Louisa offers farmland and water recreation in Virginia’s countryside
Blue Ridge Mountain views, a small 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. “It’s still rural, but it’s close enough to Charlottesville, Richmond and Fredericksburg, which are all within an hour of Louisa,” 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. The community formed around the Louisa Courthouse in 1742 and was home to Patrick Henry and Jack Jouett, both notable figures of the American Revolution. The town was formally established in 1873 and remains a rural stronghold even as surrounding cities and Lake Anna neighborhoods continue to grow.
A variety of housing, from farms to subdivisions
Most of Louisa’s houses sit far apart along country roads outside of town. 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. “Most of the new construction is in the subdivisions around Lake Anna, so there aren’t a tremendous number of subdivisions in the rural part of the county,” McClellan says. There are also 19th- and early 20th-century Colonial Revival and Queen Anne houses, most of which are on multiple acres of hilly farmland. Manufactured houses and undeveloped land are also available. The median home sale price is around $370,000, lower than the national median of roughly $400,000. Properties along Louisa’s many creeks and lakes can be at risk of flooding. The county also experiences a few minor earthquakes a year, most of which are too small to feel. The county’s largest recorded earthquake was in 2011 and had a magnitude of 5.8.
Fishing, boating and swimming on Lake Anna
Lake Anna, a manmade lake created in the 1970s, is the area’s most popular way to get outside. The lake is around 17 miles long and has two public areas: 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.” Most tournaments focus on bass fishing and take place each weekend from March through September. While swimming is allowed, harmful algae blooms can occasionally lead to restrictions. 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, like chess club and chair yoga, while the Louisa Art Center has plays, art classes and summer camps.
Public schools earn straight As
Kids are zoned for Louisa County Public Schools, which earn an A from Niche. “Our public school system is noteworthy,” McClellan says. “We’ve received awards from the state of Virginia, especially for our high school.” The district has four elementary schools, including Thomas Jefferson Elementary, which earns an A-minus. Louisa County Middle and Louisa County High also earn an A-minus. High schoolers can join around 30 clubs, including LC Hike, which hikes trails around the state and travels to national parks around the country.
Main Street’s stores and restaurants, and wineries throughout
A commercial district along Main Street is lined with stores selling antiques, auto parts and hardware. There are also restaurants here, like Obrigado Restaurant, which serves Mediterranean and Southern dishes. Frosties Rail Stop is a walk-up soft serve ice cream shop that’s only open from March through October. Wineries and breweries are spread throughout the community. “A lot of them have live music,” McClellan 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.” The Mineral Farmers Market offers locally grown produce; more groceries are at Food Lion and Miller’s Market.
Events celebrating the area’s agriculture and history
Each summer, the Louisa County Fair draws thousands to celebrate the area’s agriculture. The fair features livestock shows, kids’ rides and fair food. Jack Jouett Day is another annual Louisa tradition. Each June, Jack Jouett — nicknamed the Paul Revere of the South for warning Thomas Jefferson about British troops during the American Revolution — is remembered with a day of historical demonstrations and live music.
Interstate 64 provides access to nearby cities and amenities
U.S. Route 33 passes through Louisa’s town center, and Interstate 64 is nearby. Charlottesville is roughly 32 miles away, Fredericksburg is 40 miles away and Richmond is a roughly 58-mile drive. There are several churches throughout the area, including Louisa Baptist Church and New Life Community Church. Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital is about 29 miles away, and Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, which has domestic flights, is a 32-mile trip.
Near a nuclear power plant
On Lake Anna, the North Anna Power Station is a nuclear power plant that’s a major employer and supplies about 17% of Virginia’s power. Residents within a 10-mile radius are in a Protective Action Zone, which means they might be evacuated during an emergency at the station.
Written By
Annie Franklin
