Counties in Virginia by employer firm births

Fairfax County had the highest employer firm births of 130 counties in 2015, at 1,788. Surry County had the lowest, at 0. The median was 24 and the figure for Virginia was 10,095. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest1,788Fairfax County
Median24130 counties
Virginia10,095History

Map of counties, 2015

Accomack County: 29 countAlbemarle County: 148 countAlleghany County: 3 countAmelia County: 14 countAmherst County: 19 countAppomattox County: 12 countArlington County: 320 countAugusta County: 61 countBath County: 6 countBedford County: 73 countBotetourt County: 42 countBrunswick County: 10 countBuchanan County: 10 countBuckingham County: 19 countCampbell County: 51 countCaroline County: 18 countCarroll County: 15 countCharles City County: 8 countCharlotte County: 8 countChesterfield County: 408 countClarke County: 23 countCraig County: 4 countCulpeper County: 51 countCumberland County: 7 countDickenson County: 12 countDinwiddie County: 13 countEssex County: 16 countFairfax County: 1,788 countFauquier County: 105 countFloyd County: 16 countFluvanna County: 24 countFranklin County: 64 countFrederick County: 93 countGiles County: 11 countGloucester County: 37 countGoochland County: 27 countGrayson County: 5 countGreene County: 15 countHalifax County: 26 countHanover County: 134 countHenrico County: 487 countHenry County: 26 countHighland County: 5 countIsle of Wight County: 30 countJames City County: 90 countKing and Queen County: 4 countKing George County: 14 countKing William County: 23 countLancaster County: 14 countLee County: 9 countLoudoun County: 796 countLouisa County: 44 countLunenburg County: 12 countMadison County: 17 countMathews County: 4 countMecklenburg County: 36 countMiddlesex County: 15 countMontgomery County: 81 countNelson County: 14 countNew Kent County: 19 countNorthampton County: 13 countNorthumberland County: 10 countNottoway County: 17 countOrange County: 28 countPage County: 15 countPatrick County: 8 countPittsylvania County: 46 countPowhatan County: 39 countPrince Edward County: 24 countPrince George County: 16 countPrince William County: 514 countPulaski County: 23 countRappahannock County: 18 countRichmond County: 10 countRoanoke County: 103 countRockbridge County: 15 countRockingham County: 58 countRussell County: 14 countScott County: 8 countShenandoah County: 35 countSmyth County: 23 countSouthampton County: 5 countSpotsylvania County: 140 countStafford County: 122 countSurry County: 0 countTazewell County: 30 countWarren County: 35 countWashington County: 45 countWestmoreland County: 8 countWise County: 21 countWythe County: 27 countYork County: 68 countAlexandria city: 252 countBristol city: 24 countBuena Vista city: 4 countCharlottesville city: 108 countChesapeake city: 258 countColonial Heights city: 25 countCovington city: 6 countDanville city: 35 countEmporia city: 7 countFairfax city: 89 countFalls Church city: 45 countFranklin city: 9 countFredericksburg city: 57 countGalax city: 7 countHampton city: 93 countHarrisonburg city: 69 countHopewell city: 13 countLexington city: 8 countLynchburg city: 78 countManassas city: 88 countManassas Park city: 17 countMartinsville city: 14 countNewport News city: 145 countNorfolk city: 206 countNorton city: 8 countPetersburg city: 25 countPoquoson city: 11 countPortsmouth city: 60 countRadford city: 14 countRichmond city: 320 countRoanoke city: 115 countSalem city: 25 countStaunton city: 45 countSuffolk city: 74 countVirginia Beach city: 633 countWaynesboro city: 30 countWilliamsburg city: 17 countWinchester city: 82 count
  • Under 10
  • 10 to 20
  • 20 to 40
  • 40 to 90
  • 90 and over
  • No data
count, 2015. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2015

Fairfax County: 1,788 countFairfax County1,788Loudoun County: 796 countLoudoun County796Virginia Beach city: 633 countVirginia Beach city633Prince William County: 514 countPrince William County514Henrico County: 487 countHenrico County487Chesterfield County: 408 countChesterfield County408Arlington County: 320 countArlington County320Richmond city: 320 countRichmond city320Chesapeake city: 258 countChesapeake city258Alexandria city: 252 countAlexandria city252Norfolk city: 206 countNorfolk city206Albemarle County: 148 countAlbemarle County148Newport News city: 145 countNewport News city145Spotsylvania County: 140 countSpotsylvania County140Hanover County: 134 countHanover County134Stafford County: 122 countStafford County122Roanoke city: 115 countRoanoke city115Charlottesville city: 108 countCharlottesville city108Fauquier County: 105 countFauquier County105Roanoke County: 103 countRoanoke County103Frederick County: 93 countFrederick County93Hampton city: 93 countHampton city93James City County: 90 countJames City County90Fairfax city: 89 countFairfax city89Manassas city: 88 countManassas city88Winchester city: 82 countWinchester city82Montgomery County: 81 countMontgomery County81Lynchburg city: 78 countLynchburg city78Suffolk city: 74 countSuffolk city74Bedford County: 73 countBedford County73Harrisonburg city: 69 countHarrisonburg city69York County: 68 countYork County68Franklin County: 64 countFranklin County64Augusta County: 61 countAugusta County61Portsmouth city: 60 countPortsmouth city60Rockingham County: 58 countRockingham County58Fredericksburg city: 57 countFredericksburg city57Campbell County: 51 countCampbell County51Culpeper County: 51 countCulpeper County51Pittsylvania County: 46 countPittsylvania County46Fairfax County: 1,788 countFairfax County1,788Loudoun County: 796 countLoudoun County796Virginia Beach city: 633 countVirginia Beach city633Prince William County: 514 countPrince William County514Henrico County: 487 countHenrico County487Chesterfield County: 408 countChesterfield County408Arlington County: 320 countArlington County320Richmond city: 320 countRichmond city320Chesapeake city: 258 countChesapeake city258Alexandria city: 252 countAlexandria city252Norfolk city: 206 countNorfolk city206Albemarle County: 148 countAlbemarle County148Newport News city: 145 countNewport News city145Spotsylvania County: 140 countSpotsylvania County140Hanover County: 134 countHanover County134Stafford County: 122 countStafford County122Roanoke city: 115 countRoanoke city115Charlottesville city: 108 countCharlottesville city108Fauquier County: 105 countFauquier County105Roanoke County: 103 countRoanoke County103Frederick County: 93 countFrederick County93Hampton city: 93 countHampton city93James City County: 90 countJames City County90Fairfax city: 89 countFairfax city89Manassas city: 88 countManassas city88Winchester city: 82 countWinchester city82Montgomery County: 81 countMontgomery County81Lynchburg city: 78 countLynchburg city78Suffolk city: 74 countSuffolk city74Bedford County: 73 countBedford County73Harrisonburg city: 69 countHarrisonburg city69York County: 68 countYork County68Franklin County: 64 countFranklin County64Augusta County: 61 countAugusta County61Portsmouth city: 60 countPortsmouth city60Rockingham County: 58 countRockingham County58Fredericksburg city: 57 countFredericksburg city57Campbell County: 51 countCampbell County51Culpeper County: 51 countCulpeper County51Pittsylvania County: 46 countPittsylvania County46
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Full ranking

RankCounties2015
count
Change on 2014
1Fairfax County1,788+2.2%
2Loudoun County796+4.9%
3Virginia Beach city633+11.4%
4Prince William County514+3.8%
5Henrico County487+10.4%
6Chesterfield County408+3.3%
7Arlington County320-0.6%
7Richmond city320+13.5%
9Chesapeake city258-0.8%
10Alexandria city252+15.1%
11Norfolk city206+14.4%
12Albemarle County148+8%
13Newport News city145-11%
14Spotsylvania County140-1.4%
15Hanover County134-9.5%
16Stafford County122-14.1%
17Roanoke city115+7.5%
18Charlottesville city108+4.9%
19Fauquier County105+1.9%
20Roanoke County103+9.6%
21Frederick County93+29.2%
21Hampton city93-2.1%
23James City County90+2.3%
24Fairfax city89-7.3%
25Manassas city880%
26Winchester city82+24.2%
27Montgomery County81+12.5%
28Lynchburg city78-12.4%
29Suffolk city74-2.6%
30Bedford County73-17%
31Harrisonburg city69-1.4%
32York County68+6.3%
33Franklin County64+3.2%
34Augusta County61+27.1%
35Portsmouth city60-25.9%
36Rockingham County58+11.5%
37Fredericksburg city57-14.9%
38Campbell County51+2%
38Culpeper County51+8.5%
40Pittsylvania County46+48.4%
41Falls Church city45-2.2%
41Staunton city45+45.2%
41Washington County45-25%
44Louisa County44+109.5%
45Botetourt County42+82.6%
46Powhatan County390%
47Gloucester County37-5.1%
48Mecklenburg County36+44%
49Danville city35-12.5%
49Shenandoah County35-7.9%
49Warren County350%
52Isle of Wight County30-28.6%
52Tazewell County30-9.1%
52Waynesboro city30+15.4%
55Accomack County29+31.8%
56Orange County28-3.4%
57Goochland County27-15.6%
57Wythe County27+8%
59Halifax County26+13%
59Henry County26-18.8%
61Colonial Heights city25+38.9%
61Petersburg city25-7.4%
61Salem city25-16.7%
64Bristol city24+33.3%
64Fluvanna County24+9.1%
64Prince Edward County24-20%
67Clarke County23+53.3%
67King William County23+130%
67Pulaski County23-8%
67Smyth County23+35.3%
71Wise County21+40%
72Amherst County19-13.6%
72Buckingham County19+72.7%
72New Kent County190%
75Caroline County18-35.7%
75Rappahannock County18+28.6%
77Madison County17+70%
77Manassas Park city17-5.6%
77Nottoway County17+54.5%
77Williamsburg city17-19%
81Essex County16-5.9%
81Floyd County16-20%
81Prince George County16+6.7%
84Carroll County15-11.8%
84Greene County15-44.4%
84Middlesex County15+36.4%
84Page County15-31.8%
84Rockbridge County15-25%
89Amelia County14+7.7%
89King George County14-41.7%
89Lancaster County14-26.3%
89Martinsville city14+133.3%
89Nelson County14-26.3%
89Radford city14+16.7%
89Russell County14-33.3%
96Dinwiddie County13-23.5%
96Hopewell city13-38.1%
96Northampton County13-13.3%
99Appomattox County12-25%
99Dickenson County12+200%
99Lunenburg County12+9.1%
102Giles County110%
102Poquoson city11+22.2%
104Brunswick County10+42.9%
104Buchanan County10-28.6%
104Northumberland County10-28.6%
104Richmond County10+100%
108Franklin city9+12.5%
108Lee County9-40%
110Charles City County8+33.3%
110Charlotte County8-27.3%
110Lexington city8-20%
110Norton city8+33.3%
110Patrick County8+100%
110Scott County80%
110Westmoreland County8-33.3%
117Cumberland County7+40%
117Emporia city7-46.2%
117Galax city7+40%
120Bath County6n/a
120Covington city6+100%
122Grayson County5-16.7%
122Highland County5+25%
122Southampton County5-37.5%
125Buena Vista city4+33.3%
125Craig County4-20%
125King and Queen County4-63.6%
125Mathews County4-63.6%
129Alleghany County3-66.7%
130Surry County0n/a

Other periods

About this ranking

New employer firms: firms of age zero in March of the year, meaning that every establishment of the firm had its first employees during the previous twelve months. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics, which calls these firms startups.

A firm counts only when it has employees, so a business without staff is not a birth, and a new branch, merger or change of ownership of an existing firm is not a birth either. Not the same as business_applications (requests for an employer number) or enterprise_births (European business demography). The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. 3 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2015 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

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. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978 (Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015) [Data set]. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978, Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015. Dataset. Accessed October 22, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978, Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015 (Accessed: 22 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2015,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978: Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-22},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty\_fac.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-22.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978: Counties in Virginia by employer firm births, 2015
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015
Y2  - 2026/10/22
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firm-births/virginia-counties?period=2015.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty_fac.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest employer firm births?

Fairfax County, with 1,788 in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firm births?

Surry County, with 0 in 2015.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics by firm age: employer firms of age zero, all covered industries, nation, states and counties from 1978. Retrieved 2026-10-22. 3 counties have no value for 2015 and are not ranked.

Employer firm births: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings