Culpeper, Virginia

Culpeper
Town
Main Street in Downtown Culpeper Historic Culpeper Train Depot Lord Culpeper Hotel Regal Culpeper Theater Downtown Culpeper view A. P. Hill Boyhood Home Slaughter–Hill House
Seal
Motto(s):  "Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future"
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Coordinates: 38°28′19″N 77°59′57″W / 38.47194°N 77.99917°W / 38.47194; -77.99917
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Culpeper
Founded	1759
Government
• Mayor	Frank Reaves Jr. (Ind.)
Area [1]
• Town	7.32 sq mi (18.96 km2)
• Land	7.28 sq mi (18.85 km2)
• Water	0.042 sq mi (0.11 km2)
• Urban	9.4 sq mi (24 km2)
Elevation	413 ft (126 m)
Population  (2020)[2]
• Town	20,062
• Estimate  (2025)	21,575
• Density	2,756/sq mi (1,064.2/km2)
• Urban	22,834
• Urban density	2,436/sq mi (941/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	22701, 22735
Area code	540
FIPS code	51-20752[3]
Major Roadways
Airport	Culpeper Regional Airport
Website	www.culpeperva.gov

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. At the 2020 United States Census, the population was 20,062, an increase from 16,379 in 2010. Its growth has been influenced by the town's location along U.S. Route 15, U.S. Route 29, and U.S. Route 522, as well as its rail and bus connections and proximity to the Washington metropolitan area.^[5]

The town was laid out in 1749 by a young George Washington while working as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax, and formally established in 1759 by the Virginia House of Burgesses under the name Fairfax.^[6] During the American Revolutionary War, the Culpeper Minutemen militia organized here in 1775.^[7] In the American Civil War, Culpeper was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces due to its strategic position along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and the surrounding county saw engagements including the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry battle of the war.^[8]

In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Culpeper grew as a regional rail and market center. A major cultural landmark is the Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation, opened by the Library of Congress in 1997 on the site of a former Federal Reserve facility.^[9] The town's historic core, including East Davis Street, has been recognized for preservation and revitalization, with the American Planning Association naming it one of "America's Great Places" in 2011.^[10] Culpeper has also been affected by modern events such as the 2011 Virginia earthquake, which damaged downtown structures,^[11] and recent technology-related investment, including data centers within the Culpeper Technology Zone.^[12]

After Culpeper County was established in 1748, the Virginia House of Burgesses voted on February 22, 1759, to create the Town of Fairfax. The name honored Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781),^[13] the proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia, which included a large tract of land between the Rappahannock River and the Potomac River.

The original plan for the town included ten blocks, which form part of the current downtown area. In 1749, the layout was surveyed by a young George Washington while employed by Lord Fairfax.^[14][15]

Culpeper County was formed from Orange County by act of the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1748, effective May 17, 1749. It initially included what are now Madison and Rappahannock counties in addition to its current area.^[16]

After the county was organized, the Town of Fairfax was authorized in 1759 by the Virginia House of Burgesses as the town seat.^[17][18]

The town was commonly known as "Culpeper Court House" to distinguish it from other places called Fairfax. The official name of "Culpeper" was adopted later, in part to resolve confusion.^[19]

During the American Revolutionary War, the Culpeper Minutemen, a local militia company, organized in 1775 at a location known as "Clayton's Old Field," now the site of Yowell Meadow Park. The unit was part of Virginia's early revolutionary efforts and later participated in engagements such as the Battle of Great Bridge.^[20]

During the American Civil War, Culpeper became a key location due to its position along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and proximity to major river crossings. Both Union and Confederate armies occupied the town at different times between 1861 and 1865. The surrounding county was the site of several military operations, including the Battle of Kelly's Ford and the Battle of Brandy Station, the latter being the largest cavalry engagement of the war.^[21] The Battle of Culpeper Court House occurred nearby on September 13, 1863.^[22]

Notable figures with connections to the town include Confederate General A.P. Hill, who was born there, and Major John Pelham, who died in Culpeper following wounds sustained at Kelly's Ford.^[23]

Following the war, the town was rechartered under the name Culpeper in 1869. The postwar period included efforts to restore agriculture and infrastructure. Freedpeople established churches and schools during Reconstruction, and new civic institutions developed through the late 19th century.^[24]

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Culpeper served as a regional market center and stop along major rail lines. After a courthouse fire in 1870 destroyed many public records, new construction contributed to the town’s architectural development. By 1900, the town featured hotels, banks, a telegraph office, and multiple newspapers.^[25] Civic life expanded during the early 20th century, and by the 1970s the town supported organizations such as a Choral Society, an Odd Fellows Hall, and an American Legion Hall.^[26]

Growth accelerated in the late 20th century as commuters from Northern Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area increasingly relocated to Culpeper. Residential development and new infrastructure accompanied this shift, and in 1997 the Library of Congress opened the National Audiovisual Conservation Center at a former Federal Reserve facility southeast of town.^[27] Revitalization efforts continued into the 21st century, with East Davis Street recognized in 2011 by the American Planning Association as one of "America’s Great Places" for its preserved architecture and role in downtown renewal.^[28]

On August 23, 2011, Culpeper was among the communities affected by the 2011 Virginia earthquake. Several structures on Main Street and East Davis Street sustained damage, and some were later condemned.^[29] The National Audiovisual Conservation Center was temporarily evacuated during a public event hosted by U.S. Senator Mark Warner.^[30]

In 2014, the Museum of Culpeper History relocated to the town’s historic train depot.^[31] In 2024, the state of Virginia formally opened Culpeper Battlefields State Park, encompassing parts of the Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain battlefields.^[32]

As of 2025, the county government has undertaken capital projects such as the construction of a new fieldhouse, alongside additional infrastructure and environmental initiatives.^[33] Tourism has also expanded, with direct visitor spending reaching $77.9 million in 2024.^[34] The town's Department of Tourism and Economic Development has supported local businesses through investment grants and initiatives such as "Be a Culpeper Local Week".^[35]

Culpeper has also drawn national attention for balancing preservation with modern growth. While the establishment of the Culpeper Technology Zone and proposed data center and solar developments have contributed to the local economy, preservation groups have raised concerns about the impact of such projects on historic battlefield landscapes.^[36] In August 2025, the county's Department of Economic Development received six Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council.^[37]

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. 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 mile (0.2 km²), or 1.52%, is water.^[38]

Culpeper’s terrain is characterized by rolling hills within the Piedmont Plateau, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Elevation ranges from about 300 feet in the east to nearly 600 feet in the west. The county is bounded by the Rappahannock River to the north and the Rapidan River to the south.^[39]

Residential and cultural life centers around a number of historic and modern neighborhoods. The area known as “Fishtown,” located along Commerce Street, Waters Place, and Locust Street, developed as a business and residential district with a strong African American community presence. Nearby enclaves included Tin Cup Alley, Whipple Alley, Slabtown, Jeffrey Town, and Sugar Bottom.^[40]

The central business district is largely encompassed by the Culpeper Historic District, a 50-acre area established in 1982 to preserve the town’s architectural and historic character. Buildings within the district are subject to review by the town’s Architectural Review Board for exterior changes visible from public streets.^[41] Within downtown, “The Wharf,” at the lower end of East Davis Street, historically served as a center for freight, services, and commercial activity, complementing the residential and business mix of Fishtown.^[42]

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).

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.^[48]

Recent years have seen proposals for large data center developments, drawing both interest and local opposition.^[49]

Retail hubs like Culpeper Colonnade also contribute significantly to local employment.^[50]

Culpeper has experienced growth in its technology sector, supported by improvements in broadband infrastructure and local government initiatives aimed at encouraging digital innovation.^[51]

In 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS), via its subsidiary Marvell Developments, purchased land in Culpeper for eventual data center construction.^[52] The news caused concern among residents because of the project's potential environmental effect and alteration of the town's rural nature.^[53] A number of public meetings and protests were organized, with citizens speaking out against noise, light pollution, and pressure on public utilities.^{[citation needed]}

Despite public concern, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors approved the zoning changes required for the project.^[54] As of 2025, construction has not yet begun.

Historical population

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[55]

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the town of Culpeper had a population of 20,062.^[55] The racial makeup was 49.3% White (non-Hispanic), 17.3% Black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.8% Native American or other races, and 5.4% identifying as two or more races. Individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.9% of the total population.^[56]

The age distribution in Culpeper showed 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% aged 65 and older, with a median age of 34 years.^[57]

According to the 2019–2023 American Community Survey, the median household income in Culpeper was $88,702, and the per capita income was $36,327. Approximately 12.4% of residents were living below the poverty line.^[58]

Culpeper hosts several arts and cultural programs, particularly centered in its downtown area. Culpeper Renaissance, Inc., a nonprofit organization, has coordinated public art initiatives such as the Culpeper Downtown Walls Mural Program. Murals include “The Surveyor,” depicting George Washington, and “The Trailblazers,” featuring African American community leaders. In 2024, the initiative expanded to include painted utility boxes throughout the historic district.^[59][60]

The Pitts Theatre, an Art Deco structure built in the late 1930s, was reopened in 2013 as a performing arts venue but closed again in 2016. Its facade remains preserved.^[61]

The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio‑Visual Conservation, located outside town, offers free film screenings to the public.^[62][63]

Annual events in the area include Culpeperpalooza, a music and vendor festival held in April at Mountain Run Winery. The 2025 event featured multiple bands and supported regional nonprofits.^[64] Other recurring events include farmers’ markets and concerts held in the downtown district.^[65]

The Museum of Culpeper History, located in the town's historic train depot, provides exhibits and tours on local history, including the colonial period and the Civil War.^[66] Additional historical sites include the Burgandine House and Culpeper Battlefields State Park.^[67]

Culpeper hosts a range of organized sports activities, from youth leagues to summer collegiate baseball and regional tournaments.

Culpeper County Parks & Recreation oversees both youth and adult league sports programming, operating at facilities such as the Culpeper Sports Complex and the Fieldhouse. Offerings include baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, pickleball and cheerleading, with clinics and youth camps available year‑round.^[68][69]

The Culpeper Sports Complex, which opened in 2006, receives over 350,000 visitors annually and features multiple athletic fields, including soccer, football, little league baseball, softball and lacrosse. In 2022, LED lighting was installed for enhanced evening use of 14 athletic fields.^[69]

Youth football and cheerleading are organized on a recreational basis by the Culpeper Football Association (CFA), which began operations in 2004 and has grown from approximately 250 participants to over 700 in later years.^[70]

At the high school level, Culpeper County High School athletic teams known as the Blue Devils compete in basketball, football, baseball, volleyball, soccer, softball, wrestling, lacrosse and other sports within the Virginia High School League’s Battlefield District (Class 3). The basketball team regularly participates in postseason play, including matchups in the Class 3 Region B tournament.^[71][72]

In summer collegiate baseball, the Culpeper Cavaliers joined the Valley Baseball League in 2023. The league, sanctioned by the NCAA and supported by Major League Baseball, features college-level athletes competing across the Shenandoah Valley region.^[73][74]

Recreational sports are also supported by facilities such as PATH Recreation & Fitness Center (Fieldhouse) and Culpeper Recreation Club. The Fieldhouse includes indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, as well as batting cages.^[75] Culpeper Recreation Club operates a pool and courts for tennis, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and a summer swim team known as the Barnstormers.^[76]

The Culpeper Star-Exponent is a long-running newspaper, founded in 1881 as the Culpeper Exponent and merged with the Virginia Star in 1953. As of 2023, it is published three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) in broadsheet format and is owned by Lee Enterprises.^[77] A Lee Enterprises annual filing reported a print circulation of approximately 2,986 daily and 2,917 Sunday before the change.^[78]

Another notable publication is the Culpeper Times, a weekly tabloid founded in 1889. It is owned by Rappahannock Media LLC, with a print circulation around 5,000 copies, and digital availability through the InsideNoVa platform.^[79]

Local radio is anchored by several stations. WJMA (103.1 FM) is a country music station licensed to Culpeper, operated by Piedmont Communications since its debut on December 4, 1971.^[80] WCVA (1490 AM / 95.3 FM) broadcasts classic hits and was first launched in 1949, also under Piedmont Communications ownership.^[81] Additionally, WVCV (1340 AM), though licensed to Orange, Virginia, simulcasts WJMA’s country format and serves Culpeper listeners.^[82]

• 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?!"^[83][84]
• 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.^[85]
• 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.^[86] The incident led to the arrest of the driver and drew local attention to tensions surrounding the protest movement.^[87]

Culpeper is governed by a nine-member Town Council, consisting of a Mayor and eight Council Members, all elected at-large to four-year terms.^[88] The Council appoints a Town Manager, who serves as the chief administrative officer and oversees the daily operations of the town. The Council also appoints the Town Attorney and Town Clerk.

Council meetings are held regularly on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM in the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room.^[88]

As of 2025, the members of the Town Council are:^[89]

Position	Name
Mayor	Frank Reaves Jr.
Vice Mayor	William M. Yowell
Council Member	B. Travis Brown
Council Member	Jamie Dyke
Council Member	Michael T. Olinger
Council Member	Meaghan Taylor
Council Member	Jon Russell
Council Member	Keith Price
Council Member	Pranas S. Rimeikis

Culpeper County, including the Town of Culpeper, has historically leaned Republican in state and federal elections. The last time a Democratic presidential candidate carried the county was in 1964.^[90] In the 2020 presidential election, approximately 62% of county voters supported Donald Trump, while about 36% supported Joe Biden.^[91]

Culpeper is part of Virginia's 7th congressional district, represented by Democrat Eugene Vindman as of 2025. In the Virginia General Assembly, the town is represented by Republicans in both the House of Delegates and State Senate.^[92]

Culpeper is served by the Culpeper County Public Schools district, which covers all public K–12 education in Culpeper County.^[93] Within the town limits are several public elementary and middle schools such as Floyd T. Binns Middle, Farmington, Sycamore Park, and Yowell Elementary, while county residents outside town attend schools including A.G. Richardson, Emerald Hill, and Pearl Sample elementary schools, along with Culpeper Middle School.

High school students attend one of two public high schools: Culpeper County High School or Eastern View High School, depending on zoning. The Culpeper Technical Education Center (CTEC) opened in 2021 adjacent to Germanna Community College’s Daniel Technology Center provides vocational and technical programs to students from both high schools, offering hands‑on training and industry credentials in fields like automotive, carpentry, cybersecurity, culinary arts, healthcare, HVAC/R, EMT, and emergency services.^[94][95]

In addition to public schooling, Culpeper County has several private and faith-based institutions such as Culpeper Christian School and Epiphany Catholic School serving pre‑K through high school students with religious-based curricula and smaller class sizes.^[96]

• William T. Amiger (1870–1929), educator, college president, Baptist minister; born in Culpeper^[97][98]
• 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^[99]
• 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
• George M. Lightfoot (1868–1947) educator, classics scholar^[100][101]
• 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
• Maliq Brown - (b. 2003) college basketball player

• Official website
• Culpeper Chamber of Commerce