Culpeper County is a county in Virginia, United States, roughly midway between Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville along the US 15/US 29 corridor. It had a population of 52,552 at the 2020 census and covers 383 square miles (990 km2), including 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) of water, centred near 38°29′N 77°58′W.
Culpeper is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated town; its postal code is 22701. The rest of the county is unincorporated, made up of a census-designated place (Brandy Station) and roughly two dozen smaller communities and rural hamlets. Culpeper County has no civil townships — local administration runs through seven magisterial districts (Catalpa, Cedar Mountain, East Fairfax, Jefferson, Salem, Stevensburg, West Fairfax). The county observes Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer).
Towns & Villages in Culpeper County
Culpeper County has one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and around two dozen unincorporated communities and rural hamlets scattered across its seven magisterial districts. A handful of subdivision-style duplicates and redundant listings from older records (a second “Richardsville,” a second “Merrimac,” a standalone “Village of Culpeper”) have been folded into their parent entries below.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culpeper | Town · seat | — | 22701 |
| Brandy Station | CDP | — | 22714 |
| Boston | Unincorp. | — | 22713 |
| Elkwood | Unincorp. | — | 22718 |
| Jeffersonton | Unincorp. | — | 22724 |
| Lignum | Unincorp. | — | 22726 |
| Mitchells | Unincorp. | — | 22729 |
| Rapidan | Unincorp. | — | 22733 |
| Reva | Unincorp. | — | 22734 |
| Richardsville | Unincorp. | — | 22735 |
| Rixeyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stevensburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Griffinsburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raccoon Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kellys Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salem | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Catalpa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cardova | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eggbornsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eldorada | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lagrange | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Merrimac | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Korea | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Surprise | Unincorp. | — | — |
Culpeper, the town, and Brandy Station, the CDP, sit about seven miles apart on the Culpeper–Brandy Station corridor and share a ZIP-code split (22701 vs. 22714) — don’t confuse the two when addressing mail.
ZIP Codes
- 22701 — Culpeper (also serves the town centre and surrounding growth areas)
- 22713 — Boston
- 22714 — Brandy Station
- 22718 — Elkwood
- 22724 — Jeffersonton
- 22726 — Lignum
- 22729 — Mitchells
- 22733 — Rapidan
- 22734 — Reva
- 22735 — Richardsville
Smaller hamlets such as Rixeyville, Stevensburg, Griffinsburg and Salem are served by one of the ZIP codes above rather than carrying their own.
Geography
Culpeper County sits in the Virginia Piedmont, between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and the Coastal Plain to the east. The Rapidan River forms much of the county’s southern boundary and the Rappahannock River bounds it to the northeast; both are popular for fishing and canoeing. Terrain is rolling farmland and low ridges, with elevations generally under 700 feet.
Culpeper County borders Fauquier County to the north, Stafford County to the east, Spotsylvania County to the southeast, Orange County to the south, Madison County to the southwest, and Rappahannock County to the northwest.
Demographics
Culpeper County’s population was 52,552 at the 2020 census, up from earlier counts as growth spilled south from the Washington, D.C. exurbs along the US 29 corridor. The town of Culpeper is the largest community by far, followed by the Brandy Station CDP. Median household income sits in the same range as the Virginia median of $89,931, with the county drawing both agricultural and commuter households. Population density works out to roughly 139 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, particularly cattle, hay and orchard fruit, remains part of the county’s economic base alongside light industry, health care (Novant Health UVA Health System’s Culpeper hospital) and a growing base of Washington-area commuters who use US 15/29 and the county’s Amtrak-served rail line. Downtown Culpeper’s historic Main Street is the county’s retail and dining core, and the annual Culpeper Christmas parade and the Germanna Foundation’s Virginia history events draw regional visitors.
History
Culpeper County was formed in 1749 from Orange County and named for Catherine Culpeper, daughter of Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper, a colonial proprietor of the Northern Neck. The county was the muster ground for the Culpeper Minutemen, a militia unit active in the early days of the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, the county saw major fighting, including the Battle of Cedar Mountain (August 1862) and the Battle of Brandy Station (June 1863), the largest cavalry engagement fought on American soil.
Getting There
US 15, US 29 and US 211 all cross Culpeper County, along with state routes 3 and 229. Amtrak’s Crescent and Cardinal lines stop at the Culpeper station.
- Charlottesville — about 40 miles southwest
- Fredericksburg — about 30 miles southeast
- Warrenton — about 20 miles north
- Washington, D.C. — about 70 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO); Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is also within reach for national and international connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Culpeper County?
It is in north-central Virginia, on the US 15/29 corridor between Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville.
What is the population of Culpeper County?
52,552 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Culpeper County?
383 square miles (990 km2), including 3.3 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Culpeper County?
The town of Culpeper is the county seat.
How many towns are in Culpeper County?
One incorporated town (Culpeper) plus a census-designated place and about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Culpeper County?
22701, 22713, 22714, 22718, 22724, 22726, 22729, 22733, 22734 and 22735.
What happened at the Battle of Brandy Station?
Fought on June 9, 1863 near the community of Brandy Station, it was the largest cavalry battle ever fought on American soil, opening the Gettysburg campaign.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.