County High School athletic teams known as the Blue Devils compete in basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, soccer, softball, wrestling, lacrosse and other sports within the Virginia High School League’s Battlefield District (Class 3). The basketball team regularly participates in postseason play, including matchups in the Class 3 Region B tournament.[68][69]
In summer collegiate baseball, the Culpeper Cavaliers joined the Valley Baseball League in 2023. The league, sanctioned by the NCAA and supported by Major League Baseball, features college-level athletes competing across the Shenandoah Valley region.[70][71]
Recreational sports are also supported by facilities such as PATH Recreation & Fitness Center (Fieldhouse) and Culpeper Recreation Club. The Fieldhouse includes indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, as well as batting cages.[72] Culpeper Recreation Club operates a pool and courts for tennis, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and a summer swim team known as the Barnstormers.[73]
TheCulpeper Star-Exponent is a long-running newspaper, founded in 1881 as theCulpeper Exponent and merged with theVirginia Star in 1953. As of 2023, it is published three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) in broadsheet format and is owned byLee Enterprises.[74] A Lee Enterprises annual filing reported a print circulation of approximately 2,986 daily and 2,917 Sunday before the change.[75]
Another notable publication is theCulpeper Times, a weekly tabloid founded in 1889. It is owned by Rappahannock Media LLC, with a print circulation around 5,000 copies, and digital availability through the InsideNoVa platform.[76]
Local radio is anchored by several stations.WJMA (103.1 FM) is a country music station licensed to Culpeper, operated by Piedmont Communications since its debut on December 4, 1971.[77]WCVA (1490 AM / 95.3 FM) broadcasts classic hits and was first launched in 1949, also under Piedmont Communications ownership.[78] Additionally,WVCV (1340 AM), though licensed to Orange, Virginia, simulcasts WJMA’s country format and serves Culpeper listeners.[79]
Culpeper is governed by a nine-member Town Council, consisting of a Mayor and eight Council Members, all elected at-large to four-year terms.[85] The Council appoints a Town Manager, who serves as the chief administrative officer and oversees the daily operations of the town. The Council also appoints the Town Attorney and Town Clerk.
Council meetings are held regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM in the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room.[85]
As of 2025, the members of the Town Council are:[86]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Mayor | Frank Reaves Jr. |
| Vice Mayor | William M. Yowell |
| Council Member | B. Travis Brown |
| Council Member | Jamie Dyke |
| Council Member | Michael T. Olinger |
| Council Member | Meaghan Taylor |
| Council Member | Jon Russell |
| Council Member | Keith Price |
| Council Member | Pranas S. Rimeikis |
Culpeper County, including the Town of Culpeper, has historically leaned Republican in state and federal elections. The last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried the county was in 1964.[87] In the 2020 presidential election, approximately 62% of county voters supported Donald Trump, while about 36% supported Joe Biden.[88]
Culpeper is part of Virginia's 7th congressional district, represented by Democrat Eugene Vindman as of 2025. In the Virginia General Assembly, the town is represented by Republicans in both the House of Delegates and State Senate.[89]
Culpeper is served by theCulpeper County Public Schools district, which covers all public K–12 education in Culpeper County.[90] Within the town limits are several public elementary and middle schools such as Floyd T. Binns Middle, Farmington, Sycamore Park, and Yowell Elementary, while county residents outside town attend schools including A.G. Richardson, Emerald Hill, and Pearl Sample elementary schools, along with Culpeper Middle School.
High school students attend one of two public high schools:Culpeper County High School orEastern View High School, depending on zoning. The Culpeper Technical Education Center (CTEC) opened in 2021 adjacent to Germanna Community College’s Daniel Technology Center provides vocational and technical programs to students from both high schools, offering hands‑on training and industry credentials in fields like automotive, carpentry, cybersecurity, culinary arts, healthcare, HVAC/R, EMT, and emergency services.[91][92]
In addition to public schooling, Culpeper County has several private and faith-based institutions such as Culpeper Christian School and Epiphany Catholic School serving pre‑K through high school students with religious-based curricula and smaller class sizes.[93]
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