Counties in Virginia by employer firms

Fairfax County had the highest employer firms of 133 counties in 2013, at 21,467. Craig County had the lowest, at 44. The median was 496 and the figure for Virginia was 133,192. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest21,467Fairfax County
Lowest44Craig County
Median496133 counties
Virginia133,192History

Map of counties, 2013

Accomack County: 597 countAlbemarle County: 2,142 countAlleghany County: 246 countAmelia County: 240 countAmherst County: 506 countAppomattox County: 259 countArlington County: 4,258 countAugusta County: 1,192 countBath County: 111 countBedford County: 1,414 countBland County: 71 countBotetourt County: 603 countBrunswick County: 237 countBuchanan County: 375 countBuckingham County: 215 countCampbell County: 975 countCaroline County: 313 countCarroll County: 352 countCharles City County: 122 countCharlotte County: 193 countChesterfield County: 5,303 countClarke County: 315 countCraig County: 44 countCulpeper County: 855 countCumberland County: 130 countDickenson County: 181 countDinwiddie County: 312 countEssex County: 262 countFairfax County: 21,467 countFauquier County: 1,616 countFloyd County: 289 countFluvanna County: 331 countFranklin County: 994 countFrederick County: 1,197 countGiles County: 238 countGloucester County: 733 countGoochland County: 574 countGrayson County: 141 countGreene County: 285 countGreensville County: 80 countHalifax County: 622 countHanover County: 2,674 countHenrico County: 6,546 countHenry County: 714 countHighland County: 80 countIsle of Wight County: 579 countJames City County: 1,326 countKing and Queen County: 99 countKing George County: 382 countKing William County: 278 countLancaster County: 402 countLee County: 246 countLoudoun County: 7,042 countLouisa County: 475 countLunenburg County: 153 countMadison County: 240 countMathews County: 159 countMecklenburg County: 664 countMiddlesex County: 274 countMontgomery County: 1,586 countNelson County: 331 countNew Kent County: 325 countNorthampton County: 273 countNorthumberland County: 276 countNottoway County: 259 countOrange County: 576 countPage County: 343 countPatrick County: 273 countPittsylvania County: 754 countPowhatan County: 589 countPrince Edward County: 457 countPrince George County: 381 countPrince William County: 5,597 countPulaski County: 528 countRappahannock County: 160 countRichmond County: 152 countRoanoke County: 1,753 countRockbridge County: 372 countRockingham County: 1,211 countRussell County: 382 countScott County: 245 countShenandoah County: 736 countSmyth County: 442 countSouthampton County: 196 countSpotsylvania County: 1,907 countStafford County: 1,735 countSurry County: 67 countSussex County: 155 countTazewell County: 886 countWarren County: 695 countWashington County: 990 countWestmoreland County: 266 countWise County: 582 countWythe County: 584 countYork County: 1,140 countAlexandria city: 3,675 countBristol city: 574 countBuena Vista city: 100 countCharlottesville city: 1,688 countChesapeake city: 4,169 countColonial Heights city: 540 countCovington city: 192 countDanville city: 1,054 countEmporia city: 216 countFairfax city: 1,473 countFalls Church city: 747 countFranklin city: 252 countFredericksburg city: 1,111 countGalax city: 271 countHampton city: 1,841 countHarrisonburg city: 1,306 countHopewell city: 396 countLexington city: 255 countLynchburg city: 1,767 countManassas city: 1,143 countManassas Park city: 267 countMartinsville city: 496 countNewport News city: 2,841 countNorfolk city: 3,929 countNorton city: 209 countPetersburg city: 630 countPoquoson city: 190 countPortsmouth city: 1,403 countRadford city: 245 countRichmond city: 4,714 countRoanoke city: 2,459 countSalem city: 833 countStaunton city: 680 countSuffolk city: 1,211 countVirginia Beach city: 8,001 countWaynesboro city: 542 countWilliamsburg city: 467 countWinchester city: 1,109 count
  • Under 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 700
  • 700 to 1,600
  • 1,600 and over
count, 2013. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2013

Fairfax County: 21,467 countFairfax County21,467Virginia Beach city: 8,001 countVirginia Beach city8,001Loudoun County: 7,042 countLoudoun County7,042Henrico County: 6,546 countHenrico County6,546Prince William County: 5,597 countPrince William County5,597Chesterfield County: 5,303 countChesterfield County5,303Richmond city: 4,714 countRichmond city4,714Arlington County: 4,258 countArlington County4,258Chesapeake city: 4,169 countChesapeake city4,169Norfolk city: 3,929 countNorfolk city3,929Alexandria city: 3,675 countAlexandria city3,675Newport News city: 2,841 countNewport News city2,841Hanover County: 2,674 countHanover County2,674Roanoke city: 2,459 countRoanoke city2,459Albemarle County: 2,142 countAlbemarle County2,142Spotsylvania County: 1,907 countSpotsylvania County1,907Hampton city: 1,841 countHampton city1,841Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Roanoke County: 1,753 countRoanoke County1,753Stafford County: 1,735 countStafford County1,735Charlottesville city: 1,688 countCharlottesville city1,688Fauquier County: 1,616 countFauquier County1,616Montgomery County: 1,586 countMontgomery County1,586Fairfax city: 1,473 countFairfax city1,473Bedford County: 1,414 countBedford County1,414Portsmouth city: 1,403 countPortsmouth city1,403James City County: 1,326 countJames City County1,326Harrisonburg city: 1,306 countHarrisonburg city1,306Rockingham County: 1,211 countRockingham County1,211Suffolk city: 1,211 countSuffolk city1,211Frederick County: 1,197 countFrederick County1,197Augusta County: 1,192 countAugusta County1,192Manassas city: 1,143 countManassas city1,143York County: 1,140 countYork County1,140Fredericksburg city: 1,111 countFredericksburg city1,111Winchester city: 1,109 countWinchester city1,109Danville city: 1,054 countDanville city1,054Franklin County: 994 countFranklin County994Washington County: 990 countWashington County990Campbell County: 975 countCampbell County975Fairfax County: 21,467 countFairfax County21,467Virginia Beach city: 8,001 countVirginia Beach city8,001Loudoun County: 7,042 countLoudoun County7,042Henrico County: 6,546 countHenrico County6,546Prince William County: 5,597 countPrince William County5,597Chesterfield County: 5,303 countChesterfield County5,303Richmond city: 4,714 countRichmond city4,714Arlington County: 4,258 countArlington County4,258Chesapeake city: 4,169 countChesapeake city4,169Norfolk city: 3,929 countNorfolk city3,929Alexandria city: 3,675 countAlexandria city3,675Newport News city: 2,841 countNewport News city2,841Hanover County: 2,674 countHanover County2,674Roanoke city: 2,459 countRoanoke city2,459Albemarle County: 2,142 countAlbemarle County2,142Spotsylvania County: 1,907 countSpotsylvania County1,907Hampton city: 1,841 countHampton city1,841Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Roanoke County: 1,753 countRoanoke County1,753Stafford County: 1,735 countStafford County1,735Charlottesville city: 1,688 countCharlottesville city1,688Fauquier County: 1,616 countFauquier County1,616Montgomery County: 1,586 countMontgomery County1,586Fairfax city: 1,473 countFairfax city1,473Bedford County: 1,414 countBedford County1,414Portsmouth city: 1,403 countPortsmouth city1,403James City County: 1,326 countJames City County1,326Harrisonburg city: 1,306 countHarrisonburg city1,306Rockingham County: 1,211 countRockingham County1,211Suffolk city: 1,211 countSuffolk city1,211Frederick County: 1,197 countFrederick County1,197Augusta County: 1,192 countAugusta County1,192Manassas city: 1,143 countManassas city1,143York County: 1,140 countYork County1,140Fredericksburg city: 1,111 countFredericksburg city1,111Winchester city: 1,109 countWinchester city1,109Danville city: 1,054 countDanville city1,054Franklin County: 994 countFranklin County994Washington County: 990 countWashington County990Campbell County: 975 countCampbell County975
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2013
count
Change on 2012
1Fairfax County21,467+1.4%
2Virginia Beach city8,0010%
3Loudoun County7,042+4.2%
4Henrico County6,546+1.5%
5Prince William County5,597+2%
6Chesterfield County5,303+0.4%
7Richmond city4,714+0.9%
8Arlington County4,258+0.5%
9Chesapeake city4,169+0.3%
10Norfolk city3,929-0.1%
11Alexandria city3,675+0.3%
12Newport News city2,841-0.9%
13Hanover County2,6740%
14Roanoke city2,459-0.2%
15Albemarle County2,142+0.1%
16Spotsylvania County1,907+1.2%
17Hampton city1,841-0.6%
18Lynchburg city1,767+0.1%
19Roanoke County1,753-0.8%
20Stafford County1,735+0.9%
21Charlottesville city1,688+2.7%
22Fauquier County1,616+0.9%
23Montgomery County1,586-2%
24Fairfax city1,473+0.3%
25Bedford County1,414-1.3%
26Portsmouth city1,403-0.6%
27James City County1,326+0.5%
28Harrisonburg city1,306-0.3%
29Rockingham County1,211+0.7%
29Suffolk city1,211+0.7%
31Frederick County1,197-0.8%
32Augusta County1,192+0.4%
33Manassas city1,143+0.6%
34York County1,140+0.2%
35Fredericksburg city1,111+0.8%
36Winchester city1,109-0.5%
37Danville city1,054-2.1%
38Franklin County994-0.2%
39Washington County990+0.3%
40Campbell County975-0.7%
41Tazewell County886-2.2%
42Culpeper County855+2%
43Salem city833-1.4%
44Pittsylvania County754-2%
45Falls Church city747+2.8%
46Shenandoah County736-2.1%
47Gloucester County733-0.8%
48Henry County714-2.2%
49Warren County695+0.7%
50Staunton city680-1.3%
51Mecklenburg County664-2.1%
52Petersburg city630-0.5%
53Halifax County622-1.4%
54Botetourt County603+1.3%
55Accomack County597-1.5%
56Powhatan County589+0.5%
57Wythe County584-1.5%
58Wise County582-4.9%
59Isle of Wight County579+3%
60Orange County576+3.4%
61Bristol city5740%
61Goochland County574+3.1%
63Waynesboro city542+1.1%
64Colonial Heights city540-0.7%
65Pulaski County528-1.7%
66Amherst County506-3.4%
67Martinsville city496-3.5%
68Louisa County475+0.4%
69Williamsburg city467+1.3%
70Prince Edward County457+0.9%
71Smyth County442-3.1%
72Lancaster County402-2.7%
73Hopewell city396-4.1%
74King George County382+2.1%
74Russell County382-5.2%
76Prince George County381-1.8%
77Buchanan County375-3.8%
78Rockbridge County372-1.6%
79Carroll County352-1.1%
80Page County343+3.3%
81Fluvanna County331+2.5%
81Nelson County331-4.9%
83New Kent County325+0.6%
84Clarke County315-1.9%
85Caroline County313-0.9%
86Dinwiddie County312-5.2%
87Floyd County289-1.4%
88Greene County285+0.7%
89King William County278-1.4%
90Northumberland County276-1.8%
91Middlesex County274+0.4%
92Northampton County273-2.2%
92Patrick County273-2.2%
94Galax city271-0.7%
95Manassas Park city267+5.1%
96Westmoreland County266-4%
97Essex County262-3%
98Appomattox County259+3.2%
98Nottoway County259+2%
100Lexington city255-1.5%
101Franklin city2520%
102Alleghany County246+3.4%
102Lee County246-1.6%
104Radford city245-0.4%
104Scott County245-1.6%
106Amelia County240-0.4%
106Madison County240-1.2%
108Giles County238-1.2%
109Brunswick County237-3.7%
110Emporia city216+0.5%
111Buckingham County215-3.6%
112Norton city209-6.3%
113Southampton County196-1%
114Charlotte County193-1%
115Covington city192-4%
116Poquoson city190-1%
117Dickenson County181-5.7%
118Rappahannock County160-4.2%
119Mathews County159-1.2%
120Sussex County155-2.5%
121Lunenburg County153-3.8%
122Richmond County152-7.3%
123Grayson County141-4.1%
124Cumberland County130-0.8%
125Charles City County122-1.6%
126Bath County111-2.6%
127Buena Vista city100-8.3%
128King and Queen County99+2.1%
129Greensville County80-7%
129Highland County80-7%
131Bland County71-4.1%
132Surry County67-2.9%
133Craig County44-6.4%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of firms in the private nonfarm sectors covered by the US Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics. Establishments under common ownership form one firm.

Excludes nonemployer businesses. Differs from active_companies, the INE DIRCE count, which includes businesses without employees.

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. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

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: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties (Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013) [Data set]. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013. Dataset. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2013,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-11},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2013
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.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2013.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest employer firms?

Fairfax County, with 21,467 in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Craig County, with 44 in 2013.

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: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Employer firms: other rankings

Counties in Virginia: more rankings