Dillwyn's country living is balanced with access to larger cities
Before Dillwyn became an official place in Buckingham County, it was a rural area where Welsh immigrants mined for gold. While they had some success and mining companies are still in the area, Dillwyn is better known today for its rural setting full of rolling hills, working farms and locally owned businesses along U.S. Route 15. Some homes are miles apart, while those in the downtown area are right next door.
“It’s got enough going on, but you’re not in the hustle and bustle,” says Ben Manis, Realtor at Re/Max Advantage Plus- Farmville, who lives in the Buckingham County area. “You’ve got to be ready to live in a rural setting. You might give up a little convenience, but it’s worth it. It’s not quite like a big city where there are four lanes of traffic. You can go 20 miles in 20 minutes. The community knows when you’re going through something, and they help out.”
Quiet, secluded lots surrounded by trees
No matter where people live in the Dillwyn area, properties have large lots surrounded by thick trees. “We have high-speed internet,” Manis says. “There are not a lot of subdivisions. There’s no real home owners association, so it’s nice. That’s one of the first things people ask about when they move in.” Most homes have ranch-style or Cape Cod designs and sell for $170,000 to almost $425,000. Any home that sells for less than $170,000 likely needs some renovations. Farmhouses with wide front porches sold for $700,000 to $725,000, while properties with more than 200 acres of land have sold for around $1.3 million. Because the area is rural, homes run on septic tanks and well water systems.
Working close to home or in Farmville
For jobs, some residents might work locally at places like the Buckingham or Dillwyn Correctional Facilities. “We’re very rural, and we’re about 15 to 20 minutes to Farmville, an hour or so to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, depending on where people live,” Manis says. Commuters heading to Farmville have a roughly 20-mile trip down Plank Road. U.S. Route 60 leads about 65 miles east to Richmond, while South Constitution Route and Route 15 offer direct paths to Charlottesville, about 40 miles north. The Blackstone Area Bus System services Dillwyn, and the buses run from Monday to Thursday, leading from Dillwyn to Farmville and the Cumberland Courthouse. There are churches throughout the area, though many are along Route 15, like Crystal Cathedral Ministry.
Buckingham County Schools and a growing private school
Buckingham County Primary School offers prekindergarten through second-grade classes and earns a B-minus from Niche. Buckingham County Elementary School has a C-minus and classes for third through fifth-grade students. Buckingham County Middle School also receives a C-minus and feeds into the C-rated Buckingham County High School. Parents who want to send their kids to private school might choose Central Virginia Christian School, which currently has prekindergarten through eighth-grade levels. CVCS is building a high school in the area, predicting the first class to graduate will be in 2028. Construction will start in 2025, so ninth and 10th graders will be transported to a temporary campus in Farmville.
Businesses along Route 15 and Farmville dining
Dillwyn’s locally owned restaurants and shops are along Route 15. Dillwyn Dairy Freez has walk-up windows where customers can order burgers, sundaes and shakes. Pinos Italiano & Grill is a classic Italian restaurant that opens for lunch and dinner. The family-owned Spring Hollow Farm Market sells fresh-baked goods, locally grown produce and made-to-order sandwiches. Some residents might also shop at the Food Lion off South Constitution Route.
Manis mentions his favorite restaurants are in Farmville, like The Fishin’ Pig barbecue restaurant and Charlie’s Waterfront Cafe — a converted tobacco warehouse that is now a place to dine and drink. “My and my wife's favorite is the wine bar underneath Charlie's, the Virginia Tasting Cellar,” Manis says.
Exploring Ellis Acres Park or Horsepen State Wildlife Management Area
Ellis Acres Park is more than a public space to hang out on the playground or tennis courts. The park was once home to Buckingham Training School, the county's first high school for Black residents. Bird watchers, licensed hunters and fishing enthusiasts explore the Horsepen State Wildlife Management Area, where dragonflies flutter across Horsepen Lake in the summer. The Buckingham County Community Center and Public Library share a building, so residents can visit for quiet reading or to sign up for craft classes.
