Counties in Virginia by employer firms

Fairfax County had the highest employer firms of 133 counties in 2022, at 23,407. Craig County had the lowest, at 61. The median was 478 and the figure for Virginia was 143,142. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest23,407Fairfax County
Lowest61Craig County
Median478133 counties
Virginia143,142History

Map of counties, 2022

Accomack County: 552 countAlbemarle County: 2,317 countAlleghany County: 217 countAmelia County: 230 countAmherst County: 480 countAppomattox County: 288 countArlington County: 4,577 countAugusta County: 1,210 countBath County: 106 countBedford County: 1,494 countBland County: 70 countBotetourt County: 646 countBrunswick County: 219 countBuchanan County: 294 countBuckingham County: 203 countCampbell County: 992 countCaroline County: 337 countCarroll County: 369 countCharles City County: 133 countCharlotte County: 171 countChesterfield County: 6,143 countClarke County: 337 countCraig County: 61 countCulpeper County: 964 countCumberland County: 129 countDickenson County: 164 countDinwiddie County: 316 countEssex County: 271 countFairfax County: 23,407 countFauquier County: 1,723 countFloyd County: 297 countFluvanna County: 359 countFranklin County: 1,038 countFrederick County: 1,384 countGiles County: 248 countGloucester County: 734 countGoochland County: 640 countGrayson County: 137 countGreene County: 330 countGreensville County: 68 countHalifax County: 561 countHanover County: 2,889 countHenrico County: 7,106 countHenry County: 662 countHighland County: 69 countIsle of Wight County: 617 countJames City County: 1,438 countKing and Queen County: 101 countKing George County: 377 countKing William County: 304 countLancaster County: 402 countLee County: 197 countLoudoun County: 9,369 countLouisa County: 539 countLunenburg County: 136 countMadison County: 246 countMathews County: 167 countMecklenburg County: 629 countMiddlesex County: 257 countMontgomery County: 1,585 countNelson County: 318 countNew Kent County: 389 countNorthampton County: 262 countNorthumberland County: 262 countNottoway County: 241 countOrange County: 616 countPage County: 364 countPatrick County: 232 countPittsylvania County: 739 countPowhatan County: 673 countPrince Edward County: 441 countPrince George County: 396 countPrince William County: 7,124 countPulaski County: 544 countRappahannock County: 175 countRichmond County: 156 countRoanoke County: 1,735 countRockbridge County: 382 countRockingham County: 1,327 countRussell County: 349 countScott County: 200 countShenandoah County: 749 countSmyth County: 410 countSouthampton County: 181 countSpotsylvania County: 2,261 countStafford County: 2,062 countSurry County: 75 countSussex County: 136 countTazewell County: 712 countWarren County: 729 countWashington County: 938 countWestmoreland County: 272 countWise County: 450 countWythe County: 566 countYork County: 1,188 countAlexandria city: 3,706 countBristol city: 505 countBuena Vista city: 92 countCharlottesville city: 1,785 countChesapeake city: 4,493 countColonial Heights city: 521 countCovington city: 176 countDanville city: 971 countEmporia city: 202 countFairfax city: 1,514 countFalls Church city: 777 countFranklin city: 216 countFredericksburg city: 1,191 countGalax city: 274 countHampton city: 1,863 countHarrisonburg city: 1,415 countHopewell city: 365 countLexington city: 226 countLynchburg city: 1,772 countManassas city: 1,322 countManassas Park city: 272 countMartinsville city: 423 countNewport News city: 2,890 countNorfolk city: 3,958 countNorton city: 171 countPetersburg city: 621 countPoquoson city: 194 countPortsmouth city: 1,333 countRadford city: 218 countRichmond city: 5,128 countRoanoke city: 2,427 countSalem city: 829 countStaunton city: 690 countSuffolk city: 1,430 countVirginia Beach city: 8,843 countWaynesboro city: 553 countWilliamsburg city: 478 countWinchester city: 1,177 count
  • Under 200
  • 200 to 300
  • 300 to 500
  • 500 to 700
  • 700 to 1,600
  • 1,600 and over
count, 2022. 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, 2022

Fairfax County: 23,407 countFairfax County23,407Loudoun County: 9,369 countLoudoun County9,369Virginia Beach city: 8,843 countVirginia Beach city8,843Prince William County: 7,124 countPrince William County7,124Henrico County: 7,106 countHenrico County7,106Chesterfield County: 6,143 countChesterfield County6,143Richmond city: 5,128 countRichmond city5,128Arlington County: 4,577 countArlington County4,577Chesapeake city: 4,493 countChesapeake city4,493Norfolk city: 3,958 countNorfolk city3,958Alexandria city: 3,706 countAlexandria city3,706Newport News city: 2,890 countNewport News city2,890Hanover County: 2,889 countHanover County2,889Roanoke city: 2,427 countRoanoke city2,427Albemarle County: 2,317 countAlbemarle County2,317Spotsylvania County: 2,261 countSpotsylvania County2,261Stafford County: 2,062 countStafford County2,062Hampton city: 1,863 countHampton city1,863Charlottesville city: 1,785 countCharlottesville city1,785Lynchburg city: 1,772 countLynchburg city1,772Roanoke County: 1,735 countRoanoke County1,735Fauquier County: 1,723 countFauquier County1,723Montgomery County: 1,585 countMontgomery County1,585Fairfax city: 1,514 countFairfax city1,514Bedford County: 1,494 countBedford County1,494James City County: 1,438 countJames City County1,438Suffolk city: 1,430 countSuffolk city1,430Harrisonburg city: 1,415 countHarrisonburg city1,415Frederick County: 1,384 countFrederick County1,384Portsmouth city: 1,333 countPortsmouth city1,333Rockingham County: 1,327 countRockingham County1,327Manassas city: 1,322 countManassas city1,322Augusta County: 1,210 countAugusta County1,210Fredericksburg city: 1,191 countFredericksburg city1,191York County: 1,188 countYork County1,188Winchester city: 1,177 countWinchester city1,177Franklin County: 1,038 countFranklin County1,038Campbell County: 992 countCampbell County992Danville city: 971 countDanville city971Culpeper County: 964 countCulpeper County964Fairfax County: 23,407 countFairfax County23,407Loudoun County: 9,369 countLoudoun County9,369Virginia Beach city: 8,843 countVirginia Beach city8,843Prince William County: 7,124 countPrince William County7,124Henrico County: 7,106 countHenrico County7,106Chesterfield County: 6,143 countChesterfield County6,143Richmond city: 5,128 countRichmond city5,128Arlington County: 4,577 countArlington County4,577Chesapeake city: 4,493 countChesapeake city4,493Norfolk city: 3,958 countNorfolk city3,958Alexandria city: 3,706 countAlexandria city3,706Newport News city: 2,890 countNewport News city2,890Hanover County: 2,889 countHanover County2,889Roanoke city: 2,427 countRoanoke city2,427Albemarle County: 2,317 countAlbemarle County2,317Spotsylvania County: 2,261 countSpotsylvania County2,261Stafford County: 2,062 countStafford County2,062Hampton city: 1,863 countHampton city1,863Charlottesville city: 1,785 countCharlottesville city1,785Lynchburg city: 1,772 countLynchburg city1,772Roanoke County: 1,735 countRoanoke County1,735Fauquier County: 1,723 countFauquier County1,723Montgomery County: 1,585 countMontgomery County1,585Fairfax city: 1,514 countFairfax city1,514Bedford County: 1,494 countBedford County1,494James City County: 1,438 countJames City County1,438Suffolk city: 1,430 countSuffolk city1,430Harrisonburg city: 1,415 countHarrisonburg city1,415Frederick County: 1,384 countFrederick County1,384Portsmouth city: 1,333 countPortsmouth city1,333Rockingham County: 1,327 countRockingham County1,327Manassas city: 1,322 countManassas city1,322Augusta County: 1,210 countAugusta County1,210Fredericksburg city: 1,191 countFredericksburg city1,191York County: 1,188 countYork County1,188Winchester city: 1,177 countWinchester city1,177Franklin County: 1,038 countFranklin County1,038Campbell County: 992 countCampbell County992Danville city: 971 countDanville city971Culpeper County: 964 countCulpeper 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

RankCounties2022
count
Change on 2021
1Fairfax County23,407+1.1%
2Loudoun County9,369+2.7%
3Virginia Beach city8,843+1.3%
4Prince William County7,124+4.3%
5Henrico County7,106+3.2%
6Chesterfield County6,143+2.7%
7Richmond city5,128+1.9%
8Arlington County4,577+0.9%
9Chesapeake city4,493+1.2%
10Norfolk city3,958+0.1%
11Alexandria city3,706+2%
12Newport News city2,890+0.9%
13Hanover County2,889+2.2%
14Roanoke city2,427+1%
15Albemarle County2,317+0.1%
16Spotsylvania County2,261+4.2%
17Stafford County2,062+2.8%
18Hampton city1,863+0.5%
19Charlottesville city1,785+1.8%
20Lynchburg city1,772-0.3%
21Roanoke County1,735+1.2%
22Fauquier County1,723+1.1%
23Montgomery County1,5850%
24Fairfax city1,514+1.3%
25Bedford County1,494+1.8%
26James City County1,438+0.8%
27Suffolk city1,430+3.9%
28Harrisonburg city1,415+2.5%
29Frederick County1,384+4.8%
30Portsmouth city1,333+0.3%
31Rockingham County1,327+2.9%
32Manassas city1,322+4.7%
33Augusta County1,210+2.9%
34Fredericksburg city1,191+2.5%
35York County1,188-0.9%
36Winchester city1,177+0.6%
37Franklin County1,038+3%
38Campbell County992+2.3%
39Danville city971-2%
40Culpeper County964+3.5%
41Washington County938+0.1%
42Salem city829-2.5%
43Falls Church city777+3.1%
44Shenandoah County749+4.2%
45Pittsylvania County739-0.5%
46Gloucester County734+2.2%
47Warren County729+1.7%
48Tazewell County712-2.6%
49Staunton city690+2.4%
50Powhatan County673+1.4%
51Henry County662+1.4%
52Botetourt County646+1.3%
53Goochland County640+2.6%
54Mecklenburg County629-1.7%
55Petersburg city621+4.9%
56Isle of Wight County617+3.7%
57Orange County616+5.5%
58Wythe County566+2.5%
59Halifax County561-1.2%
60Waynesboro city553+0.4%
61Accomack County552+1.5%
62Pulaski County544+6.9%
63Louisa County539+3.7%
64Colonial Heights city521+0.6%
65Bristol city5050%
66Amherst County480-1.8%
67Williamsburg city4780%
68Wise County450-2%
69Prince Edward County441+1.1%
70Martinsville city423+1%
71Smyth County4100%
72Lancaster County402+1.3%
73Prince George County396+1.5%
74New Kent County389+5.4%
75Rockbridge County382+3%
76King George County377+1.6%
77Carroll County369+3.9%
78Hopewell city365-3.4%
79Page County364+3.4%
80Fluvanna County359+3.5%
81Russell County349+0.9%
82Caroline County337+4%
82Clarke County337+4.3%
84Greene County330+2.2%
85Nelson County318-1.5%
86Dinwiddie County316+0.6%
87King William County304-1.6%
88Floyd County297+1.4%
89Buchanan County294-2.3%
90Appomattox County288+4.3%
91Galax city274-2.1%
92Manassas Park city272+0.7%
92Westmoreland County272+1.5%
94Essex County271+3.8%
95Northampton County262+3.6%
95Northumberland County262+0.4%
97Middlesex County257+3.2%
98Giles County248+2.1%
99Madison County2460%
100Nottoway County241-4%
101Patrick County232-2.1%
102Amelia County230+1.3%
103Lexington city226+1.3%
104Brunswick County219+2.8%
105Radford city218-1.8%
106Alleghany County217-3.6%
107Franklin city216-4.8%
108Buckingham County203-6.9%
109Emporia city202+3.1%
110Scott County200+0.5%
111Lee County197-1%
112Poquoson city194+2.1%
113Southampton County181-3.2%
114Covington city176+1.1%
115Rappahannock County175+0.6%
116Charlotte County171+1.8%
116Norton city171+0.6%
118Mathews County167+3.1%
119Dickenson County164-2.4%
120Richmond County156+2.6%
121Grayson County137+1.5%
122Lunenburg County136+0.7%
122Sussex County136-4.2%
124Charles City County133-3.6%
125Cumberland County1290%
126Bath County106+6%
127King and Queen County101-1.9%
128Buena Vista city92+2.2%
129Surry County75+5.6%
130Bland County70+6.1%
131Highland County690%
132Greensville County68-9.3%
133Craig County61+3.4%

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, 2022) [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, 2022. 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=2022. 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, 2022. 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=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties, Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2022 [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=2022 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_virginia_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties: Counties in Virginia by employer firms, 2022}},
  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=2022. 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, 2022
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=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/employer-firms/virginia-counties?period=2022.
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 23,407 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest employer firms?

Craig County, with 61 in 2022.

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