|
Historic Richmond, Virginia invites you to come explore all that the city has to offer. Richmond is the capital of Virginia and is at the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Area. Richmond real estate sits in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic and is surrounded by the nation's capital to the north, the Chesapeake Bay to the east and the rolling Appalachian Mountains to the west. These great scenic features make Richmond real estate a popular place to buy a new home or start a new business.
The drive behind Richmond's economy is primarily finance, law and government. There are many notable banking and legal firms and local, state and federal governmental agencies. Richmond is home to nine Fortune 500 companies and 13 Fortune 1000 companies. In 2007, MarketWatch ranked Richmond the third best city for businesses. Richmond real estate is conveniently located along Interstates 95 and 195 for easy access to all the city has to offer.
Historic Richmond
The Powhatan Confederacy Indian tribes once inhabited area. For hundreds of years, these tribes recognized the true value of the area that was rich in natural beauty. They called the area Shocquohocan and used the land to trade, fish, hunt and play.
In June 1607, Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith led explorers up the Jordan and found the perfect site to erect a cross on one of the smaller islands in the center of the river. The first settlement was in 1609. Captain Smith purchased land on the river across from the Indians. Smith tried to establish a small garrison, but had to abandon it because of Indian attacks. It wasn't until 1673 that a town was established with the help of William Byrd, who was a well connected Indian trader around the area. William Byrd's son, William Byrd II, inherited his father's land on which he founded the town of Richmond in 1737. The town was laid out in April 1737 and incorporated in 1742. Over the years, the Richmond population grew slowly, but, after the revolutionary war, the city became an important industrial center. Around that same time, it also became a crossroads of commerce and transportation.
The 1860s saw the construction of railroads making the city a major railroad crossroads. The city's economy was doing well until the Civil War, when over 25% of the city was completely destroyed. After the Civil War, the city began a reconstruction and recovery phase. Various intersections and several monuments were erected in honor of the city's Confederate heroes. Part of the success of the reconstruction phase was an electrically powered trolley system, the Richmond Union Passenger Railway.
By the turn of the 20th Century, the city had a population of 85,050 residents, making it the most populated city in the south. Over the years, Richmond real estate has continued to grow. A strong economy and many new additions to the city make it one of the best places in Virginia to be.
Richmond's Climate
Richmond's climate is defined as humid subtropical with moderate changes of season. March brings in spring with cool nights and mild days. Late May brings warmer weather with temperatures in the upper 90s. The warmest month of the year is July, which also has the most precipitation. October brings in fall with cooler days and nights. Richmond's winter is usually mild, with an average high in the 40s. January is the coldest month of the year and the area sees an average snowfall of 12" a year.
Education in Richmond
Student's residing in Richmond are served by Richmond Public Schools. The school system is made up of 31 elementary schools, nine middle schools and eight high schools. Richmond also has several private and college preparatory schools that offer a full K-12 education.
Richmond real estate is home to several major institutions of higher education, such as Virginia Union University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, John Tyler Community College, Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, plus many more. Also, Randolph-Macon College is 15 miles to the north and Virginia State University is 20 miles to the south.
Things To See and Do in Richmond
Richmond operates one of the oldest and biggest park systems in the nation. The park system began in 1851 and is now made up of over 40 parks occupying 1,500 acres. There are many parks along James River offering nature, hiking and biking trails and beautiful scenic overlooks. Professional riders consider the James River bike trails one of the best urban trail systems in the country. You can also find parks on two major islands of Richmond real estate: Brown's Island and Belle Isle. Belle Isle is the larger of the two islands and offers rock climbing on a small cliff along with many bike trails. Remains of a Civil War prison camp can still be found on the island. Brown's Island offers free outdoor concerts and festivals during the spring and summer months, such as a seafood festival and the James River Beer Festival.
Maymont and Byrd Park are two other major parks in the area. Both are located near the fan district. Maymont is adjacent to Byrd Park and is a 100-acre Victorian estate that features native wildlife exhibits, formal gardens, a nature center, a museum, a children's farm and a carriage collection. Byrd Park features an amphitheater, two monuments, a few small lakes, a public dog park and a one mile running track. There are several smaller parks around the city and four theme parks, with another planned to open soon.
There are several indoor activities in Richmond as well. The city offers many museums that offer everything from history to science exhibits. Art galleries are another popular indoor attraction. Several galleries can be found around the city and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Arts has several pieces of artwork on display around Richmond.
If you like shopping, then Richmond is the place to be. There are tons of hot spots to shop and include antique stores, specialty shops, malls, shopping centers and much more. There are also plenty of restaurants in Richmond real estate. You'll find cafes, diners, coffee shops, seafood and steakhouses, pizza shops, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and so much more.
If you're seeking a beautiful city with fun and friendly residents, that offers a great economy, excellent education and tons of activities, then Richmond real estate is the place to be. |
Richmond Demographics:
Population: 197,790
Median Household Income:
$34,396
Median Home Value:
$149,400
Richmond Utility Providers:
Electricity: Dominion Virginia Power
Water: Department of Public Utilities
Gas: Natural Gas Company of Virginia
Phone: Suddenlink
Cable: Comcast
Search Richmond Homes in
Richmond Virginia
|