Charlottesville, city, central Virginia, on the Rivanna River and the Piedmont Plateau; founded 1762, incorporated as a city 1888. It is the seat of Albemarle County, but is administratively independent of the county. The city is the site of the University of Virginia, a major contributor to the local economy. Charlottesville is also the trade center of an area producing apples, peaches, and Thoroughbred horses. Manufactures include processed food and electronic equipment. Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, is near the city, as is the home of President James Monroe. George Rogers Clark, a military leader during the American Revolution, also lived in the area. In 1781, during the Revolution, the British general Banastre Tarleton raided Charlottesville in an unsuccessful attempt to capture Jefferson. The city is named for Charlotte Sophia, wife of George III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Population 45,010 (1980); 40,341 (1990); 45,049 (2000).
