Crozet real estate is an impressive bargain in the Charlottesville area. Located in Albemarle County, Crozet is a small town (about 3,000 people) known particularly for its orchards. Crozet real estate is charming and, on the average, affordable for families and younger couples.

Crozet is about 15 miles out of Charlottesville, and thus within commuting distance of the University of Virginia and its affiliate hospitals. It is now a popular area for younger professionals and academics with a rising median income and a falling median age. The public school system is strong, and Crozet also hosts a private high school, the Miller School.

The Origins of Crozet Real Estate

The Crozet township grew around a rail stop established in 1876. It was named for Colonel B. Claudius Crozet, a civil engineer who came to the United States in 1816 and taught the first college course in descriptive geometry at VMI. Crozet was best remembered as the Chief Engineer who built the seventeen mile Blue Ridge Railroad and the record-breaking Blue Ridge tunnel--4,273 feet long and made entirely by manual drilling.

The development of the orchard industry in western Albemarle County provided the impetus for growth in Crozet. As the fruit industry has grown, Crozet came to be known as the "Peach Capital of Virginia." Several nearby orchards make for charming day trips and increase tourist revenue. They also allow for more opportunities for business in Crozet real estate.