Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW)

Fairfax County had the highest business establishments (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2015, at 36,590. Craig County had the lowest, at 90. The median was 719 and the figure for Virginia was 254,270. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest36,590Fairfax County
Lowest90Craig County
Median719133 counties
Virginia254,270History

Map of counties, 2015

Accomack County: 1,079 countAlbemarle County: 3,359 countAlleghany County: 331 countAmelia County: 333 countAmherst County: 719 countAppomattox County: 418 countArlington County: 9,221 countAugusta County: 1,728 countBath County: 217 countBedford County: 2,108 countBland County: 134 countBotetourt County: 824 countBrunswick County: 548 countBuchanan County: 577 countBuckingham County: 397 countCampbell County: 1,336 countCaroline County: 523 countCarroll County: 605 countCharles City County: 215 countCharlotte County: 330 countChesterfield County: 8,473 countClarke County: 438 countCraig County: 90 countCulpeper County: 1,343 countCumberland County: 210 countDickenson County: 370 countDinwiddie County: 430 countEssex County: 361 countFairfax County: 36,590 countFauquier County: 2,402 countFloyd County: 410 countFluvanna County: 533 countFranklin County: 1,441 countFrederick County: 1,818 countGiles County: 373 countGloucester County: 959 countGoochland County: 806 countGrayson County: 364 countGreene County: 465 countGreensville County: 205 countHalifax County: 1,010 countHanover County: 3,650 countHenrico County: 10,996 countHenry County: 1,557 countHighland County: 117 countIsle of Wight County: 742 countJames City County: 1,849 countKing and Queen County: 164 countKing George County: 605 countKing William County: 383 countLancaster County: 492 countLee County: 531 countLoudoun County: 11,395 countLouisa County: 877 countLunenburg County: 282 countMadison County: 357 countMathews County: 209 countMecklenburg County: 1,052 countMiddlesex County: 365 countMontgomery County: 2,217 countNelson County: 556 countNew Kent County: 428 countNorthampton County: 563 countNorthumberland County: 349 countNottoway County: 401 countOrange County: 865 countPage County: 554 countPatrick County: 456 countPittsylvania County: 1,290 countPowhatan County: 763 countPrince Edward County: 624 countPrince George County: 587 countPrince William County: 8,870 countPulaski County: 749 countRappahannock County: 272 countRichmond County: 221 countRoanoke County: 2,425 countRockbridge County: 452 countRockingham County: 1,654 countRussell County: 631 countScott County: 434 countShenandoah County: 1,112 countSmyth County: 845 countSouthampton County: 319 countSpotsylvania County: 2,863 countStafford County: 2,555 countSurry County: 95 countSussex County: 251 countTazewell County: 1,156 countWarren County: 1,040 countWashington County: 1,538 countWestmoreland County: 367 countWise County: 975 countWythe County: 863 countYork County: 1,527 countAlexandria city: 6,553 countBristol city: 654 countBuena Vista city: 123 countCharlottesville city: 2,453 countChesapeake city: 5,879 countColonial Heights city: 732 countCovington city: 257 countDanville city: 1,642 countEmporia city: 255 countFairfax city: 1,725 countFalls Church city: 1,039 countFranklin city: 348 countFredericksburg city: 1,664 countGalax city: 389 countHampton city: 2,767 countHarrisonburg city: 1,604 countHopewell city: 496 countLexington city: 356 countLynchburg city: 2,573 countManassas city: 1,566 countManassas Park city: 283 countMartinsville city: 994 countNewport News city: 3,792 countNorfolk city: 5,758 countNorton city: 263 countPetersburg city: 865 countPoquoson city: 213 countPortsmouth city: 1,886 countRadford city: 319 countRichmond city: 7,393 countRoanoke city: 3,236 countSalem city: 1,038 countStaunton city: 852 countSuffolk city: 1,740 countVirginia Beach city: 11,744 countWaynesboro city: 687 countWilliamsburg city: 520 countWinchester city: 1,463 count
  • Under 300
  • 300 to 400
  • 400 to 700
  • 700 to 1,100
  • 1,100 to 2,200
  • 2,200 and over
count, 2015. 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, 2015

Fairfax County: 36,590 countFairfax County36,590Virginia Beach city: 11,744 countVirginia Beach city11,744Loudoun County: 11,395 countLoudoun County11,395Henrico County: 10,996 countHenrico County10,996Arlington County: 9,221 countArlington County9,221Prince William County: 8,870 countPrince William County8,870Chesterfield County: 8,473 countChesterfield County8,473Richmond city: 7,393 countRichmond city7,393Alexandria city: 6,553 countAlexandria city6,553Chesapeake city: 5,879 countChesapeake city5,879Norfolk city: 5,758 countNorfolk city5,758Newport News city: 3,792 countNewport News city3,792Hanover County: 3,650 countHanover County3,650Albemarle County: 3,359 countAlbemarle County3,359Roanoke city: 3,236 countRoanoke city3,236Spotsylvania County: 2,863 countSpotsylvania County2,863Hampton city: 2,767 countHampton city2,767Lynchburg city: 2,573 countLynchburg city2,573Stafford County: 2,555 countStafford County2,555Charlottesville city: 2,453 countCharlottesville city2,453Roanoke County: 2,425 countRoanoke County2,425Fauquier County: 2,402 countFauquier County2,402Montgomery County: 2,217 countMontgomery County2,217Bedford County: 2,108 countBedford County2,108Portsmouth city: 1,886 countPortsmouth city1,886James City County: 1,849 countJames City County1,849Frederick County: 1,818 countFrederick County1,818Suffolk city: 1,740 countSuffolk city1,740Augusta County: 1,728 countAugusta County1,728Fairfax city: 1,725 countFairfax city1,725Fredericksburg city: 1,664 countFredericksburg city1,664Rockingham County: 1,654 countRockingham County1,654Danville city: 1,642 countDanville city1,642Harrisonburg city: 1,604 countHarrisonburg city1,604Manassas city: 1,566 countManassas city1,566Henry County: 1,557 countHenry County1,557Washington County: 1,538 countWashington County1,538York County: 1,527 countYork County1,527Winchester city: 1,463 countWinchester city1,463Franklin County: 1,441 countFranklin County1,441Fairfax County: 36,590 countFairfax County36,590Virginia Beach city: 11,744 countVirginia Beach city11,744Loudoun County: 11,395 countLoudoun County11,395Henrico County: 10,996 countHenrico County10,996Arlington County: 9,221 countArlington County9,221Prince William County: 8,870 countPrince William County8,870Chesterfield County: 8,473 countChesterfield County8,473Richmond city: 7,393 countRichmond city7,393Alexandria city: 6,553 countAlexandria city6,553Chesapeake city: 5,879 countChesapeake city5,879Norfolk city: 5,758 countNorfolk city5,758Newport News city: 3,792 countNewport News city3,792Hanover County: 3,650 countHanover County3,650Albemarle County: 3,359 countAlbemarle County3,359Roanoke city: 3,236 countRoanoke city3,236Spotsylvania County: 2,863 countSpotsylvania County2,863Hampton city: 2,767 countHampton city2,767Lynchburg city: 2,573 countLynchburg city2,573Stafford County: 2,555 countStafford County2,555Charlottesville city: 2,453 countCharlottesville city2,453Roanoke County: 2,425 countRoanoke County2,425Fauquier County: 2,402 countFauquier County2,402Montgomery County: 2,217 countMontgomery County2,217Bedford County: 2,108 countBedford County2,108Portsmouth city: 1,886 countPortsmouth city1,886James City County: 1,849 countJames City County1,849Frederick County: 1,818 countFrederick County1,818Suffolk city: 1,740 countSuffolk city1,740Augusta County: 1,728 countAugusta County1,728Fairfax city: 1,725 countFairfax city1,725Fredericksburg city: 1,664 countFredericksburg city1,664Rockingham County: 1,654 countRockingham County1,654Danville city: 1,642 countDanville city1,642Harrisonburg city: 1,604 countHarrisonburg city1,604Manassas city: 1,566 countManassas city1,566Henry County: 1,557 countHenry County1,557Washington County: 1,538 countWashington County1,538York County: 1,527 countYork County1,527Winchester city: 1,463 countWinchester city1,463Franklin County: 1,441 countFranklin County1,441
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

RankCounties2015
count
Change on 2014
1Fairfax County36,590+5.3%
2Virginia Beach city11,744+5.1%
3Loudoun County11,395+8.9%
4Henrico County10,996+6.5%
5Arlington County9,221+6.5%
6Prince William County8,870+7.5%
7Chesterfield County8,473+5.7%
8Richmond city7,393+5.4%
9Alexandria city6,553+6%
10Chesapeake city5,879+4.2%
11Norfolk city5,758+4.4%
12Newport News city3,792+3.5%
13Hanover County3,650+4.2%
14Albemarle County3,359+6.9%
15Roanoke city3,236+2.8%
16Spotsylvania County2,863+6.7%
17Hampton city2,767+3.3%
18Lynchburg city2,573+3.9%
19Stafford County2,555+5.8%
20Charlottesville city2,453+6.7%
21Roanoke County2,425+5.1%
22Fauquier County2,402+5.2%
23Montgomery County2,217+3.5%
24Bedford County2,108+6.4%
25Portsmouth city1,886+3.9%
26James City County1,849+8.1%
27Frederick County1,818+5.5%
28Suffolk city1,740+6.4%
29Augusta County1,728+4.9%
30Fairfax city1,725+6.5%
31Fredericksburg city1,664+3.3%
32Rockingham County1,654+4.8%
33Danville city1,642+5.6%
34Harrisonburg city1,604+4.8%
35Manassas city1,566+6.1%
36Henry County1,557+8.3%
37Washington County1,538+1.3%
38York County1,527+2.2%
39Winchester city1,463+2.5%
40Franklin County1,441+7.1%
41Culpeper County1,343+6.4%
42Campbell County1,336+5.6%
43Pittsylvania County1,290+3.4%
44Tazewell County1,156+0.2%
45Shenandoah County1,112+4.9%
46Accomack County1,079+10.8%
47Mecklenburg County1,052+2.7%
48Warren County1,040+2.9%
49Falls Church city1,039+4.4%
50Salem city1,038+4.4%
51Halifax County1,010+3.8%
52Martinsville city994+8.2%
53Wise County975-0.1%
54Gloucester County959+2.9%
55Louisa County877+9.1%
56Orange County865+0.8%
56Petersburg city865+5.7%
58Wythe County863+0.6%
59Staunton city852+3.9%
60Smyth County845+3.3%
61Botetourt County824+4.2%
62Goochland County806+6.9%
63Powhatan County763+3.2%
64Pulaski County749+0.1%
65Isle of Wight County742+3.6%
66Colonial Heights city732+1.8%
67Amherst County719+5.3%
68Waynesboro city687+8.4%
69Bristol city654-1.1%
70Russell County631+4.6%
71Prince Edward County624+3.8%
72Carroll County605+2.7%
72King George County605+8%
74Prince George County587+3.2%
75Buchanan County577+1.9%
76Northampton County563+13.3%
77Nelson County556+4.3%
78Page County554+5.1%
79Brunswick County548+15.1%
80Fluvanna County533+8.3%
81Lee County531+6.2%
82Caroline County523+8.5%
83Williamsburg city520-2.8%
84Hopewell city496+1.8%
85Lancaster County492+2.5%
86Greene County465+10.7%
87Patrick County456+10.7%
88Rockbridge County452+1.1%
89Clarke County438+4.5%
90Scott County434+2.8%
91Dinwiddie County430+7%
92New Kent County428+4.1%
93Appomattox County418+10%
94Floyd County410+3.3%
95Nottoway County401+7.5%
96Buckingham County397+10%
97Galax city389+8.1%
98King William County383+13%
99Giles County373+4.8%
100Dickenson County370+4.8%
101Westmoreland County367+1.1%
102Middlesex County365+5.5%
103Grayson County364+3.1%
104Essex County361+6.5%
105Madison County357+8.2%
106Lexington city356+1.7%
107Northumberland County349+2.3%
108Franklin city348+4.8%
109Amelia County333+7.4%
110Alleghany County331+4.7%
111Charlotte County330+8.9%
112Radford city319+1.6%
112Southampton County319+6.3%
114Manassas Park city283+7.6%
115Lunenburg County282+9.7%
116Rappahannock County272+4.6%
117Norton city263+4.4%
118Covington city257+2.8%
119Emporia city255+4.5%
120Sussex County251+8.7%
121Richmond County221+8.3%
122Bath County217+30.7%
123Charles City County215+9.1%
124Poquoson city213+4.4%
125Cumberland County210+9.4%
126Mathews County209+4.5%
127Greensville County205+19.9%
128King and Queen County164+3.8%
129Bland County134+9.8%
130Buena Vista city123+5.1%
131Highland County117+3.5%
132Surry County95+1.1%
133Craig County90+20%

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/2015/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), 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/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), 2015. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015. 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), 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015.

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), 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2015,
  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), 2015}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015. 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/2015/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), 2015
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2015/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2015.
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/2015/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 36,590 in 2015, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest business establishments (QCEW)?

Craig County, with 90 in 2015.

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