Rustburg, Virginia · Area guide
The Campbell County seat, 11 miles south of Lynchburg: a small village with its schools all on one road, room to spread out and a county tax rate well below the city's.
The Campbell County seat
Rustburg is the county seat of Campbell County, about 11 miles south of Lynchburg where U.S. 501 meets Route 24. It is an unincorporated community, not a town, with about 1,300 residents at the 2020 Census. It is named for Jeremiah Rust, who donated 50 acres of his land for the village.
Campbell County was formed in 1782 from part of Bedford County, just after the Revolution, and named for General William Campbell, a hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain. Rustburg has been the county's center ever since. County offices are here, and so are the Rustburg schools.
The village itself is small, and that is the appeal. The schools, the old courthouse and county offices line Village Highway, with farms and wooded land in every direction and Lynchburg about 20 minutes away. Homes pay Campbell County's real estate tax, which is well below Lynchburg's.
Small village, big lots, and Lynchburg about 20 minutes up the road.
The county seat
In the center of Rustburg stands the old Campbell County Courthouse, a two-story brick building in the Greek Revival style, with a portico of four Doric columns and an octagonal cupola. John Wills built it in 1848 and 1849, and it served as the county's courthouse until 1991. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
After a restoration that renewed its columns and cupola, the Campbell County Historical Society opened it as a museum in 2015. Its rooms hold exhibits on county life, including African American heritage, along with a genealogy room and the old courtroom, which still hosts local events. It is open Fridays and Saturdays.
County or city
Rustburg and Lynchburg are 20 minutes apart, but the tax bills are not close.
$0.45 per $100
about $1,350
Campbell County Public Schools
Campbell County
$0.84 per $100
about $2,520
Lynchburg City Public Schools
City of Lynchburg
*Illustration only, assuming the assessed value equals $300,000. Your actual bill depends on the assessment.
One catch: plenty of Campbell County homes near the city line, including much of Timberlake, carry Lynchburg mailing addresses. They pay the county rate, not the city's. I confirm the jurisdiction for every home before you make an offer.
Rates per $100 of assessed value, as of October 5, 2026. Confirm with the locality.
Neighborhoods
The blocks around the courthouse, along U.S. 501 and Village Highway, are the oldest part of Rustburg and the closest thing it has to a downtown.
Neighborhoods off Village Highway and U.S. 501 put the elementary, middle and high schools a few minutes away.
MixedNorth of the village, toward Long Mountain and the city, the drive into Lynchburg gets shorter while the county tax rate stays the same.
MixedAway from the main roads, Campbell County opens into farmland and woods. Expect private wells and septic systems and larger parcels than you will find near the city.
Drive times
U.S. 501 runs north through Rustburg to Lynchburg and south to Brookneal. Route 24 runs northeast to Concord and west to U.S. 29 at Yellow Branch, the quick way to Wards Road, the airport and Altavista.
Census data
These figures cover all of Campbell County, including Timberlake and Altavista. Rustburg itself had 1,281 residents at the 2020 Census, too few for reliable survey estimates of its own.
Parks
ball fields, a playground, a reading garden, picnic areas and a walking trail on Bear Creek Road.
athletic fields, picnic tables and trails on Village Highway.
trails off Ewing Drive.
fields, fishing, a playground and trails on Leesville Road toward Timberlake.
a boat ramp, camping and fishing on the Staunton River in the southern part of the county.
Local favorites
county history in the restored 1848 courthouse, open Fridays and Saturdays.
Rustburg's elementary, middle and high schools sit along the same road.
Campbell County's rate is well below Lynchburg's.
acreage and farmland minutes from the village.
both about 15 minutes away, without living in the middle of the traffic.
Schools
Rustburg is served by Campbell County Public Schools, and the village is the hub of its own school zone.
Campbell County has several high school zones, including Rustburg, Brookville and Altavista, and a Rustburg mailing address does not guarantee the Rustburg schools. Zoning follows the exact address, so I confirm it for every home.
Employers
About23minute average commute
Campbell County's largest employers include Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear, Campbell County Public Schools, Abbott Laboratories, the county government and Walmart. Lynchburg is the top commuting destination for county residents, and from Rustburg most of the city is within about 20 to 25 minutes.
Before you commit
a Rustburg address does not guarantee the Rustburg schools. I check the zone for the exact address.
homes near the city line can carry Lynchburg mailing addresses and still pay Campbell County taxes.
public water and sewer reach some areas; many homes use a private well and septic system. I confirm which, and make sure the inspections cover them.
on rural parcels, I look at the survey, road access, easements and whether the land can be used the way you plan.
a few low-lying areas along creeks fall in FEMA flood zones, which affects insurance. I check the map for every home.
Selling
The homes that sell best here are priced from real comparable sales in Campbell County, prepared well and presented beautifully. I list Rustburg homes for a flat fee instead of a percentage of your price, with the same full service. For homes under $250,000, Egan Kemp, REALTOR® with LPT Realty, Inc., offers full service at a lower fee. My minimum fee can be more than a typical commission in that range, but you can still hire me.
FAQ
No. Rustburg is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Campbell County. It has no town government; homes there follow Campbell County taxes and services.
Rustburg is in Campbell County: $0.45 per $100 of assessed value (Campbell County, as of October 5, 2026). Confirm the current rate with the county before you buy.
Campbell County Public Schools, including Rustburg Elementary, Yellow Branch Elementary, Rustburg Middle and Rustburg High School. Campbell County has several school zones, so confirm zoning for the exact address.
About 11 miles, or about 20 minutes to downtown Lynchburg on U.S. 501. Wards Road and the airport are about 15 minutes away by Route 24 and U.S. 29.
Yes. The 1848 Campbell County Courthouse is now a museum run by the Campbell County Historical Society at 774 Village Highway, open Fridays and Saturdays. Check the hours before you go.
Not always. Many Campbell County homes near the city line, including much of Timberlake, use Lynchburg mailing addresses but pay county taxes and attend county schools.
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