City (pop., 2000: 45,049), central Virginia, U.S. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and settled in the 1730s, it grew as a tobacco-trading centre and later was noted as the home of Presidents James Monroe .
In 1781 the British raided Charlottesville in hopes of capturing Jefferson and other leaders of the {{link=American Revolution">American Revolution . Sites of interest include Jefferson's home, Monticello ; Monroe's home, Ash Lawn; and the University of Virginia .