Counties in Virginia by employer firms

Fairfax County had the highest employer firms of 133 counties in 2014, at 21,690. Craig County had the lowest, at 47. The median was 474 and the figure for Virginia was 133,602. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest21,690Fairfax County
Lowest47Craig County
Median474133 counties
Virginia133,602History

Map of counties, 2014

Accomack County: 575 countAlbemarle County: 2,159 countAlleghany County: 240 countAmelia County: 245 countAmherst County: 504 countAppomattox County: 264 countArlington County: 4,328 countAugusta County: 1,179 countBath County: 106 countBedford County: 1,423 countBland County: 74 countBotetourt County: 590 countBrunswick County: 226 countBuchanan County: 370 countBuckingham County: 216 countCampbell County: 964 countCaroline County: 311 countCarroll County: 352 countCharles City County: 126 countCharlotte County: 198 countChesterfield County: 5,375 countClarke County: 303 countCraig County: 47 countCulpeper County: 846 countCumberland County: 123 countDickenson County: 179 countDinwiddie County: 314 countEssex County: 266 countFairfax County: 21,690 countFauquier County: 1,630 countFloyd County: 292 countFluvanna County: 334 countFranklin County: 1,020 countFrederick County: 1,215 countGiles County: 235 countGloucester County: 724 countGoochland County: 590 countGrayson County: 136 countGreene County: 293 countGreensville County: 82 countHalifax County: 610 countHanover County: 2,672 countHenrico County: 6,610 countHenry County: 707 countHighland County: 82 countIsle of Wight County: 566 countJames City County: 1,357 countKing and Queen County: 104 countKing George County: 391 countKing William County: 268 countLancaster County: 411 countLee County: 244 countLoudoun County: 7,318 countLouisa County: 459 countLunenburg County: 156 countMadison County: 233 countMathews County: 165 countMecklenburg County: 662 countMiddlesex County: 271 countMontgomery County: 1,580 countNelson County: 337 countNew Kent County: 328 countNorthampton County: 270 countNorthumberland County: 282 countNottoway County: 259 countOrange County: 556 countPage County: 351 countPatrick County: 257 countPittsylvania County: 744 countPowhatan County: 605 countPrince Edward County: 462 countPrince George County: 386 countPrince William County: 5,791 countPulaski County: 538 countRappahannock County: 159 countRichmond County: 149 countRoanoke County: 1,743 countRockbridge County: 372 countRockingham County: 1,186 countRussell County: 369 countScott County: 243 countShenandoah County: 721 countSmyth County: 438 countSouthampton County: 201 countSpotsylvania County: 1,935 countStafford County: 1,765 countSurry County: 64 countSussex County: 158 countTazewell County: 840 countWarren County: 684 countWashington County: 1,000 countWestmoreland County: 270 countWise County: 565 countWythe County: 578 countYork County: 1,145 countAlexandria city: 3,672 countBristol city: 563 countBuena Vista city: 99 countCharlottesville city: 1,710 countChesapeake city: 4,140 countColonial Heights city: 526 countCovington city: 186 countDanville city: 1,036 countEmporia city: 222 countFairfax city: 1,500 countFalls Church city: 751 countFranklin city: 245 countFredericksburg city: 1,137 countGalax city: 270 countHampton city: 1,829 countHarrisonburg city: 1,298 countHopewell city: 408 countLexington city: 255 countLynchburg city: 1,767 countManassas city: 1,171 countManassas Park city: 263 countMartinsville city: 471 countNewport News city: 2,853 countNorfolk city: 3,874 countNorton city: 202 countPetersburg city: 613 countPoquoson city: 184 countPortsmouth city: 1,389 countRadford city: 236 countRichmond city: 4,711 countRoanoke city: 2,428 countSalem city: 827 countStaunton city: 688 countSuffolk city: 1,220 countVirginia Beach city: 8,038 countWaynesboro city: 546 countWilliamsburg city: 474 countWinchester city: 1,125 count
  • Under 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 700
  • 700 to 1,600
  • 1,600 and over
count, 2014. 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, 2014

Fairfax County: 21,690 countFairfax County21,690Virginia Beach city: 8,038 countVirginia Beach city8,038Loudoun County: 7,318 countLoudoun County7,318Henrico County: 6,610 countHenrico County6,610Prince William County: 5,791 countPrince William County5,791Chesterfield County: 5,375 countChesterfield County5,375Richmond city: 4,711 countRichmond city4,711Arlington County: 4,328 countArlington County4,328Chesapeake city: 4,140 countChesapeake city4,140Norfolk city: 3,874 countNorfolk city3,874Alexandria city: 3,672 countAlexandria city3,672Newport News city: 2,853 countNewport News city2,853Hanover County: 2,672 countHanover County2,672Roanoke city: 2,428 countRoanoke city2,428Albemarle County: 2,159 countAlbemarle County2,159Spotsylvania County: 1,935 countSpotsylvania County1,935Hampton city: 1,829 countHampton city1,829Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Stafford County: 1,765 countStafford County1,765Roanoke County: 1,743 countRoanoke County1,743Charlottesville city: 1,710 countCharlottesville city1,710Fauquier County: 1,630 countFauquier County1,630Montgomery County: 1,580 countMontgomery County1,580Fairfax city: 1,500 countFairfax city1,500Bedford County: 1,423 countBedford County1,423Portsmouth city: 1,389 countPortsmouth city1,389James City County: 1,357 countJames City County1,357Harrisonburg city: 1,298 countHarrisonburg city1,298Suffolk city: 1,220 countSuffolk city1,220Frederick County: 1,215 countFrederick County1,215Rockingham County: 1,186 countRockingham County1,186Augusta County: 1,179 countAugusta County1,179Manassas city: 1,171 countManassas city1,171York County: 1,145 countYork County1,145Fredericksburg city: 1,137 countFredericksburg city1,137Winchester city: 1,125 countWinchester city1,125Danville city: 1,036 countDanville city1,036Franklin County: 1,020 countFranklin County1,020Washington County: 1,000 countWashington County1,000Campbell County: 964 countCampbell County964Fairfax County: 21,690 countFairfax County21,690Virginia Beach city: 8,038 countVirginia Beach city8,038Loudoun County: 7,318 countLoudoun County7,318Henrico County: 6,610 countHenrico County6,610Prince William County: 5,791 countPrince William County5,791Chesterfield County: 5,375 countChesterfield County5,375Richmond city: 4,711 countRichmond city4,711Arlington County: 4,328 countArlington County4,328Chesapeake city: 4,140 countChesapeake city4,140Norfolk city: 3,874 countNorfolk city3,874Alexandria city: 3,672 countAlexandria city3,672Newport News city: 2,853 countNewport News city2,853Hanover County: 2,672 countHanover County2,672Roanoke city: 2,428 countRoanoke city2,428Albemarle County: 2,159 countAlbemarle County2,159Spotsylvania County: 1,935 countSpotsylvania County1,935Hampton city: 1,829 countHampton city1,829Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Stafford County: 1,765 countStafford County1,765Roanoke County: 1,743 countRoanoke County1,743Charlottesville city: 1,710 countCharlottesville city1,710Fauquier County: 1,630 countFauquier County1,630Montgomery County: 1,580 countMontgomery County1,580Fairfax city: 1,500 countFairfax city1,500Bedford County: 1,423 countBedford County1,423Portsmouth city: 1,389 countPortsmouth city1,389James City County: 1,357 countJames City County1,357Harrisonburg city: 1,298 countHarrisonburg city1,298Suffolk city: 1,220 countSuffolk city1,220Frederick County: 1,215 countFrederick County1,215Rockingham County: 1,186 countRockingham County1,186Augusta County: 1,179 countAugusta County1,179Manassas city: 1,171 countManassas city1,171York County: 1,145 countYork County1,145Fredericksburg city: 1,137 countFredericksburg city1,137Winchester city: 1,125 countWinchester city1,125Danville city: 1,036 countDanville city1,036Franklin County: 1,020 countFranklin County1,020Washington County: 1,000 countWashington County1,000Campbell County: 964 countCampbell County964
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2014
count
Change on 2013
1Fairfax County21,690+1%
2Virginia Beach city8,038+0.5%
3Loudoun County7,318+3.9%
4Henrico County6,610+1%
5Prince William County5,791+3.5%
6Chesterfield County5,375+1.4%
7Richmond city4,711-0.1%
8Arlington County4,328+1.6%
9Chesapeake city4,140-0.7%
10Norfolk city3,874-1.4%
11Alexandria city3,672-0.1%
12Newport News city2,853+0.4%
13Hanover County2,672-0.1%
14Roanoke city2,428-1.3%
15Albemarle County2,159+0.8%
16Spotsylvania County1,935+1.5%
17Hampton city1,829-0.7%
18Lynchburg city1,7670%
19Stafford County1,765+1.7%
20Roanoke County1,743-0.6%
21Charlottesville city1,710+1.3%
22Fauquier County1,630+0.9%
23Montgomery County1,580-0.4%
24Fairfax city1,500+1.8%
25Bedford County1,423+0.6%
26Portsmouth city1,389-1%
27James City County1,357+2.3%
28Harrisonburg city1,298-0.6%
29Suffolk city1,220+0.7%
30Frederick County1,215+1.5%
31Rockingham County1,186-2.1%
32Augusta County1,179-1.1%
33Manassas city1,171+2.4%
34York County1,145+0.4%
35Fredericksburg city1,137+2.3%
36Winchester city1,125+1.4%
37Danville city1,036-1.7%
38Franklin County1,020+2.6%
39Washington County1,000+1%
40Campbell County964-1.1%
41Culpeper County846-1.1%
42Tazewell County840-5.2%
43Salem city827-0.7%
44Falls Church city751+0.5%
45Pittsylvania County744-1.3%
46Gloucester County724-1.2%
47Shenandoah County721-2%
48Henry County707-1%
49Staunton city688+1.2%
50Warren County684-1.6%
51Mecklenburg County662-0.3%
52Petersburg city613-2.7%
53Halifax County610-1.9%
54Powhatan County605+2.7%
55Botetourt County590-2.2%
55Goochland County590+2.8%
57Wythe County578-1%
58Accomack County575-3.7%
59Isle of Wight County566-2.2%
60Wise County565-2.9%
61Bristol city563-1.9%
62Orange County556-3.5%
63Waynesboro city546+0.7%
64Pulaski County538+1.9%
65Colonial Heights city526-2.6%
66Amherst County504-0.4%
67Williamsburg city474+1.5%
68Martinsville city471-5%
69Prince Edward County462+1.1%
70Louisa County459-3.4%
71Smyth County438-0.9%
72Lancaster County411+2.2%
73Hopewell city408+3%
74King George County391+2.4%
75Prince George County386+1.3%
76Rockbridge County3720%
77Buchanan County370-1.3%
78Russell County369-3.4%
79Carroll County3520%
80Page County351+2.3%
81Nelson County337+1.8%
82Fluvanna County334+0.9%
83New Kent County328+0.9%
84Dinwiddie County314+0.6%
85Caroline County311-0.6%
86Clarke County303-3.8%
87Greene County293+2.8%
88Floyd County292+1%
89Northumberland County282+2.2%
90Middlesex County271-1.1%
91Galax city270-0.4%
91Northampton County270-1.1%
91Westmoreland County270+1.5%
94King William County268-3.6%
95Essex County266+1.5%
96Appomattox County264+1.9%
97Manassas Park city263-1.5%
98Nottoway County2590%
99Patrick County257-5.9%
100Lexington city2550%
101Amelia County245+2.1%
101Franklin city245-2.8%
103Lee County244-0.8%
104Scott County243-0.8%
105Alleghany County240-2.4%
106Radford city236-3.7%
107Giles County235-1.3%
108Madison County233-2.9%
109Brunswick County226-4.6%
110Emporia city222+2.8%
111Buckingham County216+0.5%
112Norton city202-3.3%
113Southampton County201+2.6%
114Charlotte County198+2.6%
115Covington city186-3.1%
116Poquoson city184-3.2%
117Dickenson County179-1.1%
118Mathews County165+3.8%
119Rappahannock County159-0.6%
120Sussex County158+1.9%
121Lunenburg County156+2%
122Richmond County149-2%
123Grayson County136-3.5%
124Charles City County126+3.3%
125Cumberland County123-5.4%
126Bath County106-4.5%
127King and Queen County104+5.1%
128Buena Vista city99-1%
129Greensville County82+2.5%
129Highland County82+2.5%
131Bland County74+4.2%
132Surry County64-4.5%
133Craig County47+6.8%

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, 2014) [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, 2014. 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=2014. 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, 2014. 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=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2014 [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=2014 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2014,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2014}},
  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=2014. 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, 2014
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=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2014.
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 21,690 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Craig County, with 47 in 2014.

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