SIZE AND CHARACTER: Louisa County is 508 square miles in central Virginia, crossed by Interstate 64 and bounded by Lake Anna and Spotsylvania County to the northeast, Orange County to the north, Albemarle County to the northwest, Fluvanna and Goochland counties to the southwest and Hanover County to the southeast. Louisa is sparsely populated and covered by extensive woodlands, interspersed with farmlands and residential and industrial areas. It is home to Dominion Virginia Power’s North Anna Power Station and the 9,600-acre Lake Anna, which was built by the utility.

TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES:

The county includes two incorporated towns, Louisa and Mineral, the Twin Oaks commune and a number of large subdivisions on Lake Anna.

HISTORY: The county was formed in 1742 and named for Princess Louisa, daughter of England’s King George II and Queen Caroline. On the night of July 3, 1781, Revolutionary War hero Jack Jouett rode from Cuckoo Tavern to Charlottesville to warn Gov. Thomas Jefferson about the approach of British soldiers. A large Civil War cavalry battle, the Battle of Trevilian Station, was fought in western Louisa.

Population:

2006 Census estimate: 31,226
2000 Census: 25,627