10/25/2026
If you've driven into Culpeper, you might have noticed this sign near Pepper's Grill and Wellspring Health Services. Culpeper's claim as one of “America's Top 10 Small Towns” comes from Norman Crampton's The 100 Best Small Towns in America, published in 1993, which ranked Culpeper #10.
The ranking was more involved than the roadside sign might suggest. Crampton began with towns of 5,000 to 15,000 residents and considered factors including income, racial diversity, the age of the population, access to health care, crime, education and public-school spending. Other considerations included population growth, scenery, local newspapers, county-seat status and proximity to larger metropolitan areas. Residents were also interviewed about their community.
Culpeper's profile praised its location, Piedmont setting, historic downtown and economic prospects, while also raising a concern that is still familiar today:
How could Culpeper continue to grow without losing its small-town character?
When Crampton published the All New 2nd Edition in 1997, Culpeper was no longer included among his selections.
At least two signs commemorating the designation once stood in Culpeper. This one remains along Business 29. Another once stood in the median near Ruby Tuesday and Walmart, but has since disappeared (where did it go?). More than thirty years later, the surviving sign has become a little piece of Culpeper history itself.
Do you remember seeing either of these signs? Thirty-three years later, what do you think Culpeper has gained through its growth—and what parts of its small-town character are still worth preserving?
I'll share scans from Culpeper's original entry in the book in the comments below.
Consider following The Culpeper Project for more photographs and stories documenting Culpeper County, Virginia.
