Albemarle County · 22932

Crozet
~20 min from UVA.

Crozet is the fastest-growing town in Western Albemarle County — a small Blue Ridge foothill community designated by the county as a growth area, anchored by the Old Trail planned village, downtown Crozet, Western Albemarle High School, Starr Hill Brewery, and surrounded by some of Virginia's most celebrated wineries.

Character

A walkable Blue Ridge foothill community that blends a historic small downtown (Piedmont Place mixed-use development, the Crozet Library, the historic train depot) with newer master-planned neighborhoods (most notably Old Trail Village). Surrounded by mountain trails, vineyards, breweries, and orchards. The community attracts families drawn to Western Albemarle's strong public schools, professionals who commute to UVA or downtown Charlottesville, and second-home owners seeking access to wine country. Population skews younger and more family-oriented than Keswick or Free Union; median age was 38.3 in the 2010 census.

History

How Crozet came to be.

Founded: Originally called 'Wayland's Crossing,' renamed in 1870 in honor of Colonel Claudius Crozet, the French-born civil engineer who directed construction of the Blue Ridge Tunnel.

Named for: Colonel Claudius Crozet — French civil engineer responsible for the Blue Ridge Tunnel. The community's cornerstone is believed to be Pleasant Green (the Ficklin-Wayland Farm), where Crozet reportedly lodged while surveying.

Population grew from 2,820 in 2000 to 5,565 in 2010 to 9,224 in the 2020 U.S. Census — a 97.3% jump 2000-2010 followed by another 65.8% 2010-2020.

Albemarle County designated Crozet as a growth area; 95% of Albemarle County overall remains rural.

The Crozet Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Starr Hill Brewery moved from Charlottesville to Crozet in 2006 and operates from the former Morton Frozen Foods plant.

Parts of the 2007 comedy 'Evan Almighty' (sequel to 'Bruce Almighty') were filmed in Crozet — the ark and the neighborhood set were built across from Western Albemarle High School on land that later became Old Trail.

Author Rita Mae Brown's 'Mrs. Murphy' mystery series is set in Crozet.

Crozet was historically a depot and shipping hub for the local apple and peach industries.

Amenities & Anchors

What anchors Crozet.

planned community golf

Old Trail Village / The Clubs at Old Trail

Planned mixed-use village on the former 'Evan Almighty' filming site. Includes the Clubs at Old Trail (golf, swim, fitness, Restoration restaurant).

park recreation

Claudius Crozet Park

22-acre community park with athletic fields, ball courts, playgrounds, dog park, pool, and fitness center.

county park

Mint Springs Valley Park

520-acre Albemarle County park (8 water acres, 1 beach acre) with seasonal swimming beach, picnic shelters, and over five miles of trails ranging from easy lakeside to strenuous mountain hikes.

brewery

Starr Hill Brewery

Award-winning Virginia craft brewery; moved to Crozet from Charlottesville in 2006.

winery

King Family Vineyards

Family-owned winery in Crozet, host to Sunday polo matches in season; one of Virginia's most-visited wineries.

brewery

Pro Re Nata Farm Brewery

Local Crozet brewery + venue with family-friendly outdoor space.

library

Crozet Library (Jefferson-Madison Regional Library)

Public library serving Crozet/Western Albemarle.

Schools

Where children go to school.

elementary · K-5

Crozet Elementary School

1407 Crozet Avenue, Crozet VA 22932. Albemarle County Public Schools. Students continue to Henley Middle and Western Albemarle High.

elementary · K-5

Brownsville Elementary School

Public elementary school serving parts of Crozet and Western Albemarle. Feeds into Henley Middle and Western Albemarle High.

elementary · K-5

Murray Elementary School

Public elementary school serving Crozet/Ivy area. Feeds into Henley Middle and Western Albemarle High.

middle · 6-8

Henley Middle School

Public middle school in Crozet. Students arrive from Brownsville, Crozet, Ivy (formerly Meriwether Lewis), or Murray Elementary, and graduate to Western Albemarle High School.

high · 9-12

Western Albemarle High School

5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet VA. Public high school serving Western Albemarle County, including Crozet.

Housing

What sells in Crozet.

Typical price range

$0.4M – $2.0M

2026

Median sale price

$535K

March 2026 · Redfin — 22932 housing market. Up 0.9% YoY. 51 homes sold in March 2026. Median price per sq ft $272.

Typical acreage

Varies widely: townhomes and small lots in Old Trail and downtown Crozet; surrounding rural parcels 5-50+ acres.

Architectural styles

Modern farmhouse · Craftsman · Contemporary traditional (Old Trail) · Historic downtown cottage · Custom estate

Common features

mountain views · front porches · Old Trail's pedestrian-friendly streets · established trees in downtown Crozet

Lifestyle

Small-town Blue Ridge foothills with growing modern amenities; family- and outdoor-oriented.

Activitieswinery and brewery visits (King Family, Pro Re Nata, Starr Hill) · hiking and biking (Mint Springs, Old Rag, Shenandoah) · golf at Old Trail · kids' sports at Claudius Crozet Park · Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival

FAQ

Frequently asked about Crozet

Crozet is known for its proximity to Blue Ridge wineries and breweries (King Family Vineyards, Pro Re Nata, Starr Hill Brewery), Western Albemarle's highly-rated public schools, the master-planned Old Trail Village, downtown's Piedmont Place mixed-use development, and being one of the fastest-growing communities in Albemarle County.

Very fast. Crozet's population went from 2,820 in 2000 to 5,565 in 2010 to 9,224 in the 2020 U.S. Census — roughly tripling in 20 years. The Crozet Master Plan allows for continued growth up to ~12,000+ residents.

No. Crozet is an unincorporated census-designated place in Albemarle County, about 12 miles west of Charlottesville along the I-64 corridor.

Crozet is served by Crozet Elementary, Brownsville Elementary, Murray Elementary, Henley Middle School, and Western Albemarle High School — all part of Albemarle County Public Schools.

The 22932 ZIP code had a median sale price of about $535K in March 2026 per Redfin, up 0.9% year-over-year. Old Trail townhomes and condos can run lower; premium custom homes and estate properties run well into seven figures.

Crozet is in Albemarle County, where the 2026 real estate tax rate is $0.894 per $100 of assessed value (per the Albemarle County government website).

Yes — parts of the 2007 comedy film 'Evan Almighty' were filmed in Crozet. The ark and the set for Evan's neighborhood were built on a plot across from Western Albemarle High School. That land later became part of the Old Trail housing subdivision.

Sources