About Richmond
Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is located on the James River. The area is located within close proximity to Virginia Beach, Washington, D.C., historic Williamsburg and the mountains, all less than 2
hours away.
The area is steeped in history dating back to 1607 when Captain Christopher Newport and Captain John Smith made an attempt to settle at the Falls of the James, located between the 14th Street Bridge in modern downtown Richmond and Pony Pasture (a recreational area along the banks of the James River).
In 1776, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech in St. John’s Church in Richmond. St. John’s is still an active church and reenactments are performed at the church for visitors.
Richmond was the Capital of the Confederacy. It was selected following the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 due in large part to the location of Tredegar Iron Work, an arsenal located on the James River. Today, many monuments for various war heroes are found on the beautiful stretch of Monument Avenue.
The area boasts many sporting activities. Richmond is home of AAA baseball team, Richmond Braves—the minor league team for the Atlanta Braves. It also is home to the Richmond Renegades, a professional hockey team. Auto racing is also very popular with Richmond International Raceway hosting two annual NASCAR Nextel Cup Races.
The area has whitewater rafting available (class I to IV) on the beautiful James River that winds its way through the center of the vibrant downtown.
Richmond is rich in arts and culture thanks in large part to a large university community. The area is home to Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University. Several museums and historical attractions are in Richmond, including the Valentine Richmond History Center, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Virginia, the Richmond Children’s Museum, the Museum of the Confederacy, Tredegar Iron Works and neighboring Civil War Battlefields National Park Visitors Center. The State Capitol is also open to the public for tours at appointed times. Other historical attractions include the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, which features many of his writings and other things from his life, particularly when he lived in Richmond. The John Marshall House, the home of the former Chief Justice of the United States, is also located downtown and features many of his writings from his life. Hollywood Cemetery is also burial grounds of two U.S. Presidents as well as many other civil war officers and soldiers. Walking tours are provided at appointed times.
Richmond is consistently ranked as one of the countries most livable cities due to its climate, local economy and activities. The Richmond Metro area is home to nine Fortune 500 companies. Only five metro areas in the U.S. have more Fortune 500 headquarters than the Richmond area.
If you are planning to relocate to Richmond, let Ford Fine Properties find you your new home.
