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[[image:citylogo.jpg|right|120px]]
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[[Charlottesville]] is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with a population of 44,471.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Albemarle population tops 100K for first time|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jan/30/albemarle-population-tops-100k-first-time-ar-1651431/|author=Daily Progress Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=January 30, 2012|publishdate=January 30, 2012|accessdate=January 31, 2012|cturl=}}</ref>
[[Charlottesville]] is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an estimated population of 49,071. <ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Population Estimates|url=http://demographics.coopercenter.org/virginia-population-estimates/|author=|work=Website|publisher=Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service|location=|publishdate=January 30, 2017|accessdate=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Analyzing area's growth will be key for future planning|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/feb/05/analyzing-areas-growth-will-be-key-future-planning-ar-823178/|author=|pageno=|printdate=February 6, 2011|publishdate=February 5, 2011|accessdate=February 9, 2011|cturl=}}</ref>


The city is home to the [[University of Virginia]] which provides another 9,000 part-time residents. Incorporated in 1762,<ref>Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.</ref> Charlottesville is located on 10.4 square miles of land and is completely surrounded by [[Albemarle County]]. Charlottesville is also the County seat, though it is an independent city with a separate government.  
The city is home to the [[University of Virginia]] which provides another 9,000 part-time residents. Incorporated in 1762,<ref>Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.</ref> Charlottesville is located on 10.4 square miles of land and is completely surrounded by [[Albemarle County]]. Charlottesville is also the County seat, though it is an independent city with a separate government.  


The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the two jurisdictions as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the nation. Its 2005 population of 188,016 ranked 212th in the nation.<ref name=bea>{{cite web|url=http://www.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/action.cfm?yearin=2005&areatype=MSA&fips=16820|title=Bearfacts, Charlottesville, VA|publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce|accessdate=24 Jan 2010}}</ref> The MSA also includes [[Albemarle County|Albemarle]], [[Fluvanna County|Fluvanna]], [[Greene County|Greene]] and [[Nelson County|Nelson]] Counties.  
The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the two jurisdictions as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the nation. Its 2005 population of 188,016 ranked 212th in the nation.<ref name="bea">{{cite web|url=http://www.bea.gov/regional/bearfacts/action.cfm?yearin=2005&areatype=MSA&fips=16820|title=Bearfacts, Charlottesville, VA|publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce|accessdate=24 Jan 2010}}</ref> The MSA also includes [[Albemarle County|Albemarle]], [[Fluvanna County|Fluvanna]], [[Greene County|Greene]] and [[Nelson County|Nelson]] Counties.  


==History==
==History==
Charlottesville was chartered in 1762 to serve as the new county seat of Albemarle County along the [[Three Notch'd Road]] from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley.<ref>Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.</ref> The town got its name from [[Queen Charlotte]], the wife of King George III.<ref>Rainville, Lynn. "LoCoHistory » Blog Archive » The Earl and the Queen." LoCoHistory. 3 Feb. 2007. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.locohistory.org/blog/albemarle/2007/02/03/the-earl-and-the-queen/>.</ref> Charlottesville was incorporated as a town on January 19, 1801,<ref>{{cite web|title=This Day in Charlottesville History|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=3193|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=March 14, 2012}}</ref> and became an independent city in 1888.
Charlottesville was chartered in 1762 to serve as the new county seat of Albemarle County along the [[Three Notch'd Road]] from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley.<ref>Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.</ref> The town got its name from [[Queen Charlotte]], the wife of King George III.<ref>Rainville, Lynn. "LoCoHistory » Blog Archive » The Earl and the Queen." LoCoHistory. 3 Feb. 2007. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.locohistory.org/blog/albemarle/2007/02/03/the-earl-and-the-queen/>.</ref> Charlottesville incorporated as a town on January 19, 1801,<ref>{{cite web|title=This Day in Charlottesville History|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=3193|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=March 14, 2012}}</ref> and incorporated as a City in 1888. Since 1871, all incorporated cities in Virginia have classified as independent cities. Charlottesville became city of second class in 1902. Charlottesville became a city of the first-class ''ipso facto'', as of the date of the proclamation to that effect by the Governor, which was August 1, 1916.


Governor Henry Stuart issued a proclamation on [[August 1]], 1916 declaring that Charlottesville had become a first-class in excess of 10,000 people. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Now A City of First Class|url=http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2108166/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2108167/5221.5/3190/3/1/0|author=Staff Reports|pageno=1|printdate=August 2, 1916|publishdate=August 2, 1916|accessdate=August 2, 2016 from University of Virginia Library}}</ref>
Governor Henry Stuart issued a proclamation on [[August 1]], 1916 declaring that Charlottesville had become a first-class in excess of 10,000 people. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Now A City of First Class|url=http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2108166/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2108167/5221.5/3190/3/1/0|author=Staff Reports|pageno=1|printdate=August 2, 1916|publishdate=August 2, 1916|accessdate=August 2, 2016 from University of Virginia Library}}</ref>
   
   
===Early Development Patterns===


===Evolution of development patterns===
The 50 acres of the originial village were laid out under a gridded town pattern.  A two acre public square to the north of the grid was set aside for a courthouse and would become [[Court Square]]<ref name="1995iath">{{cite web|title=Charlottesville Urban Design and Affordable Housing|url=http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/schwartz/cville/cville.history.html|author=Kenneth A. Schwarz|work=|publisher=Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=November 29, 2012}}</ref> Early development was limited because of the distance from a navigable river. The presence of several hills meant that different neighborhood developed independently of each other. [[Thomas Jefferson]] purposely distanced his 'Academical Village (the [[University of Virginia]]) away from the town center. Commercial activity to serve the university took place on what would become known as the [[The Corner|Corner]].  
The 50 acres of the originial village were laid out under a gridded town pattern.  A two acre public square to the north of the grid was set aside for a courthouse and would become [[Court Square]]<ref name="1995iath">{{cite web|title=Charlottesville Urban Design and Affordable Housing|url=http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/schwartz/cville/cville.history.html|author=Kenneth A. Schwarz|work=|publisher=Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=November 29, 2012}}</ref> Early development was limited because of the distance from a navigable river. The presence of several hills meant that different neighborhood developed independently of each other. [[Thomas Jefferson]] purposely distanced his 'Academical Village (the [[University of Virginia]]) away from the town center. Commercial activity to serve the university took place on what would become known as the [[The Corner|Corner]].  


By the late 19th century, the city was rapidly expanding. Much of this growth was absorbed by the development of the 551-acre [[Belle Mont Estate]] into what would become the [[Belmont-Carlton]] neighborhood. <ref name="buck">{{cite web|title=Belmont - A History of a Neighborhood|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:19800501-buck-history-of-belmont.pdf|author=James H. Buck Jr.|work=Paper for James Kinard's Local History course|publisher=|location=|publishdate=May 1980|accessdate=July 28, 2014}}</ref> Workers were attracted to industrial sites such as [[Frank Ix & Sons]]. However, the rise of streetcars and then affordable automobiles as the 20th century progressed allowed for workers to have more choices about where they lived. <ref name="sia-plan">{{cite web|title=City of Charlottesville Strategic Investment Area Plan|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:FInal_SIA_Report_-_13_December_2013-reduced.pdf|author=Cunningham Quill|work=|publisher=Cunningham Quill|location=|publishdate=December 13, 2013|accessdate=July 28, 2014}}</ref>
By the late 19th century, the city was rapidly expanding. Much of this growth was absorbed by the development of the 551-acre [[Belle Mont Estate]] into what would become the [[Belmont-Carlton]] neighborhood. <ref name="buck">{{cite web|title=Belmont - A History of a Neighborhood|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:19800501-buck-history-of-belmont.pdf|author=James H. Buck Jr.|work=Paper for James Kinard's Local History course|publisher=|location=|publishdate=May 1980|accessdate=July 28, 2014}}</ref> Workers were attracted to industrial sites such as [[Frank Ix & Sons]]. However, the rise of streetcars and then affordable automobiles as the 20th century progressed allowed for workers to have more choices about where they lived. <ref name="sia-plan">{{cite web|title=City of Charlottesville Strategic Investment Area Plan|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:FInal_SIA_Report_-_13_December_2013-reduced.pdf|author=Cunningham Quill|work=|publisher=Cunningham Quill|location=|publishdate=December 13, 2013|accessdate=July 28, 2014}}</ref>
====Early 20th Century transportation and road layout====
Virginia devolved road-maintenance to localities in 1929, including Charlottesville. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=|url=http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2638440/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2638443/4238/3712/3/1/0|author=Staff Reports|pageno=3|printdate=February 6, 1929|publishdate=February 6, 1929|accessdate=February 6, 2017 from University of Virginia Library}}</ref>
In 1933, a plan to widen the 4th Street underpass underneath the railway was discussed by city and railway officials. On [[August 9]], [[1933]], City Manager [[Seth Burnley]] decided to defer work to widen the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Railway]] railroad underpass on 4th Street to 22 feet wide. After a morning conference with railroad officials, the $21,000 expense was deemed to be too much. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=4th Street Pass Job Deferred|url=https://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2644404/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2644405/2661/3869.5/3/1/0|author=|pageno=|printdate=August 11, 1933|publishdate=August 11, 1933|accessdate=May 5, 2019}}</ref> That same summer, city officials and business leaders lobbied Richmond to route traffic at [[Free Bridge]] toward downtown rather than along a highway bypass. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Shirley Will Hear Group About Road|url=https://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2644404/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2644405/1518.5/3782.5/4/1/0|author=|pageno=1|printdate=August 11, 1933|publishdate=August 11, 1933|accessdate=May 5, 2019}}</ref>


== Government ==
== Government ==
Charlottesville's city government is run by a [[City Manager]] who is supervised by a five member [[City Council]]. One of the councilors is selected as Mayor for a two-year term. The current mayor is [[Mike Signer]. Councilors are elected every other November to four-year terms.  
Charlottesville's city government is run by a [[City Manager]] who is supervised by a five member [[City Council]]. One of the councilors is selected as mayor for a two-year term. The current mayor is [[Nikuyah Walker]]. The current vice-mayor is [[Heather Hill]]. Councilors are elected every other November to four-year terms.  
 
[[Tarron Richardson]] has been [[City Manager]] since May 2019. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Richardson details changes to city management|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/richardson-details-changes-to-city-management/article_0215cbda-13a5-5052-8252-340fb6abe882.html|author=Nolan Stout|pageno=|printdate=July 31, 2019|publishdate=July 31, 2019|accessdate=October 27, 2019}}</ref>


This city manager form of government dates back to September 1, 1922. Three councilors were elected that year followed by two more in 1923. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=McCue Bill Would Alter Election of Councilmen|url=|author=Don Devore|pageno=|printdate=January 23, 1960|publishdate=January 23, 1960|accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref> Prior to that, Charlottesville had a strong-mayor form of government with a bicameral legislature consisting of a Board of Alderman and a Common Council that began in 1916. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Two-Chambered City Council; Composed of Four Alderman, Eight Councilmen|url=http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2108215/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2108216/4159.5/834.5/3/1/0|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=August 11, 1916|publishdate=August 11, 1916|accessdate=August 11, 2016 from University of Virginia Library}}</ref>
This city manager form of government dates back to September 1, 1922. Three councilors were elected that year followed by two more in 1923. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=McCue Bill Would Alter Election of Councilmen|url=|author=Don Devore|pageno=|printdate=January 23, 1960|publishdate=January 23, 1960|accessdate=February 20, 2016}}</ref> Prior to that, Charlottesville had a strong-mayor form of government with a bicameral legislature consisting of a Board of Alderman and a Common Council that began in 1916. <ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Two-Chambered City Council; Composed of Four Alderman, Eight Councilmen|url=http://search.lib.virginia.edu/catalog/uva-lib:2108215/view#openLayer/uva-lib:2108216/4159.5/834.5/3/1/0|author=Staff Reports|pageno=|printdate=August 11, 1916|publishdate=August 11, 1916|accessdate=August 11, 2016 from University of Virginia Library}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Burrows Proposes New Bill for Vote on Annexation|author=|pageno=|printdate=February , 1960|publishdate=January 5, 1960|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite-progress-lindsay|title=Burrows Proposes New Bill for Vote on Annexation|author=|pageno=|printdate=February , 1960|publishdate=January 5, 1960|accessdate=February 22, 2016}}</ref>
Cities are required by the Virginia Constitution to have elected governing bodies, called “councils” composed of not fewer than three nor more than eleven members. (Virginia Constitution, Article VII, §§4 and 5; Code of Virginia, §§15.2-102, 15.2-1400). Every city in Virginia has its own charter enacted by General Assembly, setting out its specific organization and powers. The [https://law.lis.virginia.gov/charters/charlottesville/ current Charter of the City of Charlottesville] was adopted in 1946 and has received piecemeal revisions and amendments many times through the years.
Originating in 1908 in Staunton, Virginia, the Council-Manager plan has become the most common form of government in cities with populations over 10,000, mainly in the Southeast and Pacific coast areas. [https://www.nlc.org/forms-of-municipal-government]. The plan is modeled after the American corporation, with its shareholders (voters), board of directors (City Council) and Chief Executive Officer (City Manager). The Council-Manager plan provides for an elective council that appoints and removes the manager.  The council is the policy-determining agency of the city. It passes ordinances, votes appropriations, and determines whether bonds shall be issued.  After the council has made the policies, the manager executes them. The duties of the council are legislative; those of the manager are administrative.


===Efficiency studies===
===Efficiency studies===
In 2016, the city has paid the Novak Consulting Group $101,250 to conduct an efficiency study for its government structure. This comes nine years after the [[Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service]] published an earlier study. The Novak work continues. {{fact}} <ref>{{cite-progress|title=City Council approves resolution for organizational efficiency study|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city-council-approves-resolution-for-organizational-efficiency-study/article_af2a0e99-676e-56a1-a950-7d747219336a.html|author=Chris Suarez|pageno=|printdate=January 19, 2016|publishdate=January 19, 2016|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, the city has paid the Novak Consulting Group $101,250 to conduct an efficiency study for its government structure. This comes nine years after the [[Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service]] published an earlier study. The Novak work continues. {{fact}} <ref>{{cite-progress|title=City Council approves resolution for organizational efficiency study|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city-council-approves-resolution-for-organizational-efficiency-study/article_af2a0e99-676e-56a1-a950-7d747219336a.html|author=Chris Suarez|pageno=|printdate=January 19, 2016|publishdate=January 19, 2016|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref> The study was requested by City Councilor [[Kathy Galvin]]. The study is intended to shape budget discussions for fiscal year 2018.


====Previous reports====
====Previous reports====
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/Weldon_Cooper_Center_for_Public_Service 2009 Weldon Cooper efficiency study]
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/Weldon_Cooper_Center_for_Public_Service 2009 Weldon Cooper efficiency study]


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===Departments===
===Departments===
{{stub|article=list}}
{{stub|article=list}}
*[[Charlottesville Department of Economic Development|Department of Economic Development]]
*[[Charlottesville Department of Economic Development|Department of Economic Development]]
*[[Charlottesville Department of Finance|Department of Finance]]
*[[Charlottesville Department of Finance|Department of Finance]]
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*[[Charlottesville Social Services Department|Department of Social Services]]
*[[Charlottesville Social Services Department|Department of Social Services]]
*[[Charlottesville Fire Department|Fire Department]]
*[[Charlottesville Fire Department|Fire Department]]
*[[Category:Charlottesville offices and departments]]
*[[Charlottesville Office of Budget and Performance Management|Office of Budget and Performance Management]]
*[[Charlottesville Office of Budget and Performance Management|Office of Budget and Performance Management]]
*[[City Assessor|Office of the City Assessor]]
*[[City Assessor|Office of the City Assessor]]
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====Board and Commissions====
====Board and Commissions====
*[[Commission on Children and Families]]
*[[Commission on Children and Families]]


====Joint government organizations====
====Joint government organizations====
*[[Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau]]
*[[Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau]]
*[[Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority]]
*[[Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority]]
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===Staff===
===Staff===
The City Manager [[Maurice Jones]], who oversees a city staff with over 930 full-time equivalents spread across several departments. {{fact}}
Dr. [[Tarron Richardson]] started as Charlottesville's city manager on May 13, 2019. He oversees roughly 980 full-time equivalents spread across several departments. <ref>{{Cite-progress|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city/councilors-public-hear-from-city-manager-finalists/article_872641f6-4085-11e9-800c-f385bc7ed889.html|title=Councilors, public hear from city manager finalists|author=Nolan Stout|publishdate=|accessdate=}}</ref>
 
{{fact}}  


Other staff include:
Other staff include:
*[[Leslie Beauregard]], Assistant City Manager
 
*[[Mike Murphy]], Assistant City Manager
*[[Letitia Shelton]], deputy city manager/chief operating officer
*[[Craig Brown]], City Attorney
*[[John C. Blair, II|John Blair]], City Attorney
*[[Missy Creasy]], Director of Neighborhood Development Services (interim)
*[[Alexander Ikefuna]], Director of Neighborhood Development Services
*[[Brian Daly]], Director of Parks and Recreation
*Director of Parks and Recreation (Vacant)
*[[Judith Mueller]], Director of Public Works
*[[Paul Oberdorfer]], interim deputy city manager (Director of Public Works)
*[[Miriam Dickler]], Director of Communications
*[[Brian Wheeler]], Director of Communications
*[[Chris Cullinan]], Director of Finance
*[[Chris Cullinan]], Director of Finance
*[[Chris Engel]], Director of Economic Development
*[[Chris Engel]], Director of Economic Development
*[[RaShall M. Brackney|RaShall Brackney]], Chief of Police
*[[Andrew Baxter]], Fire Chief
*Michele Vineyard, Director of Human Resources


===Government association memberships===
===Government association memberships===
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== Neighborhoods ==
== Neighborhoods ==
{{Main|List of Charlottesville Neighborhoods}}
{{Main|List of Charlottesville Neighborhoods}}
Charlottesville is home to several neighborhoods, both formally defined by the planning department, and informally defined within the community.  
Charlottesville is home to several neighborhoods, both formally defined by the planning department, and informally defined within the community.  


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{{stub|article=list}}
{{stub|article=list}}
Charlottesville's government is bound by legal agreements with other area governments and some notable private enterprises:
Charlottesville's government is bound by legal agreements with other area governments and some notable private enterprises:
*[[Revenue Sharing Agreement]]
*[[Revenue Sharing Agreement]]
*[[Franchise agreement with Comcast]]
*[[Franchise agreement with Comcast]]
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== Awards ==
== Awards ==
{{Main|List of superlative awards}}
{{Main|List of superlative awards}}
Charlottesville is repeatedly listed among "best places to live" rankings in many publications.  
Charlottesville is repeatedly listed among "best places to live" rankings in many publications.  


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Major attractions include:
Major attractions include:
*The [[University of Virginia]]
*The [[University of Virginia]]
*[[Monticello]]
*[[Monticello]]
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}
 


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.charlottesville.org City of Charlottesville official government website]
*[http://www.charlottesville.org City of Charlottesville official government website]
*[http://www.coopercenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/StatChat_Charlottesville2010_07.21.2011.pdf Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service: Charlottesville City: Census 2011]
*[http://www.coopercenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/StatChat_Charlottesville2010_07.21.2011.pdf Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service: Charlottesville City: Census 2011]
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[[Category: TJPDC Jurisdictions]]
[[Category: TJPDC Jurisdictions]]
[[Category: 2010 CACF grant recipient]]
[[Category: 2010 CACF grant recipient]]
<references />

Revision as of 18:03, 14 December 2019

Citylogo.jpg

Charlottesville is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with an estimated population of 49,071. [1]

The city is home to the University of Virginia which provides another 9,000 part-time residents. Incorporated in 1762,[2] Charlottesville is located on 10.4 square miles of land and is completely surrounded by Albemarle County. Charlottesville is also the County seat, though it is an independent city with a separate government.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the two jurisdictions as one of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the nation. Its 2005 population of 188,016 ranked 212th in the nation.[3] The MSA also includes Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene and Nelson Counties.

History

Charlottesville was chartered in 1762 to serve as the new county seat of Albemarle County along the Three Notch'd Road from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley.[4] The town got its name from Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.[5] Charlottesville incorporated as a town on January 19, 1801,[6] and incorporated as a City in 1888. Since 1871, all incorporated cities in Virginia have classified as independent cities. Charlottesville became city of second class in 1902. Charlottesville became a city of the first-class ipso facto, as of the date of the proclamation to that effect by the Governor, which was August 1, 1916.

Governor Henry Stuart issued a proclamation on August 1, 1916 declaring that Charlottesville had become a first-class in excess of 10,000 people. [7]

Early Development Patterns

The 50 acres of the originial village were laid out under a gridded town pattern. A two acre public square to the north of the grid was set aside for a courthouse and would become Court Square[8] Early development was limited because of the distance from a navigable river. The presence of several hills meant that different neighborhood developed independently of each other. Thomas Jefferson purposely distanced his 'Academical Village (the University of Virginia) away from the town center. Commercial activity to serve the university took place on what would become known as the Corner.

By the late 19th century, the city was rapidly expanding. Much of this growth was absorbed by the development of the 551-acre Belle Mont Estate into what would become the Belmont-Carlton neighborhood. [9] Workers were attracted to industrial sites such as Frank Ix & Sons. However, the rise of streetcars and then affordable automobiles as the 20th century progressed allowed for workers to have more choices about where they lived. [10]

Early 20th Century transportation and road layout

Virginia devolved road-maintenance to localities in 1929, including Charlottesville. [11]

In 1933, a plan to widen the 4th Street underpass underneath the railway was discussed by city and railway officials. On August 9, 1933, City Manager Seth Burnley decided to defer work to widen the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway railroad underpass on 4th Street to 22 feet wide. After a morning conference with railroad officials, the $21,000 expense was deemed to be too much. [12] That same summer, city officials and business leaders lobbied Richmond to route traffic at Free Bridge toward downtown rather than along a highway bypass. [13]

Government

Charlottesville's city government is run by a City Manager who is supervised by a five member City Council. One of the councilors is selected as mayor for a two-year term. The current mayor is Nikuyah Walker. The current vice-mayor is Heather Hill. Councilors are elected every other November to four-year terms.

Tarron Richardson has been City Manager since May 2019. [14]

This city manager form of government dates back to September 1, 1922. Three councilors were elected that year followed by two more in 1923. [15] Prior to that, Charlottesville had a strong-mayor form of government with a bicameral legislature consisting of a Board of Alderman and a Common Council that began in 1916. [16] [17]

Cities are required by the Virginia Constitution to have elected governing bodies, called “councils” composed of not fewer than three nor more than eleven members. (Virginia Constitution, Article VII, §§4 and 5; Code of Virginia, §§15.2-102, 15.2-1400). Every city in Virginia has its own charter enacted by General Assembly, setting out its specific organization and powers. The current Charter of the City of Charlottesville was adopted in 1946 and has received piecemeal revisions and amendments many times through the years.

Originating in 1908 in Staunton, Virginia, the Council-Manager plan has become the most common form of government in cities with populations over 10,000, mainly in the Southeast and Pacific coast areas. [2]. The plan is modeled after the American corporation, with its shareholders (voters), board of directors (City Council) and Chief Executive Officer (City Manager). The Council-Manager plan provides for an elective council that appoints and removes the manager. The council is the policy-determining agency of the city. It passes ordinances, votes appropriations, and determines whether bonds shall be issued. After the council has made the policies, the manager executes them. The duties of the council are legislative; those of the manager are administrative.

Efficiency studies

In 2016, the city has paid the Novak Consulting Group $101,250 to conduct an efficiency study for its government structure. This comes nine years after the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service published an earlier study. The Novak work continues. [citation needed] [18] The study was requested by City Councilor Kathy Galvin. The study is intended to shape budget discussions for fiscal year 2018.

Previous reports


Main article: City Council

Departments


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Board and Commissions

Joint government organizations

Staff

Dr. Tarron Richardson started as Charlottesville's city manager on May 13, 2019. He oversees roughly 980 full-time equivalents spread across several departments. [19]

[citation needed]

Other staff include:

Government association memberships


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Charlottesville's government is a member of Virginia First Cities.

Neighborhoods

Main article: List of Charlottesville Neighborhoods

Charlottesville is home to several neighborhoods, both formally defined by the planning department, and informally defined within the community.

Infrastructure

The Department of Public Works buys water from the RWSA and the Utility Billing Office charges residents directly.

From 2010 to February 2013, the city built 4.8 miles of new sidewalk.[20]

The city maintains a list of public streets.

Legal Agreements


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Charlottesville's government is bound by legal agreements with other area governments and some notable private enterprises:

Awards

Main article: List of superlative awards

Charlottesville is repeatedly listed among "best places to live" rankings in many publications.

Authors Bert Sperling and Peter Sander selected Charlottesville as the best place to live in the United States for the year 2004 in their book Cities Ranked and Rated.[21] The Arbor Day Foundation named Charlottesville a Tree City USA in 2007.[22]

Tourist attractions

Tourism is a significant part of the Charlottesville economy, with about two million tourists visiting the area every year.[23]

Major attractions include:

References

  1. Web. Virginia Population Estimates, Website, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, January 30, 2017, retrieved April 4, 2017.
  2. Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.
  3. Web. Bearfacts, Charlottesville, VA, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, retrieved 24 Jan 2010.
  4. Barrick, Ric. City's 250th Anniversary of Incorporation. Rep. Charlottesville, 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20100517-CC-History-Celebration-staff-report.pdf>.
  5. Rainville, Lynn. "LoCoHistory » Blog Archive » The Earl and the Queen." LoCoHistory. 3 Feb. 2007. Web. 21 July 2010. <http://www.locohistory.org/blog/albemarle/2007/02/03/the-earl-and-the-queen/>.
  6. Web. This Day in Charlottesville History, City of Charlottesville, retrieved March 14, 2012.
  7. Web. Now A City of First Class, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, August 2, 1916, retrieved August 2, 2016 from University of Virginia Library. Print. August 2, 1916 page 1.
  8. Web. Charlottesville Urban Design and Affordable Housing, Kenneth A. Schwarz, Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, retrieved November 29, 2012.
  9. Web. Belmont - A History of a Neighborhood, James H. Buck Jr., Paper for James Kinard's Local History course, May 1980, retrieved July 28, 2014.
  10. Web. City of Charlottesville Strategic Investment Area Plan, Cunningham Quill, Cunningham Quill, December 13, 2013, retrieved July 28, 2014.
  11. Web. [1], Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, February 6, 1929, retrieved February 6, 2017 from University of Virginia Library. Print. February 6, 1929 page 3.
  12. Web. 4th Street Pass Job Deferred, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, August 11, 1933, retrieved May 5, 2019.
  13. Web. Shirley Will Hear Group About Road, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, August 11, 1933, retrieved May 5, 2019. Print. August 11, 1933 page 1.
  14. Web. Richardson details changes to city management, Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 31, 2019, retrieved October 27, 2019.
  15. Print: McCue Bill Would Alter Election of Councilmen, Don Devore, Daily Progress, Lindsay family January 23, 1960, Page .
  16. Web. Two-Chambered City Council; Composed of Four Alderman, Eight Councilmen, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, August 11, 1916, retrieved August 11, 2016 from University of Virginia Library.
  17. Print: Burrows Proposes New Bill for Vote on Annexation, , Daily Progress, Lindsay family February , 1960, Page .
  18. Web. City Council approves resolution for organizational efficiency study, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 19, 2016, retrieved December 27, 2016.
  19. Web. Councilors, public hear from city manager finalists, Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises
  20. E-mail. Angela Tucker, City of Charlottesville, Neighborhood Development Services. "quantification of sidewalks." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. February 14, 2013.
  21. Web. Getting Oriented: Charlottesville Facts, University of Virginia School of Law, retrieved 9 July 2013.
  22. Web. City to enlist aid of 'tree advocates', Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, October 27, 2010, retrieved October 28, 2010.
  23. Web. Better Quality of Life: Thriving Tourism, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 9 July 2013.


External links