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Scottsville VA


Scottsville Virginia
“Crossroads of History and Community on the James River”



Town of Scottsville VA

Scottsville is located in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains in Albemarle and Fluvanna counties, 20 minutes south of Charlottesville. Scottsville is a historic river town in an area known as the “Horsehoe Bend” near the most northern part of the James River. Scottsville has a variety of things to do such as attractions, tours, downtown architecture a museum, Civil War History, a handful of locally owned restaurants to fit your taste, three vineyards, a brewery, bed and breakfasts, music venues, farmers market, river outfitters, antique shops hiking trails, fishing trips, wildlife tours, campgrounds and vacation rentals. Scottsville is a great day trip or week long vacation south of Charlottesville.


History of Scottsville VA

Scottsville was founded in 1774 on the Horsehoe Bend of the James River in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Scottsville Virginia was the center of the government and trade during the 1700s when rivers were the primary form of travel and transportation. Scottsville was the largest river town on the route of the James River and Kanawha Canal. The goal of the river and canal project was to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Ohio River via the Kanawha River. The goal was interrupted by the Civil War and the introduction of railroads. The project did succeed in making Scottsville Virginia a bust town of wealth and trade. In addition to the river a wagon road from Staunton to Scottsville brought the agricultural wealth of the Shenandoah Valley on route to Richmond. Scottsville became the largest grain market in the state of Virginia.


  • Scottsville Museum
  • Dorrier Park
  • Hardware Riverlife Management
  • Totier Reservoir Park
  • Batteau Festival


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