Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Like all Virginia municipalities incorporated as cities, it is an independent city and not part of any county.

Richmond, capital of Virginia (VA) state, is a large independent city dating back to 1607. With many boulevards lined with trees, historic sites and an antebellum southern charm, Richmond is bisected by the James River, offering a scenic walking trail. Richmond is home to the 200-year-old Virginia State Capitol building, one of Richmond's most prominent landmarks, together with many other notable structures, such as the Tredagar Iron Works, which is now an important visitor center. Located in the center of Virginia, the city of Richmond is well placed for exploration and excursions.

Hotels in the city are widespread and can be found throughout downtown Richmond, around The Fan neighborhood along Monument Avenue, in Church Hill close to Shockoe Bottom, and on the both east and west sides of Richmond - close to the University of Richmond and a number of large corporations. Further hotels can be found nearby Richmond Airport (RIC), which stands to the southeast of the city.

Tourism is actively promoted in the city of Richmond, with many outstanding tourist attractions worth a visit. Richmond's main tourist information center is the Richmond Visitors' Center on North 3rd Street, which is manned by friendly staff and offers a range of tourist advice, with comprehensive brochures, books, reservation services and tourism information about all of Richmond's main tourist attractions and popular excursions.

Richmond has plenty of popular tourist attractions, including Canal Walk - a particularly scenic walk along the Richmond waterfront, with historic information on brass plaques throughout the walk; Maymont House - the perfect family day out, with large gardens, a small zoo and a children's farm; Richmond's Monument Avenue - a national historic site with a series of statues of important Confederate heroes; and the City Hall Observation Deck - offering stunning panoramic views of Richmond's skyline.

Other major tourist attractions in Richmond include the Virginia State Capitol - a magnificent, palatial late 18th-century building, visible from all over Richmond; the White House of the Confederacy - a neo-Classical mansion open to the public, once home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis; Richmond's Egyptian Building - an unusual landmark built in 1845, belonging to the Medical College of Virginia; Shockoe Slip - a renovated wharf area with good amenities and cobbled streets, located in the Shockoe Bottom district of Richmond; and many gardens and parklands, such as Capitol Square Park, James River Park, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Some of Richomnd's most popular museums and art galleries include the Science Museum of Virginia - containing a Space Gallery, the Ethyl IMAX Dome and a Planetarium; Richmond's Virginia House Museum - a 12th-century building originating from England; the Edgar Allan Poe Museum - standing in the oldest house in Richmond, with a host of memorabilia about this famous writer; the Richmond National Battlefield Civil War Visitor Center - exploring the Confederate and Civil War with historic information and exhibits; Museum of the Confederacy - featuring detailed information about aspects of the Civil War; the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts - Richmond's premier art museum, boasting a collection of world-class paintings; and the Visual Arts Center of Richmond - regularly hosting many changing exhibitions.

Tourist attractions located near to Richmond include Colonial Williamsburg - the former colonial capital with many lovingly restored buildings and cobbled streets; Fredericksburg - a quaint town full of character and tourist appeal, halfway between Richmond and Washington DC; Jamestown - the area where the first British colonists settled in 1607, with a number of archaeological excavations; Magnolia Grange - an impressive plantation home and gardens, just a short drive from Richmond in nearby Chesterfield; Yorktown - a historic area and part of the Historic Triangle, standing on the York River near to Richmond; and Tuckahoe Plantation - one of Virginia's oldest plantation homes, formerly the residence of Thomas Jefferson.

It's not hard to discover why our Region is so Easy to Love. Just look around right here, on the official Visitors Site of the Historic Richmond Region. You'll see why families and Fortune 500 companies alike are choosing the Historic Richmond Region to get-away- and stay.

Housing Cost

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $203,900

Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $274,830; Detached houses: $264,657; Townhouses or other attached units: $361,453; In 2-unit structures: $415,525; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $457,575; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $224,896; Mobile homes: $13,430


Demographics

Population in July 2008: 202,002. Richmond covers 60.1 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 190 feet above sea level. Area code: 804

Weather

Richmond, VA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 87.50 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 27.60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Richmond is 43.91 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is July with an average rainfall of 4.67 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com