Richmond, Virginia
The Richmond Skyline
Richmond is the capital of Virginia, a state (officially the Commonwealth of Virginia) of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 197,790. Like all Virginia municipalities incorporated as cities, it is an independent city, not part of any county. The City of Richmond is surrounded by Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield Counties having a total metropolitan population of 1,126,262 in 2003.
Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
Richmond is the home of the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University and the Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education;. Virginia State University is about 20 miles south of Richmond, in the suburb of Ettrick. In modern times, Richmond's best-known native was tennis star and social activist Arthur Ashe. Novelist Ellen Glasgow was born and lived there. Edgar Allan Poe lived in Richmond for much of his early life. Richmond is also the home of the Richmond Braves, a minor league baseball team; the Richmond Kickers, a minor league soccer team; and the [Richmond Renegades], a minor league ice hockey team.
Richmond is the corporate home of the Philip Morris USA division of Altria Group; Genworth Financial, the former insurance arm of GE; home electronics retailer Circuit City; and the United Network for Organ Sharing, the principal clearinghouse for organ transplants in the United States. CapitalOne is a significant employer.
Sites to See
Sites to see include the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum, the Slave Trail along the James River, Monument Avenue, the Museum of the Confederacy, the Richmond Children's Museum, the Virginia capital building, etc.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 162.0 km² (62.5 mi²). 155.6 km² (60.1 mi²) of it is land and 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.96% water. The James River runs through Richmond.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 197,790 people, 84,549 households, and 43,627 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,271.3/km² (3,292.6/mi²). There are 92,282 housing units at an average density of 593.1/km² (1,536.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 38.30% White, 57.19% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 2.57% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 84,549 households out of which 23.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.1% are married couples living together, 20.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 48.4% are non-families. 37.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.21 and the average family size is 2.95.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $31,121, and the median income for a family is $38,348. Males have a median income of $30,874 versus $25,880 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,337. 21.4% of the population and 17.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 32.9% are under the age of 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older.
Richmond, Virginia is served by Richmond International Airport, which is located in nearby Sandston.