If you combine the City and the County, Charlottesville is home to more than 150,000 people. This beautiful area is full of rich history and gorgeous landscapes (and no, I promise, I don’t have a future in writing travel brochures) but most importantly, Cville is a place with endless spots to discover.
Considering I’m a Fourth Year at the University of Virginia, I thought it was the time that I learned a little bit more about the place I’ve been calling home now for the past four years. Here are just some of the tidbits of information I learned while I was typing away on Google…
Did you know?
Charlottesville was actually named after the British Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (who eventually became Queen of all Britain/Ireland, low key, high key). She married King George III and fun fact– she was a patroness of arts and an amateur botanist. Not exactly sure what makes one an amateur botanist, but I also like flowers??
Did you also know?
Charlottesville has been home to two Presidents: Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. They both lived in Charlottesville and traveled to and from Richmond along the historic Three Notch’d Road (no, not just an amazing brewery).
Three Notch’d Road is actually famous for a lot of reasons. It was a major colonial-era Virginia road linking the east to the west and vice versa. Why three notches? Apparently, the trees along the road had three strikes on them in order for travelers to know they were heading down the right trail. Today? We just call Three Notch’d, Route 250 or Interstate 64.
One of the most epic moments that happened on this road was Jack Jouett’s midnight ride in 1781. He rode from Louisa County all the way to Charlottesville (about 40 miles) to warn of the approaching British army. And whom did Mr. Jouett warn? Our very own, Thomas Jefferson, who was just stepping down as Governor of Virginia at the time.
Quick, fun fact:
In 1987, the University of Virginia alongside Monticello was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. UVA is the only university world heritage site and is only of the three man-made sites in the United States to be internationally recognized.
Legend has it…
It’s been said that good ole’ Dr. Seuss applied three times to UVA and was rejected each and every time. After being insanely successful, he apparently sought out revenge by buying a large home in the area. Specifically selecting a home that was strategically placed in the mountains, looking down at the university that refused to accept him.
****(This fact is not exactly 100% proven, but I thought it was funny and I respect Dr. Seuss for his savage-ness.)
And now to the most important fact of them all…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson calls Charlottesville home. That is all.
OH. Also: TJ invented the swivel chair in Charlottesville. A fact that is also extremely important to know.
So, now you have a compilation of new fun facts to whip out at your next dinner party. Please, don’t thank me all at once.
