Counties in Virginia by employer firms

Fairfax County had the highest employer firms of 133 counties in 2018, at 22,671. Craig County had the lowest, at 57. The median was 488 and the figure for Virginia was 137,321. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest22,671Fairfax County
Lowest57Craig County
Median488133 counties
Virginia137,321History

Map of counties, 2018

Accomack County: 564 countAlbemarle County: 2,276 countAlleghany County: 226 countAmelia County: 250 countAmherst County: 498 countAppomattox County: 266 countArlington County: 4,466 countAugusta County: 1,179 countBath County: 108 countBedford County: 1,430 countBland County: 73 countBotetourt County: 615 countBrunswick County: 218 countBuchanan County: 334 countBuckingham County: 212 countCampbell County: 987 countCaroline County: 319 countCarroll County: 349 countCharles City County: 129 countCharlotte County: 175 countChesterfield County: 5,702 countClarke County: 324 countCraig County: 57 countCulpeper County: 881 countCumberland County: 121 countDickenson County: 174 countDinwiddie County: 314 countEssex County: 264 countFairfax County: 22,671 countFauquier County: 1,672 countFloyd County: 293 countFluvanna County: 336 countFranklin County: 1,003 countFrederick County: 1,273 countGiles County: 238 countGloucester County: 734 countGoochland County: 620 countGrayson County: 128 countGreene County: 300 countGreensville County: 79 countHalifax County: 583 countHanover County: 2,749 countHenrico County: 6,854 countHenry County: 650 countHighland County: 75 countIsle of Wight County: 575 countJames City County: 1,384 countKing and Queen County: 105 countKing George County: 379 countKing William County: 303 countLancaster County: 396 countLee County: 215 countLoudoun County: 8,299 countLouisa County: 488 countLunenburg County: 154 countMadison County: 237 countMathews County: 164 countMecklenburg County: 661 countMiddlesex County: 256 countMontgomery County: 1,606 countNelson County: 317 countNew Kent County: 354 countNorthampton County: 263 countNorthumberland County: 262 countNottoway County: 271 countOrange County: 559 countPage County: 352 countPatrick County: 247 countPittsylvania County: 746 countPowhatan County: 632 countPrince Edward County: 446 countPrince George County: 395 countPrince William County: 6,340 countPulaski County: 509 countRappahannock County: 190 countRichmond County: 153 countRoanoke County: 1,705 countRockbridge County: 377 countRockingham County: 1,261 countRussell County: 359 countScott County: 219 countShenandoah County: 722 countSmyth County: 415 countSouthampton County: 183 countSpotsylvania County: 2,052 countStafford County: 1,888 countSurry County: 70 countSussex County: 152 countTazewell County: 801 countWarren County: 696 countWashington County: 944 countWestmoreland County: 268 countWise County: 505 countWythe County: 562 countYork County: 1,178 countAlexandria city: 3,634 countBristol city: 523 countBuena Vista city: 95 countCharlottesville city: 1,757 countChesapeake city: 4,248 countColonial Heights city: 525 countCovington city: 184 countDanville city: 1,027 countEmporia city: 210 countFairfax city: 1,492 countFalls Church city: 772 countFranklin city: 242 countFredericksburg city: 1,166 countGalax city: 282 countHampton city: 1,790 countHarrisonburg city: 1,372 countHopewell city: 385 countLexington city: 227 countLynchburg city: 1,767 countManassas city: 1,258 countManassas Park city: 274 countMartinsville city: 450 countNewport News city: 2,823 countNorfolk city: 3,921 countNorton city: 186 countPetersburg city: 621 countPoquoson city: 190 countPortsmouth city: 1,344 countRadford city: 234 countRichmond city: 4,865 countRoanoke city: 2,427 countSalem city: 846 countStaunton city: 690 countSuffolk city: 1,330 countVirginia Beach city: 8,279 countWaynesboro city: 554 countWilliamsburg city: 478 countWinchester city: 1,175 count
  • Under 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 700
  • 700 to 1,600
  • 1,600 and over
count, 2018. 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, 2018

Fairfax County: 22,671 countFairfax County22,671Loudoun County: 8,299 countLoudoun County8,299Virginia Beach city: 8,279 countVirginia Beach city8,279Henrico County: 6,854 countHenrico County6,854Prince William County: 6,340 countPrince William County6,340Chesterfield County: 5,702 countChesterfield County5,702Richmond city: 4,865 countRichmond city4,865Arlington County: 4,466 countArlington County4,466Chesapeake city: 4,248 countChesapeake city4,248Norfolk city: 3,921 countNorfolk city3,921Alexandria city: 3,634 countAlexandria city3,634Newport News city: 2,823 countNewport News city2,823Hanover County: 2,749 countHanover County2,749Roanoke city: 2,427 countRoanoke city2,427Albemarle County: 2,276 countAlbemarle County2,276Spotsylvania County: 2,052 countSpotsylvania County2,052Stafford County: 1,888 countStafford County1,888Hampton city: 1,790 countHampton city1,790Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Charlottesville city: 1,757 countCharlottesville city1,757Roanoke County: 1,705 countRoanoke County1,705Fauquier County: 1,672 countFauquier County1,672Montgomery County: 1,606 countMontgomery County1,606Fairfax city: 1,492 countFairfax city1,492Bedford County: 1,430 countBedford County1,430James City County: 1,384 countJames City County1,384Harrisonburg city: 1,372 countHarrisonburg city1,372Portsmouth city: 1,344 countPortsmouth city1,344Suffolk city: 1,330 countSuffolk city1,330Frederick County: 1,273 countFrederick County1,273Rockingham County: 1,261 countRockingham County1,261Manassas city: 1,258 countManassas city1,258Augusta County: 1,179 countAugusta County1,179York County: 1,178 countYork County1,178Winchester city: 1,175 countWinchester city1,175Fredericksburg city: 1,166 countFredericksburg city1,166Danville city: 1,027 countDanville city1,027Franklin County: 1,003 countFranklin County1,003Campbell County: 987 countCampbell County987Washington County: 944 countWashington County944Fairfax County: 22,671 countFairfax County22,671Loudoun County: 8,299 countLoudoun County8,299Virginia Beach city: 8,279 countVirginia Beach city8,279Henrico County: 6,854 countHenrico County6,854Prince William County: 6,340 countPrince William County6,340Chesterfield County: 5,702 countChesterfield County5,702Richmond city: 4,865 countRichmond city4,865Arlington County: 4,466 countArlington County4,466Chesapeake city: 4,248 countChesapeake city4,248Norfolk city: 3,921 countNorfolk city3,921Alexandria city: 3,634 countAlexandria city3,634Newport News city: 2,823 countNewport News city2,823Hanover County: 2,749 countHanover County2,749Roanoke city: 2,427 countRoanoke city2,427Albemarle County: 2,276 countAlbemarle County2,276Spotsylvania County: 2,052 countSpotsylvania County2,052Stafford County: 1,888 countStafford County1,888Hampton city: 1,790 countHampton city1,790Lynchburg city: 1,767 countLynchburg city1,767Charlottesville city: 1,757 countCharlottesville city1,757Roanoke County: 1,705 countRoanoke County1,705Fauquier County: 1,672 countFauquier County1,672Montgomery County: 1,606 countMontgomery County1,606Fairfax city: 1,492 countFairfax city1,492Bedford County: 1,430 countBedford County1,430James City County: 1,384 countJames City County1,384Harrisonburg city: 1,372 countHarrisonburg city1,372Portsmouth city: 1,344 countPortsmouth city1,344Suffolk city: 1,330 countSuffolk city1,330Frederick County: 1,273 countFrederick County1,273Rockingham County: 1,261 countRockingham County1,261Manassas city: 1,258 countManassas city1,258Augusta County: 1,179 countAugusta County1,179York County: 1,178 countYork County1,178Winchester city: 1,175 countWinchester city1,175Fredericksburg city: 1,166 countFredericksburg city1,166Danville city: 1,027 countDanville city1,027Franklin County: 1,003 countFranklin County1,003Campbell County: 987 countCampbell County987Washington County: 944 countWashington County944
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2018
count
Change on 2017
1Fairfax County22,671+0.8%
2Loudoun County8,299+2.4%
3Virginia Beach city8,279-0.3%
4Henrico County6,854+0.3%
5Prince William County6,340+1.7%
6Chesterfield County5,702+1.7%
7Richmond city4,865+0.8%
8Arlington County4,466+1%
9Chesapeake city4,248+1%
10Norfolk city3,921+0.5%
11Alexandria city3,634-1.6%
12Newport News city2,823-0.5%
13Hanover County2,749-0.3%
14Roanoke city2,427-0.6%
15Albemarle County2,276+1.7%
16Spotsylvania County2,052+1.1%
17Stafford County1,888+1.2%
18Hampton city1,790-0.1%
19Lynchburg city1,767-0.1%
20Charlottesville city1,757+1.2%
21Roanoke County1,705-0.1%
22Fauquier County1,672+0.5%
23Montgomery County1,606-0.1%
24Fairfax city1,492-0.7%
25Bedford County1,430-1.3%
26James City County1,384+0.4%
27Harrisonburg city1,372+1.4%
28Portsmouth city1,344+0.2%
29Suffolk city1,330+3.6%
30Frederick County1,273+1.3%
31Rockingham County1,261+2.1%
32Manassas city1,258+1.5%
33Augusta County1,179-1.3%
34York County1,178+2.4%
35Winchester city1,175-0.3%
36Fredericksburg city1,166-0.7%
37Danville city1,027-1.3%
38Franklin County1,003+0.3%
39Campbell County987+0.2%
40Washington County944-1.3%
41Culpeper County881+1.1%
42Salem city846+0.1%
43Tazewell County801-1%
44Falls Church city772-0.4%
45Pittsylvania County7460%
46Gloucester County734+1.5%
47Shenandoah County722-1.6%
48Warren County696-1.8%
49Staunton city690-1.4%
50Mecklenburg County661-0.2%
51Henry County650-2.8%
52Powhatan County632-0.3%
53Petersburg city621-0.2%
54Goochland County620+1.3%
55Botetourt County615-0.3%
56Halifax County583-3.3%
57Isle of Wight County575+4.5%
58Accomack County564-2.8%
59Wythe County562-2.4%
60Orange County559+0.4%
61Waynesboro city554+0.4%
62Colonial Heights city525-2.6%
63Bristol city523-2.6%
64Pulaski County509-0.6%
65Wise County505-3.8%
66Amherst County498-2.4%
67Louisa County488+0.4%
68Williamsburg city478-0.4%
69Martinsville city450-0.9%
70Prince Edward County446-1.3%
71Smyth County4150%
72Lancaster County396-2.5%
73Prince George County395+2.6%
74Hopewell city385+0.3%
75King George County379-0.5%
76Rockbridge County377+0.3%
77Russell County359+2%
78New Kent County354+2%
79Page County352+2.6%
80Carroll County349+0.3%
81Fluvanna County336-1.2%
82Buchanan County334-2.3%
83Clarke County324-0.9%
84Caroline County319-3.9%
85Nelson County317-2.8%
86Dinwiddie County314+1%
87King William County303+1.3%
88Greene County300-3.8%
89Floyd County293-1.3%
90Galax city282-0.4%
91Manassas Park city274-0.4%
92Nottoway County271-0.7%
93Westmoreland County268+0.8%
94Appomattox County266-3.3%
95Essex County264-2.2%
96Northampton County263-1.5%
97Northumberland County262-0.4%
98Middlesex County256-5.2%
99Amelia County250-0.4%
100Patrick County247-4.3%
101Franklin city242-0.8%
102Giles County238-1.2%
103Madison County237-3.3%
104Radford city234-2.5%
105Lexington city227-3.4%
106Alleghany County226-2.6%
107Scott County219-3.1%
108Brunswick County218+1.9%
109Lee County215-5.3%
110Buckingham County212-2.3%
111Emporia city210-1.9%
112Poquoson city190+1.1%
112Rappahannock County190+2.2%
114Norton city186-1.1%
115Covington city184+0.5%
116Southampton County183-2.1%
117Charlotte County175-3.8%
118Dickenson County174-2.2%
119Mathews County164-0.6%
120Lunenburg County154-0.6%
121Richmond County1530%
122Sussex County152+2.7%
123Charles City County129-3.7%
124Grayson County128-0.8%
125Cumberland County121+0.8%
126Bath County108-6.1%
127King and Queen County105-1.9%
128Buena Vista city95-3.1%
129Greensville County79+1.3%
130Highland County75-2.6%
131Bland County73-3.9%
132Surry County70+7.7%
133Craig County57+7.5%

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, 2018) [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, 2018. 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=2018. 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, 2018. 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=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2018 [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=2018 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2018,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2018}},
  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=2018. 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, 2018
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=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2018.
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 22,671 in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Craig County, with 57 in 2018.

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