Albemarle's mountains have been and continue to be a source of income, natural resources, scenic beauty, and recreation. In fact, mountains may be said to define much of the character of Albemarle County. Directly and indirectly, the County's mountainous areas provide tens of millions of dollars to the local community in employment, tourism, and agricultural and forest products. Beyond the economic benefits, the mountains provide important natural functions, such as provision of clean water, contributions to healthy air, and habitats for many of the County's plant and animal species. And, to many residents, the blue backdrop of the mountains gives Albemarle County in large measure its "sense of place," that quality which makes this area a special place to its residents and visitors and consistently ranked among the top places to live in the United States.
