Culpeper, Virginia
Culpeper | |
|---|---|
 Seal | |
| Motto(s): "Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future" | |
    | |
  Culpeper Location in Virginia  Culpeper Culpeper (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 38°28′19″N 77°59′57″W / 38.47194°N 77.99917°W | |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.31 sq mi (18.94 km2) |
| • Land | 7.27 sq mi (18.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 413 ft (126 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 20,062 |
| • Density | 2,759.56/sq mi (1,065.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 22701, 22735 |
| Area code(s) | 540, 826 |
| FIPS code | 51-20752[3] |
| Major Roadways |      |
| Airport | Culpeper Regional Airport |
| Website | www |
Culpeper (formerly Culpeper Courthouse, earlier Fairfax) is an incorporated town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. It is the county seat and part of the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington, DC–MD–VA–WV–PA Combined Statistical Area. The population was 20,062 in the 2020 census,[5] from 16,379 in 2010.[6]
Culpeper is located near several major highways and has daily Amtrak service,[7] along with local and regional bus routes.[8] It is situated between Northern Virginia and the Piedmont region, and has become a growing residential and transportation center.
In recent years, the town has also attracted data center development through the creation of the Culpeper Technology Zone, a 950-acre site offering tax incentives to qualifying companies.[9] Notably, EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure plans to develop a 1.4 million-square-foot data center campus in Culpeper.[10]
History
[edit]After establishing Culpeper County, Virginia in 1748, the Virginia House of Burgesses voted to establish the Town of Fairfax on February 22, 1759. The name honored Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781)[11] who was proprietor of the Northern Neck peninsula, a vast domain north of the Rappahannock River; his territory was then defined as stretching from Chesapeake Bay to what is now Hampshire County, West Virginia.
Founding
[edit]_(14739714546).jpg)
The original plan of the town called for ten blocks, which form the core of Culpeper's downtown area today. The original town was surveyed by a young George Washington, who at age 17 was a protege of the 6th Lord Fairfax. In 1795, the town received a U.S. Post Office under the name Culpeper Court House, although most maps continued to show the Fairfax name. The confusion resulting from the difference in official and postal names, coupled with the existence to the northeast of Fairfax Court House and Fairfax Station post offices in Fairfax County, was finally resolved when the Virginia General Assembly formally renamed the town as simply Culpeper in 1869 (Acts, 1869–1870, chapter 118, page 154).
Civil War and Reconsruction
[edit]During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the Culpeper Minutemen, a pro-Independence militia, formed in the town of Culpeper Courthouse. They organized in what was then known as "Clayton's Old Field," near today's Yowell Meadow Park.
During the Civil War (1861-1865), Culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central Virginia, with both Union and Confederate forces occupying the town by turn. In the heart of downtown, the childhood home of Confederate General A.P. Hill stands at the corner of Main and Davis streets. One block north on Main Street (present location of Piedmont Realty) was the frame house where "The Gallant Major" John Pelham died after sustaining a wound at the Battle of Kelly's Ford
In 1974, the town had a Choral Society, an Odd Fellows Hall, and an American Legion Hall.[12]
Growth and Development
[edit]Culpeper began to grow dramatically in the 1980s, becoming a "bedroom community" of more densely populated Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. suburbs. A growing number of residents of the town and county of Culpeper once lived and continue to work in those areas.
In 2011, East Davis Street in downtown Culpeper was named as a 2011 America's Great Place by the American Planning Association.[13]
2011 Virginia Earthquake
[edit]Downtown Culpeper was one of the communities most affected by the August 23, 2011 Virginia earthquake. Several buildings along Main Street and East Davis Street suffered structural damage, and some were later condemned.[14] The earthquake led to the temporary evacuation of the Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation, which at the time was hosting a town hall event for U.S. Senator Mark Warner.[15]
In 2014, the Museum of Culpeper History moved into the town's historic train depot.[16]
Geography
[edit]Culpeper is in the Piedmont region of Virginia, approximately 70 miles (113 km) southwest of Washington, D.C. and 50 miles (80 km) north of Richmond, Virginia. The town lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 15, two major highways that provide important access to central and northern Virginia. According to the United 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 miles (0.2 km²), or 1.52%, is water.[17]
Climate
[edit]Culpeper has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), 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) |
| Average precipitation 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: [18] | |||||||||||||
Transportation & Infastructure
[edit]
U.S. Route 15 and U.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 towards Charlottesville and Interstate 64 westbound, while US 15 provides connections southward towards Orange and Gordonsville. US 15 and US 29 are concurrent to the north, providing connections to Warrenton and Washington, D.C. US 522 connects southward to I-64 eastbound, and northward towards Front Royal, Winchester and Interstate 81. SR 3 extends eastward, connecting to Fredericksburg and Interstate 95. SR 229 provides a connection northward towards Rixeyville and U.S. Route 211.
Amtrak operates Culpeper Station (code CLP), with daily service by the Cardinal, Northeast Regional and Crescent trains, offering connecting service to New Orleans, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Boston. Approximately 17,386 passengers embarked or deboarded the station in 2023.[19]
Culpeper is also served by Virginia Regional Transit which operates three bus routes covering northern and southern loops as well as an accessible route for disabled individuals.
Local and regional bus services are operated by Virginia Regional Transit, with additional commuter connections to Washington, D.C. through Academy Bus.[20][21]
Culpeper Regional Airport features a 5,000-foot runway and supports general aviation traffic, enhancing the town's accessibility.[22]
Economy
[edit]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.[23]
Recent years have seen proposals for large data center developments, drawing both interest and local opposition.[24]
Retail hubs like Culpeper Colonnade also contribute significantly to local employment.[25]
Technology
[edit]Culpeper has experienced growth in its technology sector, supported by improvements in broadband infrastructure and local government initiatives aimed at encouraging digital innovation.[26]
Controversies and data centers
[edit]In 2022, Amazon Web Services, via its subsidiary Marvell Developments, purchased land in Culpeper for eventual data center construction.[27] The news caused concern among residents because of the project's potential environmental effect and alteration of the town's rural nature.[28] A number of public meetings and protests were organized, with citizens speaking out against noise, light pollution, and pressure on public utilities.
Despite public concern, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors approved the zoning changes required for the project.[29] As of 2025, construction has not yet begun.
Demographics
[edit]| 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[30] | |||
As of the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the town was 61.5% White, 21.9% Black, 0.6% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.0% of the population.
The town's population included 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was at a time $35,438, and the median income for a family was $41,894 but due to the economic downturn this has changed. Males had a median income of $28,658 versus $25,252 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,842. About 23.0% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.[citation needed]
Arts and culture
[edit]_at_Page_Street_in_Culpeper,_Culpeper_County,_Virginia.jpg)
Culpeper's historic center has numerous restaurants offering a range of cuisines, as well as delis, bakeries and breweries — and many locally-owned boutiques.[31] Recent improvements have included the reopening of The Dominion Skate Park and State Climb.[32]
The historic George Washington Carver High School has been renovated to serve as a community kitchen.[33]
Notable events
[edit]- Culpeper was the location of the main encampment for the Army of the Potomac during the winter of 1863-64 during the Civil War. It was from Culpeper that General Ulysses S. Grant began the Overland Campaign against General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
- During the presidential election campaign of 1960, vice presidential nominee Lyndon B. Johnson began his whistle-stop campaign of the South by giving a speech at Culpeper. As the train was pulling away from the station, Johnson yelled out a phrase that would become a battle cry of the campaign: "What did Dick Nixon ever do for Culpeper?!"[34][35]
- In 1967, it was the site of a one-day standoff between members of the American Nazi Party and police and military personnel over the group's attempt to bury their leader George Lincoln Rockwell in the local National Cemetery.
- In 1995, former Superman star Christopher Reeve lost his balance during a horse competition and fell, resulting in severe spinal injury and permanent quadriplegic paralysis.
- Culpeper was featured in the nineteenth episode of the Small Town News Podcast, an improv comedy podcast that takes listeners on a fun and silly virtual trip to a small town in America each week. The hosts improvise scenes inspired by local newspaper stories.[36]
2025 "No Kings" Protest Incident
[edit]On June 14, 2025, during a "No Kings" protest in Culpeper a motorist drove into a crowd of demonstrators. According to police reports, at least one person was struck by the vehicle; however, no serious injuries were confirmed at the time, and the individual was not immediately located.[37] The incident led to the arrest of the driver and drew local attention to tensions surrounding the protest movement.[38]
Education
[edit]The school district for the entire county is Culpeper County Public Schools.[39]
Schools in the Culpeper town limits include:[40]
- Floyd T. Binns Middle School
- Farmington Elementary School
- Sycamore Park Elementary School
- Yowell Elementary School
Other public schools in the area include:
- A.G. Richardson Elementary
- Emerald Hill Elementary
- Pearl Sample Elementary
- Culpeper Middle School
- Culpeper County High School
- Eastern View High School
- Culpeper Technical Education Center
Notable people
[edit]- William T. Amiger (1870–1929), educator, college president, Baptist minister; born in Culpeper[41][42]
- Nell Arthur (1837–1880), wife of Chester A. Arthur, who became the 21st president of the United States after her death
- Kenny Alphin, of the country music group Big & Rich
- John S. Barbour Jr., U.S. congressman (1881–1887) and U.S. senator (1889-1892)
- Andrew J. Boyle, U.S. Army lieutenant general, resided in Culpeper during his retirement[43]
- Robert Young Button, Attorney General of Virginia (1962-1970) and Virginia State Senator (1945-1961)
- Cary Travers Grayson, highly decorated U.S. Navy surgeon, onetime chairman of the American Red Cross, and personal aide to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
- A. P. Hill (1825–1865), Confederate general during the American Civil War, commander of "Hill's Light Division," under Stonewall Jackson
- John Preston "Pete" Hill, Negro league baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, born in nearby Buena, Virginia
- John Jameson (1751–1810), Colonel in the American Revolutionary War
- Ann Jarvis, for whom Mother's Day was established by her daughter Anna Jarvis
- Keith Jennings, former NBA point guard, Golden State Warriors
- William Morgan, whose 1826 disappearance in New York state sparked a powerful anti-Freemasonry movement
- Waller T. Patton, Confederate colonel during the American Civil War, great-uncle of World War II General George S. Patton
- John Pendleton, American diplomat
- Eppa Rixey, major league pitcher and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- D. French Slaughter Jr., former U.S. Congressman
- Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle
- J. Loren Wince, lead singer/songwriter for the band Hurt
References
[edit]- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Culpeper town, Virginia; United States". Census.gov. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "QuickFacts: Culpeper town, Virginia". U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. April 1, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "QuickFacts: Culpeper town, Virginia". U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. April 1, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Amtrak Station Locator". Amtrak. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Virginia Regional Transit". Virginia Regional Transit. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ "Culpeper Technology Zone". Choose Culpeper. Culpeper Department of Economic Development. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "EdgeCore Selects Culpeper for Data Center Development". Virginia Business. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 97.
- ^ Wallace, Hester W (December 5, 1974). "Culpeper News". Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune.
- ^ "Davis Street Culpeper, Virginia". Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- ^ "EARTHQUAKE IN CULPEPER: The damage done". Star-Exponent; Culpeper, Virginia. August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- ^ Johnston, Donnie (August 24, 2011). "Earthquake forces Warner outside for public forum". The Free Lance-Star; Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
- ^ Museum of Culpeper History web site
- ^ "2020 Census: QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Average Weather for Culpeper, VA - Temperature and Precipitation". Weather.com. August 2011. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet FY 2023" (PDF). Amtrak.com.
- ^ "Virginia Regional Transit". Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ "Academy Bus". Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ "Culpeper Regional Airport". Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ "Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Despite Opposition, Culpeper Considers Data Center Developments". Fauquier Times. February 15, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Culpeper Colonnade". Kimco Realty. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Virginia Broadband Expansion Initiative". Retrieved July 16, 2025.
- ^ "Amazon to build data centers in Culpeper County". Fredericksburg.com. April 5, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Residents protest proposed Amazon data center in Culpeper". Culpeper Times. November 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Culpeper County Board approves Amazon data center project". The Washington Post. January 15, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Homepage". Visit Culpeper. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Star-Exponent, ALLISON BROPHY CHAMPION Culpeper (September 30, 2023). "'Too good an opportunity'—Culpeper man returns home, reopening skating rink". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Star-Exponent, Culpeper (September 4, 2023). "Carver Food Enterprise Center opens in Culpeper". Culpeper Star-Exponent. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Hoppe, Arthur. Having a Wonderful Time: My First Half Century As a Newspaperman. Chronicle Books (San Francisco, CA), 1995, p. 19. ISBN 081181145X
- ^ Nelson, Zann (October 7, 2010). "Celebrating Johnson's visit to Culpeper". Star-Exponent; Culpeper, Virginia. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
- ^ "Small Town News".
- ^ Smith, John (June 15, 2025). "Motorist arrested after driving into protest crowd near Culpeper courthouse". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ Doe, Jane (June 16, 2025). "Culpeper community reacts to protest incident". Culpeper Times. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ Geography Division (January 8, 2021). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Culpeper County, VA (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2025. - Text list
- ^ "Current Zoning Map" (PDF). Town of Culpeper. Retrieved June 25, 2025. - Compare locations of any schools to the map to see if the school is in the town limits.
- ^ Mather, Frank Lincoln (1915). "Amiger, William Thomas". Who's Who of the Colored Race: A General Biographical Dictionary of Men and Women of African Descent. Vol. 1. pp. 6–7.
- ^ Distinguished Successful Americans of Our Day: Containing Biographies of Prominent Americans Now Living. Chicago, IL: Successful Americans. 1911. p. 420 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Obituary, Andrew J. Boyle". The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, VA. March 20, 2001. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Legacy.com.
External links
[edit]
Municipalities and communities of Culpeper County, Virginia, United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
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