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99-717: Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on 450 acres (1.8 km) in Louisa County, Virginia . It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities . Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring and largest secular intentional communities in North America. The community's core values are cooperation , egalitarianism , nonviolence , sustainability , and income sharing. About 100 adults and 17 children live in

198-784: A Dominican -run parish for Catholic students at the University of Virginia was dedicated (replacing a Newman Center begun in 1943), and named St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish. The first Mass of record in Charlottesville was celebrated in the parlor of F. M. Paoli's residence, presumably on Random Row, now West Main Street. Services were held for about 12 years after that in the Town Hall. The presiders were priests who came from St. Francis Assisi Church in Staunton and then traveled on to other missions in

297-440: A 3.3% unemployment rate. According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report the largest employers in the city are as follows: As of 2016, 11,129 people work for the government, with 376 working for the federal government, 7,796 working for the state government, and 2,957 working for the local government. Charlottesville has a large series of attractions and venues for its relatively small size. Visitors come to

396-454: A 63% to 71% decrease in carbon emissions due to living in an ecovillage with sustainable practices and mitigation efforts to environmental impact. Ecovillages, while united by their commitment to sustainability and communal living, often differ in their approaches to governance. Every ecovillage strives to reflect the diverse needs and values of their communities. Ultimately, the choice of governance model within ecovillages aims to demonstrates

495-733: A balance between fostering community cohesion, promoting sustainability, and accommodating the varied needs and values of their members. Establishing governance is a common method used by ecovillages to align individual actions with community objectives. Most ecovillages maintain a distinct set of policies to govern aspects of what keeps their society functioning. Policies within ecovillages are meant to evolve with new situations prompting revisions to existing guidelines. Ecovillages commonly incorporate elements of consensus decision-making into their governance processes. This approach aims to mitigate hierarchies, power imbalances, and inflexibility within their governments. The governmental framework designed in

594-529: A chord that resonated far and wide. The word 'ecovillage'... thus became part of the language of the Cultural Creatives ." After that conference, many intentional communities, including Findhorn, began calling themselves "ecovillages", giving birth to a new movement. The Global Ecovillage Network , formed by a group of about 25 people from various countries who had attended the Findhorn conference, crystallized

693-477: A church were destroyed. Many displaced community members moved into the Westhaven public housing project. The land was not redeveloped until the late 1970s. Despite razing this small area comprising about 20 acres abutting West Main Street in the city's commercial downtown area, Charlottesville maintained its vibrant black community spanning the much larger and still extant Ridge Street and Fifeville neighborhoods to

792-471: A concern for environmental stewardship and a commitment to sustainable practices. Ecovillages frequently employ reusable power sources, such as solar and wind energy, and utilize natural materials, including mud, wood, and straw, in their construction. Such technologies as bioclimatic agriculture are employed in this regard. A study on an ecovillage in Ithaca, New York found that the average ecological footprint of

891-553: A diverse array of researchers and ecovillage communities spanning the globe to develop the Ecovillage Impact Assessment. Their innovative tool serves as a means for communities, groups, and individuals to accurately report, chart, evaluate, and present their efforts toward fostering participatory cultural, social, ecological, and economic regeneration. Over the course of three years, from February 2021 to April 2024, data from 140 surveys conducted within 75 ecovillages formed

990-463: A germinal study called "Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities" for Gaia Trust, in which the ecological and communitarian themes were brought together. The first Eco-Village in North America began its first stages in 1990. Earthaven Eco-Village in Black Mountain, NC was the first community called an Eco-Village and was designed using permaculture (holistic) principles. The first residents moved onto

1089-462: A household in the city was $ 44,535, and the median income for a family was $ 63,934. The per capita income for the city was $ 26,049. About 10.5% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over. 20% of Charlottesville residents have a graduate or professional degree, compared with 10% in the United States as

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1188-544: A limiting factor. Conflicts can arise regarding community rules, resource allocation, or individual responsibilities, it can be difficult to maintain cohesion which can be expected in any community type. An explorative study results concluded that the perceived quality of life of residents in eco-developments rated higher perceived quality of life than residents of developments in conventional settings while still noting various challenges they experienced. Another noteworthy challenge can be limited access to resources, like land that

1287-736: A means of reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The objective of ecovillages is to cultivate robust social connections and a sense of belonging among residents through the promotion of collaboration, consensus-based decision-making, and shared responsibilities. This approach fosters a supportive environment that enhances both individual and collective resilience. Ecovillages represent an international phenomenon that encompasses cultural diversity, frequently integrating traditional wisdom alongside innovative practices. Many ecovillages espouse multiculturalism, indigenous knowledge, and participation as means of enhancing intergenerational learning. In essence, these communities endeavor to achieve sustainable living through

1386-575: A member at the time the book was written), also discusses Twin Oaks' history. About half a dozen dissertations and a dozen master's theses have been written about the community, as well. In 1998, the Washington Post Magazine did a cover story on Twin Oaks. A 21st century book, Surviving the Dream , by Craig Kurtz (a member from 2007 to 2020), analyzes Twin Oaks' political structure. Twin Oaks seeks to be

1485-768: A model of sustainability. The average Twin Oaks member consumes fewer resources than the average American due to the community's practices of resource sharing and self-sufficiency. Members hold all resources in common except for the personal items they keep in their bedrooms. For instance, members share housing, a fleet of 17 vehicles, and a large "clothing library". Twin Oaks members consume 70% less gasoline, 80% less electricity, and 76% less natural gas per capita than do their neighbors. Ecovillage Ecovillagers are united by shared ecological , social-economic and cultural-spiritual values. Concretely, ecovillagers seek alternatives to ecologically destructive electrical, water, transportation, and waste-treatment systems, as well as

1584-404: A multitude of diverse efforts, offering valuable insight into the creation of a sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world. In essence, these communities aim for sustainable living through a multitude of various efforts and offer valuable insight for creating a sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world. The formation of ecovillages is frequently driven by

1683-570: A narrow escape. Unlike much of Virginia, Charlottesville was spared the brunt of the American Civil War . The only battle to take place in Charlottesville was the skirmish at Rio Hill , an encounter in which George Armstrong Custer briefly engaged local Confederate Home Guards before retreating. A year later, the Charlottesville Factory, founded c. 1820–30, was accidentally burnt during General Philip Sheridan 's 1865 raid through

1782-411: A principle-based approach to sustainability, such as permaculture design. In 2019, a study assessed the impact of community sustainability through a life cycle assessment conducted on three ecovillages. The results of this study revealed a substantial reduction in carbon emissions among residents of these ecovillages when compared to the average United States citizen. This study reported that residents had

1881-669: A resident in the ecovillage was 70% less than the ecological footprint of most Americans. Ecovillage residents seek a sustainable lifestyle (for example, of voluntary simplicity ) for inhabitants with a minimum of trade outside the local area, or ecoregion . Many seek independence from existing infrastructures, although others, particularly in more urban settings, pursue more integration with existing infrastructure. Rural ecovillages are usually based on organic farming , permaculture and other approaches which promote ecosystem function and biodiversity . Ecovillages, whether urban or rural, tend to integrate community and ecological values within

1980-450: A scheduled three-week visitor period. During this period, visitors tour the community and attend orientations on various aspects of membership. Unlike most co-housing situations, there is no cost to join the community, nor any rent or ongoing costs associated with living there. Basic necessities—housing, clothing, food, health care—are all provided to members in return for their 38 weekly hours of work. Since 2011, Twin Oaks has consistently had

2079-476: A score of 13–12 in overtime on May 27, 2023. The soccer program is also strong; the Men's team shared a national title with Santa Clara in 1989 and won an unprecedented four consecutive NCAA Division I Championships (1991–1994). Their coach during that period was Bruce Arena , who later won two MLS titles at D.C. United and coached the U.S. National Team during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. The Virginia Men's soccer team won

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2178-465: A similar scenic drive that extends 469 miles (755 km) south to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina , terminates at the southern entrance of Shenandoah, where it turns into Skyline Drive. This junction of the two scenic drives is only 22 miles (35 km) west of downtown Charlottesville. Charlottesville's downtown is a center of business for Albemarle County . It is home to

2277-417: A street in a mostly African-American neighborhood in Charlottesville. It was speculated that the cross burning might be a reaction to "a white man [who] had been known to socialize with one of the young Negro women in that vicinity." In 1956, crosses were burned outside a progressive church. In 1947, Charlottesville organized a local NAACP branch. In 2001, the Charlottesville and Albemarle Branches of

2376-501: A symbol of political turbulence nationwide. The city succeeded in the removal of the Lee and Jackson statues on July 10, 2021, in addition to a statue of Meriwether Lewis , William Clark and Sacagawea of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Christ Episcopal Church was Charlottesville's first church. It was begun in 1820 by builders on loan from Thomas Jefferson, and the congregation's current home

2475-473: A waiting list, so visitors who are accepted for membership need to wait typically three to nine months before they can join. Before a new member can join, while the community is at its population capacity, a current member needs to drop membership. Historically, Twin Oaks has expanded its housing when it has had a waiting list for a prolonged period by building new residences and expanding the stock of bedrooms available. A member of Twin Oaks works around 38 hours

2574-454: A week . Some labor is directed toward generating income, and the rest consists of domestic work like gardening/food production, cooking, bike repair, building maintenance, cleaning, and child care. Most Twin Oakers perform a wide variety of tasks each week instead of spending all of their time in one labor area. Members can also choose to work outside of Twin Oaks. The income from this labor may go to

2673-490: A whole. Federally, Charlottesville is part of Virginia's 5th congressional district , represented by Republican Bob Good , elected in 2020. The city of Charlottesville has an overall crime rate higher than the national average, which tends to be a typical pattern for urban areas of the Southern United States . The total crime index for Charlottesville was 487.9 crimes committed per 100,000 citizens for

2772-430: Is Living Villages and The Wintles where eco-houses are arranged so that social connectivity is maximized and residents have shared food growing areas, woodlands, and animal husbandry for greater sustainability. The most recent worldwide update emerges from the 2022 Annual Report of GEN International, detailing the mapping of 1,043 ecovillage communities on GEN's interactive ecovillage map. GEN collaborated closely with

2871-658: Is adequate for agriculture, available water or renewable energy potential which can limit the viability of ecovillage initiatives. Kellogg, W. Keating, W. (2011), "Cleveland's Ecovillage: green and affordable housing through a network alliance", Housing Policy Debate, 21 (1), pp. 69–91 Cunningham, Paul A. and Wearing, Stephen L.(2013).The Politics of Consensus: An Exploration of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Ireland.[electronic version]. Cosmopolitan Civil Societies. 5(2) pp. 1–28 Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville , colloquially known as C'ville ,

2970-537: Is also home to the Charlottesville Alliance FC , a soccer team who compete in the NPSL. Voters elect a five-member council to serve as the legislative and governing body. Elected through at-large districts, the members serve four-year terms. Every two years, they select a councilor to serve as mayor. The mayor presides over meetings, calls special meetings, makes some appointments to advisory boards, and serves as

3069-474: Is also home to the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School where all U.S. Army military lawyers, known as "JAGs", take courses specific to military law. The Corner is the commercial district abutting the main grounds of the University of Virginia along University Avenue. This area is full of college bars, eateries, and University merchandise stores, and is busy with student activity during

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3168-555: Is an independent city in Virginia , United States. It is the seat of government of Albemarle County , which surrounds the city, though the two are separate legal entities. It is named after Queen Charlotte . At the 2020 census , the city's population was 46,553. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the City of Charlottesville with Albemarle County for statistical purposes, bringing its population to approximately 160,000. Charlottesville

3267-685: Is home to the University of Virginia 's athletic teams, the Cavaliers , most notably the 2019 NCAA Men's National Basketball Champions. The Cavaliers have a wide fan base throughout the region and state. The Cavaliers field teams in sports from soccer to basketball, and have modern facilities that draw spectators throughout the year. Cavalier football season draws the largest crowds during the academic year, with football games played in Scott Stadium . The stadium hosted large musical events, including concerts by

3366-608: Is in the Charlottesville area. Other large employers include Crutchfield , Emerson Automation Solutions , PepsiCo and S&P Global . 18% of people employed in Charlottesville live there, while 82% commute into the city. 42% of those commuting to Charlottesville live in Albemarle County . Additionally, 11,497 people commute from Charlottesville outside of the city for employment. 51% of those commuting from Charlottesville work in Albemarle County. In 2016, Charlottesville had

3465-490: Is legally in Albemarle County ). During the academic year, over 20,000 students enter Charlottesville to attend the university. Its main grounds are located on the west side of Charlottesville, with Thomas Jefferson 's Academical Village, known as the Lawn , as the centerpiece. The Lawn is a long esplanade crowned by two prominent structures, The Rotunda (designed by Jefferson) and Old Cabell Hall (designed by Stanford White ). Along

3564-570: Is not enough; it is vital to restore and regenerate the fabric of life and across all four dimensions of sustainability: social, environmental, economic and cultural. Ecovillages have developed in recent years as technology has improved, so they have more sophisticated structures as noted by Baydoun, M. 2013. Generally, the ecovillage concept is not tied to specific sectarian (religious, political, corporate) organizations or belief systems not directly related to environmentalism, such as monasteries, cults, or communes. The modern-day desire for community

3663-522: Is similar to that of Ten Thousand Villages , which supports the fair trade of goods worldwide. The concept of the ecovillage has undergone significant development over time, as evidenced by the remarkable growth and evolution of these communities over the past few decades. The various facets of the ecovillage include case studies of community models, discussions on sustainability alignment for diverse needs, examinations of their environmental impact, explorations of governance structures, and considerations of

3762-510: Is the heart of the Charlottesville metropolitan area , which includes Albemarle, Buckingham , Fluvanna , Greene , and Nelson counties. Charlottesville was the home of two U.S. presidents , Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe . During their terms as Governors of Virginia , they lived in Charlottesville and traveled to and from Richmond , along the 71-mile historic Three Notch'd Road . Orange , located 26 miles (42 km) northeast of

3861-610: The Dave Matthews Band , The Rolling Stones and U2 . John Paul Jones Arena , which opened in 2006, is the home arena of the Cavalier basketball teams, in addition to serving as a site for concerts and other entertainment events. The arena seats 14,593 for basketball. In its first season in the new arena concluded in March 2007, the Virginia men's basketball team tied with UNC for 1st in

3960-531: The Downtown Mall , one of the longest outdoor pedestrian malls in the nation, with stores, restaurants, theaters and civic attractions. The renovated Paramount Theater hosts various events, including Broadway shows and concerts. Local theatrics downtown includes Charlottesville's community theater Live Arts. Outside downtown are the New Lyric Theatre and Heritage Repertory Theatre at UVa. Other attractions on

4059-547: The Stanley Plan , which prohibited and denied funding to integrated public schools. Segregated schools remained open, however. The first African-American member of the Charlottesville School Board was Raymond Bell in 1963. In 1963, later than many Southern cities, civil rights activists in Charlottesville began protesting segregated restaurants with sit-ins , such as one that occurred at Buddy's Restaurant near

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4158-661: The University of Virginia to its west and Rivanna River to its east. Charlottesville has a four-season humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), with all months being well-watered, though the period from May to September is the wettest. Winters are somewhat cool, with a January average of 36.2 °F (2.3 °C), though lows can fall into the teens (< −7 °C) on some nights and highs frequently (11 days in January) reach 50 °F (10 °C). Spring and autumn provide transitions of reasonable length. Summers are hot and humid, with July averaging 77.6 °F (25.3 °C) and

4257-454: The VHSL Group AA boys' soccer championship in 2004. St. Anne's-Belfield School won its fourth state private-school championship in ten years in football in 2006. The Covenant School won the state private-school title in boys' cross country in the 2007–2008 school year, the second win in as many years, and that year the girls' cross country team won the state title. Monticello High School won

4356-405: The census of 2010, there were 43,475 people, 17,778 households, and 7,518 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,220.8 people per square mile (1,629.7 people/km ). There were 19,189 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 69.1% White , 19.4% Black American , 0.3% Native American , 6.4% Asian , 1.8% from other races , and 3.0% from two or more races. 5.1% of

4455-656: The ACC. Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball won the ACC outright in the 2013–14 season, as well as the 2014 ACC tournament . The team finished the season ranked #3 in the AP poll before losing to Tom Izzo 's Spartans by two points in the Sweet Sixteen held in Brooklyn, New York. The Cavaliers' men's basketball team won the NCAA championship on April 8, 2019. Lacrosse has become a significant part of

4554-726: The British queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz . During the American Revolutionary War , Congress imprisoned the Convention Army in Charlottesville at the Albemarle Barracks between 1779 and 1781. The Governor and legislators had to abandon the capitol temporarily and on June 4, 1781, Jack Jouett warned the Virginia Legislature meeting at Monticello of a planned raid by Colonel Banastre Tarleton , allowing

4653-876: The Charlottesville Festival of the Photograph in June, and the Virginia Festival of the Book in March. In addition, the Foxfield Races are steeplechase races held in April and September of each year. A Fourth of July celebration, including a Naturalization Ceremony, is held annually at Monticello, and a First Night celebration has been held on the Downtown Mall since 1982. Charlottesville has no professional sports teams, but

4752-522: The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia. The Charlottesville area was the home of Thomas Jefferson , James Madison , and James Monroe . Monticello , Jefferson's plantation manor, is located just a few miles from downtown. The home of James Monroe , Ash Lawn-Highland , is down the road from Monticello . About 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Charlottesville lies the home of James and Dolley Madison , Montpelier . During

4851-466: The Charlottesville sports scene. The Virginia Men's team won their first NCAA Championship in 1972; in 2006, they won their fourth national championship and were the first team to finish undefeated in 17 games (then a record for wins). The team won its seventh National Championship in 2021. Virginia's Women's team has three NCAA Championships to its credit, with wins in 1991, 1993, and 2004. The team most recently lost in 2023 semi finals to Notre Dame by

4950-618: The Downtown Mall are the Virginia Discovery Museum and a 3,500 seat outdoor amphitheater, the Ting Pavilion (formerly the Sprint Pavilion and the nTelos Wireless Pavilion). Court Square, just a few blocks from the Downtown Mall, is the original center of Charlottesville and several of the historic buildings there date back to the city's founding in 1762. Charlottesville also is home to the University of Virginia (most of which

5049-766: The Dream , broadcast on August 15, 2017, devoted an 11-minute segment to Twin Oaks. Members and one former member (the founders' daughter), interviewed by Professor Richard Clay, expressed concerns about the inability to build savings, and complex interpersonal relationships. Clay observed that 20 percent of the membership turned over annually. Twin Oaks' 38-hour work week is divided between domestic and income-producing labor. Twin Oaks operates several community-owned businesses, including Twin Oaks Tofu, Twin Oaks Hammocks, and Twin Oaks Book Indexing. Additionally, members working in

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5148-503: The Ecovillage Tamera, Portugal promotes inclusivity that actively works to combat hierarchical structures. The Tamera community attributes their success to their Women's Council who confront patriarchal norms and empower women within the governance system. Members of ecovillage communities will select their peers to serve as government members based off established trust within the community, this serves as an active strategy to mitigate

5247-490: The Lawn and the parallel Range are dormitory rooms reserved for distinguished students. The University Programs Council is a student-run body that programs concerts, comedy shows, speakers, and other events open to the students and the community, such as the annual "Lighting of the Lawn". One block from The Rotunda, the University of Virginia Art Museum exhibits work drawn from its collection of more than 10,000 objects and special temporary exhibitions from sources nationwide. It

5346-623: The NAACP merged to form the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Branch. In the fall of 1958, Charlottesville closed its segregated white schools as part of Virginia's strategy of massive resistance to federal court orders requiring integration as part of the implementation of the Supreme Court of the United States decision Brown v. Board of Education . The closures were required by a new series of state laws collectively known as

5445-475: The NCAA Championship again in both 2009 and 2014 under coach George Gelnovatch . Virginia's baseball team, has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, under Head Coach Brian O'Connor, after hosting several regionals and Super Regionals in the post-season, and playing in the 2009, 2011, and 2014 College World Series . They finished as runners-up in the 2014 edition, despite outscoring Vanderbilt 17–12 in

5544-896: The Randolph Brothers performing. In 1974, other social clubs listed are the Bethune Art and Literary Club, The Lucky Twenty Club, and the Les Amies Club. Starting in the 2010s Charlottesville received national attention because of local conflict between those who did and those who did not want Confederate symbols removed. The Washington Post has reported that "Nowhere has this clash been more fraught than in Charlottesville, where parks have been renamed, then renamed again, streets have been re-christened, and stickers bearing white supremacist slogans go up as quickly as activists can remove them." City attempts to remove statues of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson from downtown parks have been

5643-520: The Shenandoah Valley. However, the mayor had surrendered the city to Generals Custer and Sheridan to keep the town from being burned. The factory had been taken over by the Confederacy and used to manufacture woolen clothing for the soldiers. It caught fire when some coals taken by Union troops to burn the nearby railroad bridge dropped on the floor. The factory was rebuilt immediately and was known as

5742-693: The South Garden Baptist Church, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The first Catholic church in Charlottesville was the Church of the Paraclete, built in 1880 and erected as a parish in 1896. In 1906 the church building was renovated and the parish was renamed to Holy Comforter. A second parish was erected for the growing Catholic population in 1976 called the Church of the Incarnation. In 1967

5841-469: The Twin Oaks Seed Farm grow seeds for Southern Exposure Seed Exchange . From these sources, Twin Oaks generates around $ 600,000 per year. This money pays for community upkeep and goods that cannot be produced on site, and each member receives a monthly stipend for personal use (i.e., to purchase items that the community does not provide). In news segments, Twin Oakers often attribute the longevity of

5940-437: The United States is not in its technology; it is in its lifestyle and concept of living." Ramsey's article includes a sketch for a "self-sufficient pedestrian solar village" by one of his students that looks very similar to eco-villages today. The movement became more focused and organized in the cohousing and related alternative-community movements of the mid-1980s. Then, in 1991, Robert Gilman and Diane Gilman co-authored

6039-440: The University of Virginia. In 1965, the city government razed the downtown African American neighborhood Vinegar Hill as an urban renewal project, after the city council passed a law stating that "unsanitary and unsafe" properties could be taken over by a housing authority . Vinegar Hill had served the needs of the black community while the city remained segregated . One hundred thirty homes, five Black-owned businesses, and

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6138-643: The VHSL Group AA state football title in 2007. Charlottesville High School's boys' soccer team were state champs again in 2019, when it won the VHSL Class 4A Championship. Charlottesville is also home to the Charlottesville Tom Sox of the Valley Baseball League who won the 2017 & 2019 league championships. Their home stadium is Crutchfield Park at Charlottesville High School. Charlottesville

6237-474: The Women's Gathering, both of which take place every August. The history of Twin Oaks Community is detailed extensively in two books by Kathleen (Kat) Kinkade, one of the co-founders of the community. The first, A Walden Two Experiment , covers the first five years of the community. The second, Is it Utopia Yet? , covers the next 20 years. Another book from the 1980s, Living the Dream , by Ingrid Komar (the mother of

6336-504: The Woolen Mills until its liquidation in 1962. After Reconstruction ended, Charlottesville's African American population suffered under Jim Crow laws that segregated public places and limited opportunity. Schools were racially segregated and African Americans were not served in many local businesses. Public parks were planned separately for the white and African American populations: four for whites, and one for African Americans built on

6435-496: The anniversary of its founding. Interpersonal relationships are also diverse. Multiple types of gender relationships coexist, including monogamy, celibacy, and polyamory . Residents live in dormitory-style living quarters spread out across the community. Each member has a private bedroom, but shares public spaces. Member turnover is no longer as high as it was in the community's early years, and many former Twin Oakers live in nearby Charlottesville and Louisa to maintain ties to

6534-472: The area for wine and beer tours, ballooning, hiking, and world-class entertainment that perform at one of the area's four larger venues. The city is both the launching pad and home of the Dave Matthews Band as well as the center of a sizable indie music scene. Charlottesville hosts multiple orchestral groups including the Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra, Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, and

6633-819: The area. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 10.3 square miles (27 km ), virtually all of which is land. Charlottesville is located in central Virginia along the Rivanna River —a tributary of the James —just west of the Southwest Mountains, a range which parallels the Blue Ridge about 20 miles (32 km) to the west. Charlottesville is 99 miles (159 km) from Washington, D.C. , and 72 miles (116 km) from Richmond . Charlottesville exists on rolling hills between

6732-407: The basis of the comprehensive results. Through this assessment ecovillages are empowered to understand their impact and influence their community has had. Ecovillages are defined by their commitment sustainability through a multitude of design, lifestyle, and community objectives. They prioritize environmental stewardship through various methods, including the utilization of renewable energy sources,

6831-506: The challenges faced on their path towards a successful ecovillage. Multiple sources define ecovillages as a subtype of intentional communities focusing on sustainability. More pronounced definitions are listed here: In Joubert's view, ecovillages are seen as an ongoing process, rather than a particular outcome. They often start off with a focus on one of the four dimensions of sustainability, e.g. ecology, but evolve into holistic models for restoration. In this view, aiming for sustainability

6930-415: The city, was the hometown of President James Madison . The University of Virginia , founded by Jefferson, straddles the city's southwestern border. Jefferson's home and primary plantation , Monticello , located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of the city, is, along with the University of Virginia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , each attracting thousands of tourists from across the country every year. At

7029-460: The community avoided the problems of laziness, freeloading, and lack of structure stereotypically associated with communes by adopting a structured, yet flexible, labor system. Modified versions of the community's organizational structure and labor credit system survive. As in Skinner's novel, the original labor credit system utilized "variable" credit hours. Certain jobs were worth more credit hours than others in order to make each job desirable. What

7128-410: The community found once the population reached about 40, is that there was neither universally desirable work, nor undesirable work and the variable credit hour system created incentives that encouraged work. The updated plan uses "standardized" credits; each job in the community is valued equally in credit hours. Twin Oaks has approximately 100 members. People interested in joining Twin Oaks must attend

7227-580: The community to its engagement in capitalism through its tofu and hammocks businesses. Twin Oaks has helped establish three sister communities: Acorn Community , about 7 miles (11 km) from Twin Oaks, Living Energy Farm , also in Louisa County, Virginia; and East Wind Community in south central Missouri. Twin Oaks also hosts annual intentional community gatherings cosponsored by the Fellowship for Intentional Community : The Communities Conference, and

7326-786: The community, although some portion of it can go into a member's "vacation earnings". Excess labor done in a week accumulates as vacation time. Though live television viewing is prohibited, Twin Oaks' members have access to the Internet as well as to public computers. Members can also watch movies and tapes of TV programs. People in the community often gather for other recreational activities such as dancing, meditating, discussing literature, staging musicals, and playing board games. Twin Oaks members are religiously diverse. The membership includes Christians , atheists , pagans , Buddhists , and others. The community hosts pagan handfastings , Equinox parties, and Thanksgiving dinners, and it celebrates June 16,

7425-413: The community. The community itself acknowledges that it has yet to create the perfect society; it even provides a guidebook entitled "Not Utopia Yet" to visitors. Those who choose to live at Twin Oaks for several years—including founder Kinkade—sometimes feel "trapped" there. This is because members have little opportunity to build up equity or savings. The BBC Four television series Utopia: In Search of

7524-623: The community. The community was founded on a 123-acre (0.50 km) tobacco farm in 1967 by a group of eight individuals with no farming experience that included Kat Kinkade , who wrote two books about the community. The community's inspiration was B. F. Skinner 's novel Walden Two , which describes a fictional behaviorist utopia . However, Skinner's vision quickly faded from prominence at Twin Oaks, as behaviorist principles were abandoned in favor of egalitarian principles. The community struggled greatly during its first few years, from high member turnover and low member income. According to Kinkade,

7623-442: The decision-making process. Each ecovillage exhibits a unique approach to how they will develop their governance. Ecovillages acknowledge that there is a delicate balance in maintaining a functioning community that appreciates and considers the perspectives of its members. Through active involvement in the governance processes, ecovillages demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity, adaptability, and collective empowerment, demonstrating

7722-446: The emergence of hierarchies. Through involvement of community members in reviewing and revising existing rules, ecovillages ensure flexibility and adaptability to evolving needs. Active participation in policy formulation fosters a sense of ownership among members regarding community expectations and boundaries. Ecovillage community members express their contentment knowing they had the opportunity to voice their concerns and contribute to

7821-628: The event by linking hundreds of small projects from around the world, that had similar goals but had formerly operated without knowledge of each other. Gaia Trust of Denmark agreed to fund the network for its first five years. Since the 1995 conference, a number of the early members of the Global Ecovillage Network have tried other approaches to ecovillage building in an attempt to build settlements that would be attractive to mainstream culture in order to make sustainable development more generally accepted. One of these with some degree of success

7920-401: The high exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on 34.4 or more days per year. Snowfall is highly variable from year to year but is normally moderate, averaging 17.0 inches (43 cm). What does fall does not remain on the ground for long. Extremes have ranged from −10 °F (−23 °C) on January 19, 1994, up to 107 °F (42 °C), most recently on September 7, 1954. Notes : As of

8019-666: The larger social systems that mirror and support them. Many see the breakdown of traditional forms of community, wasteful consumerist lifestyles, the destruction of natural habitat, urban sprawl , factory farming , and over-reliance on fossil fuels as trends that must be changed to avert ecological disaster and create richer and more fulfilling ways of life. Ecovillages offer small-scale communities with minimal ecological impact or regenerative impacts as an alternative. However, such communities often cooperate with peer villages in networks of their own ( see Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) for an example). This model of collective action

8118-595: The minimization of waste through recycling and composting, and the practice of organic agriculture and permaculture. In many cases, these communities strive for self-sufficiency in food production, with the aim of reducing the ecological footprint associated with food transportation. Ecovillage communities place a strong emphasis on the conservation of resources through the application of green building techniques, including passive solar design, natural insulation, and rainwater harvesting. Additionally, they promote alternative modes of transportation, such as cycling and walking, as

8217-683: The number of reported crimes within Charlottesville occurred from 2009 up to 2013. Charlottesville is the home of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory headquarters, the Leander McCormick Observatory and the CFA Institute . It is served by two area hospitals, the Martha Jefferson Hospital founded in 1903, and the University of Virginia Hospital . The National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)

8316-436: The population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. There were 17,778 households, out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.1% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.7% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

8415-500: The principles of collaborative decision-making and community-driven change. While ecovillages aim to embody admirable dimensions of sustainability and community, they are not without their challenges. One significant challenge is the initial investment required to establish or transition to an ecovillage lifestyle. The costs of acquiring land, implementing sustainable infrastructure, and maintaining communal facilities can be prohibitive for some individuals or groups making available funds

8514-544: The school year. Pedestrian traffic peaks during the university's home football games and graduation ceremonies. Much of the university's Greek life is on the nearby Rugby Road , contributing to the nightlife and local bar scene. West Main Street, running from the Corner to the Downtown Mall , is a commercial district of restaurants, bars, and other businesses. Charlottesville is host to the annual Virginia Film Festival in October,

8613-402: The site of a former dump. The Ku Klux Klan had chapters in the Charlottesville area beginning at least in the early twentieth century, and events such as lynchings and cross burnings occurred in the Charlottesville area. In 1898, Charlottesville resident John Henry James was lynched in the nearby town of Ivy. In August 1950, three white men were observed burning a cross on Cherry Avenue,

8712-463: The south, and the Tenth & Page and Rose Hill neighborhoods to the north. Neighborhood civic associations, social clubs, and church groups sponsored activities for its residents. The Blue Mints Social Club met at the home of Mrs. Reva Shelton on December 1, 1974. At this meeting, the group planned their annual "Baskets of Cheer", and hosted a Cabaret Dance on New Year's Eve at Carver Recreation Center, with

8811-620: The subject of extensive, unresolved litigation. In August 2017, white supremacist groups opposed to their removal organized the " Unite the Right rally " to protest against the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from then Lee Park, subsequently renamed Emancipation Park . After the rally, a white nationalist drove a car into protesters , resulting in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer and causing injuries to 19 other counter-protesters. The incident became national news and Charlottesville became

8910-494: The summer, the Ash Lawn-Highland Opera Festival is held at the downtown Paramount Theater with a performance at Ash Lawn-Highland. The nearby Shenandoah National Park offers recreational activities, scenic mountains and hiking trails. Skyline Drive is a scenic drive that runs the length of the park, alternately winding through thick forest and emerging upon sweeping scenic overlooks. The Blue Ridge Parkway ,

9009-531: The three-game series. The team then avenged this loss the following year, beating Vanderbilt in 2015 for its first NCAA baseball title. Charlottesville area high school sports have been prominent throughout the state. Charlottesville is a hotbed for lacrosse in the country, with teams such as St. Anne's-Belfield School , The Covenant School , Tandem Friends School , Charlottesville Catholic School, Charlottesville High School , Western Albemarle High School and Albemarle High School . Charlottesville High School won

9108-543: The time of European settlement, part of the area that became Charlottesville was occupied by a Monacan village called Monasukapanough . An Act of the Assembly of Albemarle County established Charlottesville in 1762. Thomas Walker was named its first trustee. It was situated along a trade route called Three Notched Road (present day U.S. Route 250 ), which led from Richmond to the Great Valley . The town took its name from

9207-470: The vacant land in 1993. As of 2019 Earthaven Eco-Village has over 70 families living off the grid on 368 acres of land. The ecovillage movement began to coalesce at the annual autumn conference of Findhorn , in Scotland, in 1995. The conference was called: "Ecovillages and Sustainable Communities", and conference organizers turned away hundreds of applicants. According to Ross Jackson , "somehow they had struck

9306-437: The year of 2006; the national average for the United States was 320.9 crimes committed per 100,000 citizens. For the year of 2006, Charlottesville ranked higher on all violent crimes except for robbery ; the city ranked lower in all categories of property crimes except for larceny theft . In 2013 there were a total of 371 crimes reported; of these 38 were violent crimes and 333 were property crimes . A downward trend in

9405-517: Was William D. Gibbons . The date he became pastor is not known with certainty, but was about 1868. A current predominantly African-American church can trace its lineage to that first church. Congregation Beth Israel's 1882 building is the oldest synagogue building still standing in Virginia. In 1974, some of the Baptist churches in Charlottesville included the Union Run Baptist Church,

9504-440: Was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.91. The age distribution was 14.9% under the age of 18, 24.3% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.8 years. The population was 52.3% female and 47.7% male. The city's low median age and the "bulge" in the 18-to-24 age group are both due to the presence of the University of Virginia . The median income for

9603-593: Was brought into focus by recurrent energy crises. The term "eco-village" was introduced by Georgia Tech Professor George Ramsey in a 1978 address, "Passive Energy Applications for the Built Environment", to the First World Energy Conference of the Association of Energy Engineers, to describe small-scale, car-free, close-in developments, including suburban infill, arguing that "the great energy waste in

9702-504: Was completed in the early 1900s. The first black church in Charlottesville, the First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, was established in 1864. Previously, it was illegal for African Americans to have their own churches, although they were allowed to worship in designated areas in white churches, if the white church members allowed it. Its first black pastor (previously, it was required by law that all churches have white pastors),

9801-578: Was notably characterized by the communal "back to the land" movement of the 1960s and 1970s through communities such as the earliest example that still survives, the Miccosukee Land Co-op co-founded in May 1973 by James Clement van Pelt in Tallahassee, Florida. In the same decades, the imperative for alternatives to radically inefficient energy-use patterns, in particular automobile-enabled suburban sprawl ,

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