Comfortable Living in Richmond

Once a center of industry and shipbuilding during World War II, the city of Richmond is focused on revitalization efforts that include a green revolution, with a solar-powered waste treatment plant; industrial printers; metal scrap recyclers; and manufacturers participating in green business initiatives. The city plans to add green jobs, create a cleaner community, and build a thriving tax base that can support better public services.

Richmond homes vary in style, including traditional, Cape Cod, contemporary, and French Country. Local residents can participate in a composting program that collects food scraps in specially marked street-side containers and offers gardeners free compost for their backyard gardens. Richmond also recycles its old buildings, too; the historic Ford assembly plant near the port of Richmond was converted into the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park, operated by the National Park Service.

Downtown is also experiencing revitalization, especially along Macdonald Avenue, the main commercial district that runs from 8th to 16th streets. The Richmond Main Street Initiative brings arts, music, dance, and theater to the area, transforming it into a pedestrian-friendly urban village. Progressive politics are a part of life in Richmond. The city is the largest in the U.S. to have a Green Party mayor in Gayle McLaughlin.