Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW)

Fairfax County had the highest business establishments (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2014, at 34,763. Craig County had the lowest, at 75. The median was 683 and the figure for Virginia was 240,112. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest34,763Fairfax County
Lowest75Craig County
Median683133 counties
Virginia240,112History

Map of counties, 2014

Accomack County: 974 countAlbemarle County: 3,141 countAlleghany County: 316 countAmelia County: 310 countAmherst County: 683 countAppomattox County: 380 countArlington County: 8,661 countAugusta County: 1,647 countBath County: 166 countBedford County: 1,982 countBland County: 122 countBotetourt County: 791 countBrunswick County: 476 countBuchanan County: 566 countBuckingham County: 361 countCampbell County: 1,265 countCaroline County: 482 countCarroll County: 589 countCharles City County: 197 countCharlotte County: 303 countChesterfield County: 8,013 countClarke County: 419 countCraig County: 75 countCulpeper County: 1,262 countCumberland County: 192 countDickenson County: 353 countDinwiddie County: 402 countEssex County: 339 countFairfax County: 34,763 countFauquier County: 2,284 countFloyd County: 397 countFluvanna County: 492 countFranklin County: 1,346 countFrederick County: 1,723 countGiles County: 356 countGloucester County: 932 countGoochland County: 754 countGrayson County: 353 countGreene County: 420 countGreensville County: 171 countHalifax County: 973 countHanover County: 3,504 countHenrico County: 10,326 countHenry County: 1,438 countHighland County: 113 countIsle of Wight County: 716 countJames City County: 1,710 countKing and Queen County: 158 countKing George County: 560 countKing William County: 339 countLancaster County: 480 countLee County: 500 countLoudoun County: 10,467 countLouisa County: 804 countLunenburg County: 257 countMadison County: 330 countMathews County: 200 countMecklenburg County: 1,024 countMiddlesex County: 346 countMontgomery County: 2,142 countNelson County: 533 countNew Kent County: 411 countNorthampton County: 497 countNorthumberland County: 341 countNottoway County: 373 countOrange County: 858 countPage County: 527 countPatrick County: 412 countPittsylvania County: 1,248 countPowhatan County: 739 countPrince Edward County: 601 countPrince George County: 569 countPrince William County: 8,254 countPulaski County: 748 countRappahannock County: 260 countRichmond County: 204 countRoanoke County: 2,308 countRockbridge County: 447 countRockingham County: 1,578 countRussell County: 603 countScott County: 422 countShenandoah County: 1,060 countSmyth County: 818 countSouthampton County: 300 countSpotsylvania County: 2,683 countStafford County: 2,416 countSurry County: 94 countSussex County: 231 countTazewell County: 1,154 countWarren County: 1,011 countWashington County: 1,518 countWestmoreland County: 363 countWise County: 976 countWythe County: 858 countYork County: 1,494 countAlexandria city: 6,183 countBristol city: 661 countBuena Vista city: 117 countCharlottesville city: 2,299 countChesapeake city: 5,643 countColonial Heights city: 719 countCovington city: 250 countDanville city: 1,555 countEmporia city: 244 countFairfax city: 1,620 countFalls Church city: 995 countFranklin city: 332 countFredericksburg city: 1,611 countGalax city: 360 countHampton city: 2,678 countHarrisonburg city: 1,531 countHopewell city: 487 countLexington city: 350 countLynchburg city: 2,476 countManassas city: 1,476 countManassas Park city: 263 countMartinsville city: 919 countNewport News city: 3,662 countNorfolk city: 5,515 countNorton city: 252 countPetersburg city: 818 countPoquoson city: 204 countPortsmouth city: 1,816 countRadford city: 314 countRichmond city: 7,014 countRoanoke city: 3,148 countSalem city: 994 countStaunton city: 820 countSuffolk city: 1,636 countVirginia Beach city: 11,169 countWaynesboro city: 634 countWilliamsburg city: 535 countWinchester city: 1,428 count
  • Under 300
  • 300 to 400
  • 400 to 700
  • 700 to 1,100
  • 1,100 to 2,100
  • 2,100 and over
count, 2014. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2014

Fairfax County: 34,763 countFairfax County34,763Virginia Beach city: 11,169 countVirginia Beach city11,169Loudoun County: 10,467 countLoudoun County10,467Henrico County: 10,326 countHenrico County10,326Arlington County: 8,661 countArlington County8,661Prince William County: 8,254 countPrince William County8,254Chesterfield County: 8,013 countChesterfield County8,013Richmond city: 7,014 countRichmond city7,014Alexandria city: 6,183 countAlexandria city6,183Chesapeake city: 5,643 countChesapeake city5,643Norfolk city: 5,515 countNorfolk city5,515Newport News city: 3,662 countNewport News city3,662Hanover County: 3,504 countHanover County3,504Roanoke city: 3,148 countRoanoke city3,148Albemarle County: 3,141 countAlbemarle County3,141Spotsylvania County: 2,683 countSpotsylvania County2,683Hampton city: 2,678 countHampton city2,678Lynchburg city: 2,476 countLynchburg city2,476Stafford County: 2,416 countStafford County2,416Roanoke County: 2,308 countRoanoke County2,308Charlottesville city: 2,299 countCharlottesville city2,299Fauquier County: 2,284 countFauquier County2,284Montgomery County: 2,142 countMontgomery County2,142Bedford County: 1,982 countBedford County1,982Portsmouth city: 1,816 countPortsmouth city1,816Frederick County: 1,723 countFrederick County1,723James City County: 1,710 countJames City County1,710Augusta County: 1,647 countAugusta County1,647Suffolk city: 1,636 countSuffolk city1,636Fairfax city: 1,620 countFairfax city1,620Fredericksburg city: 1,611 countFredericksburg city1,611Rockingham County: 1,578 countRockingham County1,578Danville city: 1,555 countDanville city1,555Harrisonburg city: 1,531 countHarrisonburg city1,531Washington County: 1,518 countWashington County1,518York County: 1,494 countYork County1,494Manassas city: 1,476 countManassas city1,476Henry County: 1,438 countHenry County1,438Winchester city: 1,428 countWinchester city1,428Franklin County: 1,346 countFranklin County1,346Fairfax County: 34,763 countFairfax County34,763Virginia Beach city: 11,169 countVirginia Beach city11,169Loudoun County: 10,467 countLoudoun County10,467Henrico County: 10,326 countHenrico County10,326Arlington County: 8,661 countArlington County8,661Prince William County: 8,254 countPrince William County8,254Chesterfield County: 8,013 countChesterfield County8,013Richmond city: 7,014 countRichmond city7,014Alexandria city: 6,183 countAlexandria city6,183Chesapeake city: 5,643 countChesapeake city5,643Norfolk city: 5,515 countNorfolk city5,515Newport News city: 3,662 countNewport News city3,662Hanover County: 3,504 countHanover County3,504Roanoke city: 3,148 countRoanoke city3,148Albemarle County: 3,141 countAlbemarle County3,141Spotsylvania County: 2,683 countSpotsylvania County2,683Hampton city: 2,678 countHampton city2,678Lynchburg city: 2,476 countLynchburg city2,476Stafford County: 2,416 countStafford County2,416Roanoke County: 2,308 countRoanoke County2,308Charlottesville city: 2,299 countCharlottesville city2,299Fauquier County: 2,284 countFauquier County2,284Montgomery County: 2,142 countMontgomery County2,142Bedford County: 1,982 countBedford County1,982Portsmouth city: 1,816 countPortsmouth city1,816Frederick County: 1,723 countFrederick County1,723James City County: 1,710 countJames City County1,710Augusta County: 1,647 countAugusta County1,647Suffolk city: 1,636 countSuffolk city1,636Fairfax city: 1,620 countFairfax city1,620Fredericksburg city: 1,611 countFredericksburg city1,611Rockingham County: 1,578 countRockingham County1,578Danville city: 1,555 countDanville city1,555Harrisonburg city: 1,531 countHarrisonburg city1,531Washington County: 1,518 countWashington County1,518York County: 1,494 countYork County1,494Manassas city: 1,476 countManassas city1,476Henry County: 1,438 countHenry County1,438Winchester city: 1,428 countWinchester city1,428Franklin County: 1,346 countFranklin County1,346
count. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2014
count
Change on 2013
1Fairfax County34,763-0.1%
2Virginia Beach city11,169-0.1%
3Loudoun County10,467+2.9%
4Henrico County10,326+1.2%
5Arlington County8,661-0.4%
6Prince William County8,254+2.7%
7Chesterfield County8,013+1.4%
8Richmond city7,014+0.1%
9Alexandria city6,183-0.7%
10Chesapeake city5,643-0.1%
11Norfolk city5,515-1.3%
12Newport News city3,662-0.3%
13Hanover County3,504+0.1%
14Roanoke city3,148-0.7%
15Albemarle County3,141+1.3%
16Spotsylvania County2,683+1.4%
17Hampton city2,678+0.7%
18Lynchburg city2,476+0.2%
19Stafford County2,416+1.6%
20Roanoke County2,308+0.6%
21Charlottesville city2,299-0.4%
22Fauquier County2,284-0.2%
23Montgomery County2,142-0.3%
24Bedford County1,982+20%
25Portsmouth city1,816-0.9%
26Frederick County1,723+2.3%
27James City County1,710+0.9%
28Augusta County1,647+0.9%
29Suffolk city1,636+0.4%
30Fairfax city1,620+0.1%
31Fredericksburg city1,611-0.8%
32Rockingham County1,578+0.5%
33Danville city1,555+0.8%
34Harrisonburg city1,531-1.7%
35Washington County1,518-1.7%
36York County1,494-1.7%
37Manassas city1,476+0.8%
38Henry County1,438+8.3%
39Winchester city1,428+1.6%
40Franklin County1,346+1.2%
41Campbell County1,265+1.9%
42Culpeper County1,262+1.7%
43Pittsylvania County1,248+1.5%
44Tazewell County1,154-3.1%
45Shenandoah County1,060-0.3%
46Mecklenburg County1,024+2.4%
47Warren County1,011+0.2%
48Falls Church city995+2.3%
49Salem city994-0.4%
50Wise County976-3.4%
51Accomack County974+2.7%
52Halifax County973+0.4%
53Gloucester County932-1.9%
54Martinsville city919+4.4%
55Orange County858-1.8%
55Wythe County858-1.8%
57Staunton city820-1.1%
58Petersburg city818-2.9%
58Smyth County818-0.4%
60Louisa County804+4.4%
61Botetourt County791-1.4%
62Goochland County7540%
63Pulaski County748-0.1%
64Powhatan County739+0.4%
65Colonial Heights city719+1.1%
66Isle of Wight County716-1.1%
67Amherst County683-1.3%
68Bristol city661-2.2%
69Waynesboro city634+2.1%
70Russell County603-1%
71Prince Edward County601+1.3%
72Carroll County589+0.3%
73Prince George County569+2%
74Buchanan County566-1.7%
75King George County560+1.6%
76Williamsburg city535-2.6%
77Nelson County533+3.1%
78Page County527+1.5%
79Lee County500+3.1%
80Northampton County497+4.4%
81Fluvanna County492-0.4%
82Hopewell city487-2.4%
83Caroline County482+1.7%
84Lancaster County480-0.2%
85Brunswick County476+6%
86Rockbridge County447-0.4%
87Scott County422+0.5%
88Greene County420+1.9%
89Clarke County419-5%
90Patrick County412+0.5%
91New Kent County411-0.7%
92Dinwiddie County402-1.7%
93Floyd County397-1.5%
94Appomattox County380+4.1%
95Nottoway County373+0.3%
96Westmoreland County363-2.4%
97Buckingham County361+3.4%
98Galax city3600%
99Giles County356-2.7%
100Dickenson County353-1.1%
100Grayson County353-1.4%
102Lexington city350-3.6%
103Middlesex County346-4.9%
104Northumberland County341-5.5%
105Essex County339+0.3%
105King William County339+0.9%
107Franklin city332+1.5%
108Madison County330+0.3%
109Alleghany County316-2.5%
110Radford city314-3.7%
111Amelia County310-0.6%
112Charlotte County303+1.3%
113Southampton County300+2.4%
114Manassas Park city263-1.1%
115Rappahannock County260-0.8%
116Lunenburg County257+0.8%
117Norton city252-1.9%
118Covington city250-1.6%
119Emporia city2440%
120Sussex County231-1.3%
121Poquoson city204-6.8%
121Richmond County204-1.4%
123Mathews County200-3.4%
124Charles City County197+6.5%
125Cumberland County192+3.8%
126Greensville County1710%
127Bath County166-0.6%
128King and Queen County158-0.6%
129Bland County122+1.7%
130Buena Vista city117-5.6%
131Highland County113-2.6%
132Surry County94-5.1%
133Craig County75+1.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of establishments with jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. An establishment is a single place of business, such as a factory, store or office; a company with several locations has several.

Counts places of business, not firms: for firms use employer_firms. Changes in how large employers report their locations can move the count without any change in activity.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2014,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW), 2014
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2014.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2014/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest business establishments (QCEW)?

Fairfax County, with 34,763 in 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest business establishments (QCEW)?

Craig County, with 75 in 2014.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average establishments, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Business establishments (QCEW): other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings