Money Magazine's August issue has just named Midlothian to its national "100 Best Places to Live" list, generating excitement, pride and a healthy dose of "we already knew that!" among county residents. Based on expected publicity for the list, millions of people around the world will now also know about the Village of Midlothian.

According to Money Magazine's editor, Eric Schurenberg, "the list will get more than 25 million page views on our Web site. Millions more will see it on national TV and through local coverage. And, that's not including you and 7.8 million others [reading about it in the magazine]."

That's a lot of eyeballs focusing on Midlothian -- especially since it's the only locality in metro Richmond to make the list. Just five other Virginia localities were recognized: Hunter Mill, Sully, Burke, Reston and Chesapeake. Money Magazine compiled the list based on factors such as affluence, housing, education and quality of life.

This is the second time Midlothian has appeared on the list. In 2005, it ranked 37th. This year, it's 99th.

"Being considered one of the best places to live in America by such a credible source not only reinforces what we residents already know, it also exposes the many benefits of our community to the world," says chairman of the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce and Midlothian resident, Neal Lappe.

Having moved here 22 years ago, Lappe has raised his children here and now proudly declares that his grandchild will be raised in Midlothian as well.

"Apparently, our experience over the years in Midlothian made an impact on my children. When my daughter relocated with her husband, they chose a home in the Midlothian area - primarily for the cost of housing, quality of schools and because of her experience as a child growing up in the area," he said.

Six-year-old Bikal Sharma says he loves living in Midlothian. "I like the pool, the playground, the tennis courts, and I have all different kinds of friends," he said while referencing his Charter Colony neighborhood.

Sharma's dad, Sudeep, a financial analyst, is a native of Nepal and moved here recently because of a job transfer. As he and his son headed to Mid-Lothian Mines Park for some fishing on a hot and sunny afternoon, he said, "Midlothian offers the best real estate because you not only get great houses in the right price range, but you get some land too. I also see great diversity in Midlothian -- blacks, whites, Asians, Indians - and it's important because things are not just local anymore, they're global."

Will Davis, director of the county's Economic Development Department, connects the Money Magazine distinction with the recent Forbes Magazine announcement touting the Richmond region as the seventh best place for business and careers. (That same magazine last week also named Virginia as the "Best State for Business" for the third year in a row.)

"I'm very pleased that the only area in the entire Richmond region named to the Money Magazine list was here in Chesterfield County. Midlothian is a great place when you look at the combination of history, preservation and growth, making it a terrific story of economic development."

Davis will use the national distinction to benefit the entire county. "It's on our Web site. We refer to it when we're talking with prospects or sending out information. We use national rankings such as this to promote the county."

Hugh Keogh, president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, has been a resident of Midlothian for the past two decades and raised six children in the area. "In combination with the other Virginia localities [named on the list], it keeps Virginia front and center with those seeking to relocate from a retirement standpoint or with those choosing to relocate a business."

Keogh's favorite place in Midlothian is "the varsity baseball field at Midlothian High School where we spent a lot of time with our children and developed special memories" while Lappe says his favorite spot is the "Mid-Lothian Mines Park. It's right behind my house, and it's a beautiful walk in the woods. Chesterfield County did a fabulous job preserving its history and creating a beautiful place for us all."

The ladies at the Quilter's Corner shop in Sycamore Square know a thing or two about making memories in the Village of Midlothian since the shop has been open for 10 years. Their storefront is featured in a photo on Money Magazine's Web site. "I know the picture they are using is old," says new owner, Susan Emory. "I can tell because that is my old Dodge Durango!"

Nevertheless, she says the photo placement is generating a buzz. "People have mentioned the photo to me, and so I know it's being seen. I put the Money Magazine list on our blog and stated to our customers that 'Of course, we think Midlothian is the #1 place to live!'"

Emory is looking forward to the increased awareness the photo will bring her shop. "We have regular, loyal customers, but we also have a lot of tourists and out-of-towners come through because quilters will come off the beaten path to visit a good quilt shop."

The Village of Midlothian Volunteer Coalition (VMVC) works very hard to support local area landmarks like Sycamore Square. "In saluting Midlothian, you have to give the people who developed Sycamore Square 30 years ago credit. It's a great place to work and shop. Thanks to what Sycamore Square started and the VMVC has focused on, we're getting more and more fun shops and restaurants in the village," says Charles Batchelor, a VMVC member.

It would seem that Midlothian's placement on the Money Magazine list has a lot to do with its image as a place with a surplus of community pride. Gary Armstrong, senior vice president at a local bank and chair of the Chesterfield Business Council, is a native of the county who decided to return after he had spent 12 years living away from the area.

"Midlothian has always had a defining image that goes beyond just being another bedroom community to Richmond. It seems when you have that defining image then community pride will stay strong, which results in citizens 're-investing' in the community with volunteer time, festivals, school support, athletic leagues, etc. This community pride and citizen participation is what makes Midlothian a great place to live."

Visit www.cnnmoney.com to view the entire list of Money Magazine's "100 Best Places to Live."

Check out more stories in this edition of the Chesterfield Observer, now a weekly publication.