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Capital of Virginia

The capital of Virginia, Richmond is located at the head of the navigable part of the James River between Virginia's coastal plains and the Piedmont, beyond which are the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was incorporated in 1742 and has been an independent city since 1871. The city was named after its sister city, Richmond in London. The UK version of Richmond is an affluent suburban town just southeast of London. One of the interesting facts about the city of Richmond is that it was the polar opposite during the Civil War to its neighbor, Washington, D.C., only 100 miles to the north. While Abraham Lincoln guided the Union through the tumultuous Civil War from the White House in Washington, D.C., his southern counterpart, President Jefferson Davis did the same from Richmond.

Today, Richmond is an economically progressive city with a population of 250,000 residents, that offers a wealth of amenities not easily found among other East Coast municipalities. For the five million who visit each year, Richmond is increasingly recognized for many distinguished yet unheralded qualities long enjoyed by those who already live here.

Climate in Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia has a humid subtropical climate that is mild with almost no dry season. Dry periods lasting several weeks do occur, especially in autumn when long periods of pleasant, mild weather are most common. Summers are hot and muggy with thunderstorms. Winters are generally cold. Snow usually accumulates in amounts of less than four inches and remains on the ground only one or two days. On average, there are 210 sunny days per year.

Economy in Richmond

Richmond's economy is primarily driven by law, finance, and government, with federal, state, and local governmental agencies, as well as notable legal and banking firms, located in the downtown area. Richmond's diversified employment base extends from chemical, food and tobacco manufacturing to biotechnology, semiconductors and high-tech fibers. The city consistently ranks among "Best Places to Live and Work in America" in several national publications. Top employers in the city are:

• Capital One Financial Corp.
• VCU Health System
• HCA Inc.
• Virginia State Government
• City of Richmond

Education in Richmond

There are a number of good schools, colleges and universities that students moving to Richmond can attend. The Richmond public schools, one of four major systems in the area, serves almost 25,000 students, in 28 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and eight high schools. The Richmond area has many major institutions of higher education, including:

• Virginia Commonwealth University
• The University of Richmond
• Virginia Union University
• Virginia College
• Union Theological Seminary
• J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College

Points of Interest in Richmond

Richmond is among a handful of mid-sized cities to offer a flourishing cultural community enhanced by several first-class museums, its own symphony, professional ballet and opera, and numerous theater companies and art galleries. Once you relocate to Richmond you will find a lot of interesting places to visit and will need a lot of time to explore the city. Some attractions we can recommend are:

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
• Virginia State Capitol
• Valentine Museum and Richmond History Center
• Richmond National Battlefield Park
• Church Hill Historic District