Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is known for its finance and law companies. The city is home to some of the largest and most notable finance firms such as Genworth Financial, CapitalOne, Philip Morris USA along with law firms like William Mullen, McGuireWoods and Troutman Sanders.

The city has many opportunities for outdoor and nature related activities. Belle Island and Brown Island along with the various parks in the city are great for a day trip. Byrd Park and Maymont parks are among the favorites.

While the city does have any major league sports teams, there are various minor league teams to watch. Other aspects of the city that attract people are its monuments and rich history.

Richmond is a city known for its law firms and finance offices. With more investments in the media research arena and other industries coming up, along with monuments and other great places to see, there is no stopping this city from becoming a major attraction for all.

Richmond History

The first people who are known to live in the Richmond area were Powhatan, Shocquohocan or the Shockoe. It was in 1606 that James I gave the Royal charter to the Virginia Company of London to settle colonies in the area. Captain Christopher Newport led the exploration of the area when it was first being colonized. It is interesting to note that the natives of the place put up a good fight and were not willing to give up their land. It took many attempts to finally colonize and settle in this area. In 1673, William Byrd I was given land in the area near the falls on James River. The land was inherited by William Byrd II and later named the area as Richmond after the Richmond town in England.

During the American Revolution, Patrick Henry stated 'Give me Liberty or give me death' in St. John's Church. This meeting was attended by people who would go to write the United States Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) and George Washington (first president of the country). The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was also written in 1786 by Thomas Jefferson. It was sponsored by James Madison and it became the basis of the separation of the church and the state.

In 1861, Virginia decided to withdraw from the United States and joined the Confederate States and the capital of the state was moved to Richmond at this time due to the strategic location of Tredegar Iron Works. The Union army captured Richmond under Ulysses S. Grant and at this time about a quarter of the city's buildings were destroyed. The city emerged from the ruble of the war as an economic powerhouse. Tobacco warehousing and processing continued to play a strong role in the growth of the city.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, Richmond was consolidated by adding the erstwhile Manchester and Barton Heights, Ginter Park and Highland Park was also added. The slaves were freed and Jackson Ward became the 'Wall Street of Black America'. The city also became the headquarters of the 5th district of the Federal Reserve Bank due to its location.

It was during the early and mid 20th century that performing arts venues like the Landmark Theatre, Byrd Theatre and Carpenter Theatre were created. The first radio station of the city called WRVA was started in 1925. During the downtown boom more than 700 buildings were created in the area to manage the growth of the city. In 1970, the city was forced to expand its borders by 27 square miles towards the south as the city continued to grow.

To avoid any issues from the flood, a huge wall was completed in 1995 between the city and James River. This was mainly done to protect the city and Shockoe Bottom businesses that contributed so much to the city. The move led to the growth of the River District businesses by leaps and bounds and today it is a famous entertainment area with restaurants, nightlife and pubs.

About Richmond, Virginia

The city of Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is an independent city and is not part of any county. Unlike what many people think, Richmond is therefore not in Richmond County, a place that is about 33 miles or 53 kilometers away from the city and unrelated. The city is located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64. Interstate 295 and Virginia State Route 288 encircle the city. It is said to be located in the Piedmont region of Virginia at the highest point in James River that is navigable.

In 2010, the population in the city limits was estimated to be 204,214 and the Richmond Metropolitan Area had a population of 1,231,675. According to the previous survey conducted by the American Community, almost 42 percent of those living in Richmond were White Americans and slightly more than 52 percent was African American. Slightly less than 2 percent of the population was made up of Asian Americans.

Richmond has a strategic location with respect to trade and industry. It is located on the James River and is built on the hills at the rocky fall line. The city literally separates the Piedmont and Tidewater areas of Virginia and therefore offers a great opportunity for trade and commerce. Interestingly, law and finance are the two industries that have thrived here and these form the pillars of the economy. One can find the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the city along with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and various other financial institutions.

The climate of Richmond is considered to be humid subtropical climate. This means that summers are hot and humid and winters are generally mild. In addition to that the mountains that appear on the west of the city help in blocking the cold continental winders during the winter season. The humidity is augmented by the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The people of the city are extremely flexible and tolerant to all religions and religious practices. The city follows the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that was introduced in 1786. It supports all religions alike and allows each and every individual to practice religion in the manner that he wants. There are various historical churches, masjids, synagogues and temples in the city.

Some of the interesting monuments and museums that can be found in the city include the Virginia Historical Society, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Science Museum of Virginia, Virginia Center for Architecture, and St John's Church. The various companies that are well known in the area of performing arts include Barksdale Theatre, Theatre IV, Richmond Ballet and Virginia Opera.

Some of the oldest municipal parks can be found in this city. There is the Monroe Park that sits adjacent to the Virginia Commonwealth University along with a large number of parks that are located along the James River. The 2 islands, Belle Island and Brown's Island, also make for a great day trip.

The city has about 28 elementary schools, nine middle schools and 8 high schools that are home to about 24,000 students on an annual basis. For higher education in the city, there is the Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond and Virginia Union University.

About Richmond County, Virginia

Richmond County is about an hour's drive from Richmond City. It is located on the Northern Neck Peninsula in East Virginia near the crossroads of US Route 360 and State Route 3. Warsaw is its county seat. The main industries that have been the pillars of the economy in the county include farming, fishing and forestry due to the fact that the county is basically rural.

The counties adjacent to Richmond County are Westmoreland County in the North, Northumberland County in the East, Lancaster County in the Southwest and Essex County in the Southwest. As of the 2000 census the county included 8809 people in 2937 households. The population density of the county was estimated to be 46 people per square mile. Almost 65 percent of the people are White and a third of the residents are African American.

The median household income of the county was estimated to be $33,026 and the per capita income was $16,675. It was also estimated that almost 12 percent of the families were below the poverty line.

It is interesting to note that the Menokin Bluegrass Festival was launched in Richmond County in 2004 at the ruins of Francis Lightfoot Lee's ancestral home. This is a festival that continues to be celebrated every year with a lot of fanfare and excitement.

Some of the places that you may like to see in Richmond County include Farnham Church, Grove Mount, Linden Farm, Indian Banks, the Richmond County Courthouse, Mount Airy, Woodford, Menokin and Sabine Hall. These are places that have been registered in the National Register of Historic Places in the Richmond County and are therefore worth taking a look. Most of the places mentioned here will help you experience farm life as you may have never seen before.