The community's development was spurred by the completion of the Staunton and James River Turnpike, which was authorized by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1818 and began construction in 1826.

[4][5] This turnpike connected the fertile farmlands of the Shenandoah Valley near Staunton to Scottsville on the James River, a distance of 43.5 miles (70.0 km).

Batesville, which was located at the halfway point on the turnpike, saw an increase in traffic through the community as farmers took advantage of the new road to carry agricultural products to eastern markets.

The coming of the Virginia Central Railroad to Albemarle County before the civil war, and its revitalization after, took traffic away from the road through Batesville as it was a faster and more effective way of transporting goods.

Although less traffic was available to sustain economic growth, Batesville nevertheless continued to grow due in part to the general prosperity of Albemarle County as a whole and the construction of the nearby Miller School.