Counties in Virginia by business establishments (QCEW)

Fairfax County had the highest business establishments (QCEW) of 133 counties in 2022, at 41,142. Buena Vista city had the lowest, at 149. The median was 836 and the figure for Virginia was 327,821. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest41,142Fairfax County
Median836133 counties
Virginia327,821History

Map of counties, 2022

Accomack County: 1,482 countAlbemarle County: 4,391 countAlleghany County: 497 countAmelia County: 443 countAmherst County: 871 countAppomattox County: 579 countArlington County: 10,382 countAugusta County: 2,121 countBath County: 319 countBedford County: 2,469 countBland County: 213 countBotetourt County: 1,027 countBrunswick County: 712 countBuchanan County: 645 countBuckingham County: 562 countCampbell County: 1,972 countCaroline County: 836 countCarroll County: 735 countCharles City County: 242 countCharlotte County: 639 countChesterfield County: 10,714 countClarke County: 561 countCraig County: 165 countCulpeper County: 1,684 countCumberland County: 293 countDickenson County: 369 countDinwiddie County: 608 countEssex County: 442 countFairfax County: 41,142 countFauquier County: 2,885 countFloyd County: 549 countFluvanna County: 717 countFranklin County: 1,698 countFrederick County: 2,187 countGiles County: 448 countGloucester County: 1,181 countGoochland County: 1,096 countGrayson County: 411 countGreene County: 581 countGreensville County: 340 countHalifax County: 1,121 countHanover County: 4,358 countHenrico County: 13,028 countHenry County: 1,839 countHighland County: 170 countIsle of Wight County: 994 countJames City County: 2,232 countKing and Queen County: 246 countKing George County: 716 countKing William County: 520 countLancaster County: 594 countLee County: 577 countLoudoun County: 14,965 countLouisa County: 1,156 countLunenburg County: 377 countMadison County: 498 countMathews County: 248 countMecklenburg County: 1,164 countMiddlesex County: 462 countMontgomery County: 2,624 countNelson County: 633 countNew Kent County: 594 countNorthampton County: 659 countNorthumberland County: 414 countNottoway County: 509 countOrange County: 1,056 countPage County: 638 countPatrick County: 561 countPittsylvania County: 1,535 countPowhatan County: 918 countPrince Edward County: 780 countPrince George County: 712 countPrince William County: 10,862 countPulaski County: 904 countRappahannock County: 319 countRichmond County: 280 countRoanoke County: 2,776 countRockbridge County: 610 countRockingham County: 2,098 countRussell County: 622 countScott County: 436 countShenandoah County: 1,259 countSmyth County: 948 countSouthampton County: 373 countSpotsylvania County: 3,579 countStafford County: 3,371 countSurry County: 150 countSussex County: 339 countTazewell County: 1,081 countWarren County: 1,222 countWashington County: 1,626 countWestmoreland County: 481 countWise County: 885 countWythe County: 966 countYork County: 1,766 countAlexandria city: 6,891 countBristol city: 664 countBuena Vista city: 149 countCharlottesville city: 2,692 countChesapeake city: 6,950 countColonial Heights city: 795 countCovington city: 286 countDanville city: 2,011 countEmporia city: 299 countFairfax city: 1,897 countFalls Church city: 1,099 countFranklin city: 352 countFredericksburg city: 1,824 countGalax city: 429 countHampton city: 3,229 countHarrisonburg city: 1,835 countHopewell city: 588 countLexington city: 316 countLynchburg city: 2,873 countManassas city: 1,668 countManassas Park city: 345 countMartinsville city: 1,057 countNewport News city: 4,519 countNorfolk city: 6,656 countNorton city: 237 countPetersburg city: 1,089 countPoquoson city: 284 countPortsmouth city: 1,986 countRadford city: 369 countRichmond city: 9,155 countRoanoke city: 3,669 countSalem city: 1,119 countStaunton city: 962 countSuffolk city: 2,257 countVirginia Beach city: 13,978 countWaynesboro city: 806 countWilliamsburg city: 578 countWinchester city: 1,578 count
  • Under 400
  • 400 to 600
  • 600 to 800
  • 800 to 1,300
  • 1,300 to 2,600
  • 2,600 and over
count, 2022. 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, 2022

Fairfax County: 41,142 countFairfax County41,142Loudoun County: 14,965 countLoudoun County14,965Virginia Beach city: 13,978 countVirginia Beach city13,978Henrico County: 13,028 countHenrico County13,028Prince William County: 10,862 countPrince William County10,862Chesterfield County: 10,714 countChesterfield County10,714Arlington County: 10,382 countArlington County10,382Richmond city: 9,155 countRichmond city9,155Chesapeake city: 6,950 countChesapeake city6,950Alexandria city: 6,891 countAlexandria city6,891Norfolk city: 6,656 countNorfolk city6,656Newport News city: 4,519 countNewport News city4,519Albemarle County: 4,391 countAlbemarle County4,391Hanover County: 4,358 countHanover County4,358Roanoke city: 3,669 countRoanoke city3,669Spotsylvania County: 3,579 countSpotsylvania County3,579Stafford County: 3,371 countStafford County3,371Hampton city: 3,229 countHampton city3,229Fauquier County: 2,885 countFauquier County2,885Lynchburg city: 2,873 countLynchburg city2,873Roanoke County: 2,776 countRoanoke County2,776Charlottesville city: 2,692 countCharlottesville city2,692Montgomery County: 2,624 countMontgomery County2,624Bedford County: 2,469 countBedford County2,469Suffolk city: 2,257 countSuffolk city2,257James City County: 2,232 countJames City County2,232Frederick County: 2,187 countFrederick County2,187Augusta County: 2,121 countAugusta County2,121Rockingham County: 2,098 countRockingham County2,098Danville city: 2,011 countDanville city2,011Portsmouth city: 1,986 countPortsmouth city1,986Campbell County: 1,972 countCampbell County1,972Fairfax city: 1,897 countFairfax city1,897Henry County: 1,839 countHenry County1,839Harrisonburg city: 1,835 countHarrisonburg city1,835Fredericksburg city: 1,824 countFredericksburg city1,824York County: 1,766 countYork County1,766Franklin County: 1,698 countFranklin County1,698Culpeper County: 1,684 countCulpeper County1,684Manassas city: 1,668 countManassas city1,668Fairfax County: 41,142 countFairfax County41,142Loudoun County: 14,965 countLoudoun County14,965Virginia Beach city: 13,978 countVirginia Beach city13,978Henrico County: 13,028 countHenrico County13,028Prince William County: 10,862 countPrince William County10,862Chesterfield County: 10,714 countChesterfield County10,714Arlington County: 10,382 countArlington County10,382Richmond city: 9,155 countRichmond city9,155Chesapeake city: 6,950 countChesapeake city6,950Alexandria city: 6,891 countAlexandria city6,891Norfolk city: 6,656 countNorfolk city6,656Newport News city: 4,519 countNewport News city4,519Albemarle County: 4,391 countAlbemarle County4,391Hanover County: 4,358 countHanover County4,358Roanoke city: 3,669 countRoanoke city3,669Spotsylvania County: 3,579 countSpotsylvania County3,579Stafford County: 3,371 countStafford County3,371Hampton city: 3,229 countHampton city3,229Fauquier County: 2,885 countFauquier County2,885Lynchburg city: 2,873 countLynchburg city2,873Roanoke County: 2,776 countRoanoke County2,776Charlottesville city: 2,692 countCharlottesville city2,692Montgomery County: 2,624 countMontgomery County2,624Bedford County: 2,469 countBedford County2,469Suffolk city: 2,257 countSuffolk city2,257James City County: 2,232 countJames City County2,232Frederick County: 2,187 countFrederick County2,187Augusta County: 2,121 countAugusta County2,121Rockingham County: 2,098 countRockingham County2,098Danville city: 2,011 countDanville city2,011Portsmouth city: 1,986 countPortsmouth city1,986Campbell County: 1,972 countCampbell County1,972Fairfax city: 1,897 countFairfax city1,897Henry County: 1,839 countHenry County1,839Harrisonburg city: 1,835 countHarrisonburg city1,835Fredericksburg city: 1,824 countFredericksburg city1,824York County: 1,766 countYork County1,766Franklin County: 1,698 countFranklin County1,698Culpeper County: 1,684 countCulpeper County1,684Manassas city: 1,668 countManassas city1,668
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

RankCounties2022
count
Change on 2021
1Fairfax County41,142+8.3%
2Loudoun County14,965+10.1%
3Virginia Beach city13,978+8.2%
4Henrico County13,028+7.3%
5Prince William County10,862+9%
6Chesterfield County10,714+9.1%
7Arlington County10,382+9.9%
8Richmond city9,155+10.4%
9Chesapeake city6,950+7.4%
10Alexandria city6,891+8.1%
11Norfolk city6,656+7.3%
12Newport News city4,519+7.8%
13Albemarle County4,391+12.2%
14Hanover County4,358+11.7%
15Roanoke city3,669+6.6%
16Spotsylvania County3,579+9.1%
17Stafford County3,371+10.3%
18Hampton city3,229+7.2%
19Fauquier County2,885+15.3%
20Lynchburg city2,873+5.2%
21Roanoke County2,776+6.9%
22Charlottesville city2,692+7.2%
23Montgomery County2,624+10.2%
24Bedford County2,469+8%
25Suffolk city2,257+14%
26James City County2,232+10%
27Frederick County2,187+10.5%
28Augusta County2,121+7.9%
29Rockingham County2,098+8.7%
30Danville city2,011+7.7%
31Portsmouth city1,986+6%
32Campbell County1,972+29.5%
33Fairfax city1,897+9%
34Henry County1,839+10.5%
35Harrisonburg city1,835+4.9%
36Fredericksburg city1,824+8%
37York County1,766+6.6%
38Franklin County1,698+11.2%
39Culpeper County1,684+9.4%
40Manassas city1,668+6.1%
41Washington County1,626+8.7%
42Winchester city1,578+4.6%
43Pittsylvania County1,535+8.9%
44Accomack County1,482+39.7%
45Shenandoah County1,259+7.4%
46Warren County1,222+9.8%
47Gloucester County1,181+15.6%
48Mecklenburg County1,164+8.3%
49Louisa County1,156+12.1%
50Halifax County1,121+7.8%
51Salem city1,119+6.8%
52Falls Church city1,099+6.1%
53Goochland County1,096+26.6%
54Petersburg city1,089+11.5%
55Tazewell County1,081+5%
56Martinsville city1,057+8.7%
57Orange County1,056+9.2%
58Botetourt County1,027+13.1%
59Isle of Wight County994+10.3%
60Wythe County966+6.9%
61Staunton city962+7.1%
62Smyth County948+6.9%
63Powhatan County918+7.2%
64Pulaski County904+8.1%
65Wise County885+4.9%
66Amherst County871+12.1%
67Caroline County836+35.1%
68Waynesboro city806+6.6%
69Colonial Heights city795+6.6%
70Prince Edward County780+6.3%
71Carroll County735+19.5%
72Fluvanna County717+13.6%
73King George County716+13.1%
74Brunswick County712+23.4%
74Prince George County712+6.9%
76Bristol city664+9.6%
77Northampton County659+11.3%
78Buchanan County645+22.9%
79Charlotte County639+84.1%
80Page County638+7.6%
81Nelson County633+15.9%
82Russell County622+7.2%
83Rockbridge County610+14.4%
84Dinwiddie County608+23.8%
85Lancaster County594+19.5%
85New Kent County594+11.4%
87Hopewell city588+9.5%
88Greene County581+12.8%
89Appomattox County579+20.9%
90Williamsburg city578+6.6%
91Lee County577+10.3%
92Buckingham County562+26.9%
93Clarke County561+22%
93Patrick County561+5.8%
95Floyd County549+15.3%
96King William County520+17.4%
97Nottoway County509+14.6%
98Madison County498+35.3%
99Alleghany County497+31.8%
100Westmoreland County481+11.3%
101Middlesex County462+22.9%
102Giles County448+15.8%
103Amelia County443+11.3%
104Essex County442+21.4%
105Scott County436+4.1%
106Galax city429+4.1%
107Northumberland County414+10.4%
108Grayson County411+8.7%
109Lunenburg County377+17.4%
110Southampton County373+5.1%
111Dickenson County369+15%
111Radford city369+4.8%
113Franklin city352+4.1%
114Manassas Park city345+8.2%
115Greensville County340+51.1%
116Sussex County339+29.4%
117Bath County319+81.3%
117Rappahannock County319+15.6%
119Lexington city316+7.5%
120Emporia city299+4.2%
121Cumberland County293+26.3%
122Covington city286+4%
123Poquoson city284+8.8%
124Richmond County280+11.1%
125Mathews County248+12.7%
126King and Queen County246+43%
127Charles City County242+7.6%
128Norton city237+2.6%
129Bland County213+77.5%
130Highland County170+71.7%
131Craig County165+31%
132Surry County150+10.3%
133Buena Vista city149+5.7%

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/2022/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), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/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), 2022. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022. 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), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022.

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), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_virginia_by_2022,
  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), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022. 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/2022/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), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2022/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/business-establishments/virginia-counties?period=2022.
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/2022/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 41,142 in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which county has the lowest business establishments (QCEW)?

Buena Vista city, with 149 in 2022.

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