Fluvanna County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the Piedmont region between Charlottesville and Richmond. It had a population of 27,249 at the 2020 census and covers 290 square miles (750 km2) of which 286 square miles is land and 4.1 square miles is water, centred near 37°50′N 78°17′W.
Palmyra is the county seat and its postal code is 22963. The county has no incorporated cities, three census-designated places (Palmyra, Lake Monticello and Columbia) and a scattering of unincorporated crossroads communities. Fluvanna County is in the Eastern time zone and is part of the Charlottesville, Virginia Combined Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Fluvanna County
Fluvanna County has no incorporated towns of its own; local life centers on three census-designated places and about two dozen smaller unincorporated communities, most of them old mill sites, rail stops or crossroads stores along the James and Rivanna rivers. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | CDP · seat | — | 22963 |
| Lake Monticello | CDP | 10,126 | 22963 |
| Columbia | CDP | — | 23038 |
| Fork Union | Unincorp. | — | 23055 |
| Troy | Unincorp. | — | 22974 |
| Bremo Bluff | Unincorp. | — | 23022 |
| Kents Store | Unincorp. | — | 23084 |
| Kidds Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bybee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carysbrook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cloverdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cohasset | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crafton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cunningham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dixie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hardware | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holmhead | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hunters | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nahor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nicholas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Payne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paynes Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rockaway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scottsburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stage Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stearnes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Strathouse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weber City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Bottom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wildwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilmington | Unincorp. | — | — |
The town of Scottsville sits on the county line with neighboring Albemarle County; most of Scottsville’s population and its post office lie in Albemarle, so it is not listed here as a Fluvanna place.
ZIP Codes
- 22963 — Palmyra (also serves Lake Monticello)
- 22974 — Troy
- 23038 — Columbia
- 23022 — Bremo Bluff
- 23055 — Fork Union
- 23084 — Kents Store
Smaller unincorporated communities without their own post office share the ZIP code of their nearest listed town.
Geography
Fluvanna County lies in the Piedmont between the Blue Ridge foothills and the Virginia coastal plain, with rolling farmland and hardwood forest drained by the James and Rivanna rivers, which meet near Columbia. The James forms much of the county’s southern boundary. Fluvanna County borders Louisa County to the north, Goochland County to the east, Cumberland County to the southeast, Buckingham County to the south, and Albemarle County to the west.
Neighboring counties: Louisa County (north), Goochland County (east), Cumberland County (southeast), Buckingham County (south) and Albemarle County (west).
Demographics
Fluvanna County had 27,249 residents at the 2020 census. Lake Monticello, a gated lake community, is by far the largest population center at 10,126; Palmyra and Columbia are much smaller. Median household income in the county runs close to the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting a large share of residents who commute to jobs in Charlottesville or Richmond. Population density is about 95 people per square mile, low even by rural-Virginia standards outside the Lake Monticello subdivision.
Economy & Local Life
Government and education dominate local employment: Fluvanna County Public Schools, the county government, and the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women are among the largest employers. Fork Union Military Academy, a private boarding school founded in 1898, is a major institution and employer in the Fork Union community. Most working residents commute out of the county to Charlottesville, Richmond, or the Zion Crossroads commercial corridor just over the Louisa County line.
History
Fluvanna County was formed in 1777 from part of Albemarle County. Its name comes from the Fluvanna River, an old name for the upper James River meaning roughly “Anne’s River,” honoring Queen Anne of Great Britain. Palmyra has been the county seat since the county’s formation. Fork Union grew around a Baptist church and later Fork Union Military Academy, which has shaped the community’s identity for well over a century.
Getting There
US Route 15 runs north-south through the county and US Route 250 crosses it east-west; Virginia Routes 6 and 53 connect the smaller communities. Interstate 64 skirts the county’s southwestern corner near the Louisa/Albemarle line.
- Charlottesville, VA — about 20 miles west
- Richmond, VA — about 50 miles east
- Zion Crossroads (Louisa County) — about 10 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fluvanna County, Virginia?
It is in the Piedmont region of central Virginia, between Charlottesville and Richmond.
What is the population of Fluvanna County?
27,249 at the 2020 census.
How big is Fluvanna County?
290 square miles (750 km2), of which 286 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Fluvanna County?
Palmyra is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Fluvanna County?
The county has no incorporated towns; it has three census-designated places (Palmyra, Lake Monticello, Columbia) and roughly two dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Fluvanna County?
22963 (Palmyra/Lake Monticello), 22974 (Troy), 23038 (Columbia), 23022 (Bremo Bluff), 23055 (Fork Union) and 23084 (Kents Store).
What is Fluvanna County known for?
Lake Monticello, one of Virginia’s largest private lake communities, and Fork Union Military Academy, a well-known boarding school founded in 1898.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.