Louisa offers farmland and water recreation in Virginia’s countryside
Blue Ridge Mountain views, a small-town Main Street and proximity to Lake Anna are just a few things drawing homebuyers to Louisa, a central Virginia town that’s the seat of Louisa County. Much of the area is rural, and you can find homes on acres of farmland or on the shore of Lake Anna. A highly rated public school district and easy access to Interstate 64 round out Louisa’s offerings, attracting families and commuters looking for a quiet place to settle within an hour of Charlottesville and Richmond.
What home styles and prices you can expect in Louisa
Home styles in Louisa vary widely, but most are on an acre or more of land. Colonial and Craftsman-inspired New Traditional homes built since the 1990s are most common, and some are on spacious lots in subdivisions like Blue Ridge Shores or on Lake Anna. The median home sale price is in the upper $300,000s, below Charlottesville’s overall median and that of the nearby communities of Gordonsville, Zion Crossroads and Mineral. You can find:
- Fixer-uppers from under $100,000 to the upper $300,000s
- Ranch-style and New Traditional homes from the lower $200,000s to the upper $500,000s
- Spacious houses and Lake Anna properties from the upper $500,000s to the mid-$900,000s
Undeveloped lots are also available.
Highly rated schools with strong academics and sports
Louisa County Public Schools, which is a highly rated district, is a big draw for families in the area. “Our public school system is noteworthy,” says Lindsey McClellan, who’s sold homes in the area for six years and is a Realtor with Sunset Properties at Lake Anna brokered by Real. “We’ve received awards from the state of Virginia, especially for our high school.” Louisa County High School students can earn an associate degree alongside their high school diploma and gain hands-on work experience in fields like health care and agriculture. The school’s football team is also popular. “You go to a football game on a Friday night, and it’s like you’re at a college football game. The whole town’s there,” says Lori Noland, who’s sold homes in the area for 26 years and is the Owner of kwLakeside Real Estate.
Plenty to do at Lake Anna and in town
Lake Anna is the area’s most popular way to get outside. The lake is around 17 miles long and has two public access points: Lake Anna State Park and Pleasants Landing. “People go there to hang out for the day and enjoy the beach areas,” McClellan says. “You can swim, wakeboard, jet ski. Fishing is huge here. We have a really healthy fish population and a lot of tournaments.” In town, the 6-acre Louisa Town Park has a playground and green space, and The Greens at Tanyard Golf Club is a public 18-hole course near Main Street. The Louisa County Library hosts programs and clubs for kids and seniors, while the Louisa Art Center has plays, art classes and summer camps.
A friendly rural area with a convenient town center
Louisa is mostly rural, but there are pockets that feel a bit more suburban, such as near Lake Anna and in Blue Ridge Shores. Main Street has a small-town feel and is a place where you can run into your neighbors while running errands. “It’s just very friendly and family-oriented, just a very local atmosphere where everybody knows everybody,” Noland says. Along Main Street, you can:
- Enjoy a meal at Obrigado Restaurant or a sweet treat at Frosties Rail Stop
- Pick up groceries at Food Lion and Dollar General
- Shop at stores selling antiques, auto parts and hardware
McClellan says that wineries and breweries in the surrounding countryside are also popular hangouts. “A lot of them have live music,” she says. “It makes it more of a hangout spot when you can sit there with your friends, get a drink, listen to music and make a day of it.”
Country drives and interstate commutes
When getting around Louisa, you’re going to be driving along quiet country roads. “The only traffic you’re going to run into is either a school bus or a tractor,” Noland says. Interstate 64 passes through the southern part of the community, making it easy to get to Charlottesville and Richmond. Charlottesville is about 40 minutes away, and Downtown Richmond is about an hour away. While I-64 is the fastest route, you can avoid the interstate and take U.S. Route 33 most of the way to both places. Washington is a two-hour drive away.
Power plant and schools provide jobs while others work from home
The North Anna Power Station, a nuclear power plant on Lake Anna that’s operated by Dominion Energy, is one of the area’s biggest employers and supplies about 17% of Virginia’s power. The school system is another major employer here, and Noland says many residents work remotely or commute to work in nearby cities.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
