What is Richmond,VA like?
 

I would like to hear your opinion. Thanks.:)

Downtown is large for a city of Richmond's size, but pretty 9-5.

The inner city neighborhoods are of the typical mid-Atlantic rowhouse sort.

The quality of the residential architecture in the inner city is quite good.

Suburbs are awful havens of conservatism and sprawl.

Not as industrial as bigger or more northern cities, but more industrial than most southern cities. A little more industrial than white-collar Washington.

A little bit melancholy. Richmond was supposed to be the great city of Virginia, but has been passed over by greaters DC and Norfolk.

Richmond has treated me well the past 15 years I've lived here. I grew up in the suburbs and now currently live in the city proper by way of Church Hill, adjacent to downtown.

I love the history, the historic architecture and the recreational areas along the James River. We don't have a rush hour; it's more like a rush minute. Richmond is home to several educational institutions, which allows for a steady supply of fresh people and fresh ideas into the community. Our crime rates continue to fall and the population of the city proper is now growing (2007 Census est.)

Some the City’s political issues that stifle progressive ideas and policies constantly bewilder me. The outlying counties have been slow to implement effective smart growth policies, but I have hope for the future that the endless sprawl will eventually be reeled in.

That is my take and rant on my hometown. As always, I have a huge library of photos on my web site:

http://richmondcitywatch.com

[My photo]
http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/mod...1/IMG_3462.jpg

Thanks for the replies and that great photo.:)

Richmond does seem like one of those cities that nobody really knows much about but really looks cool, at least in pictures.

I've been through on the interstate but hope to see it for real someday

Does Richmond get any Washington DC news and sports stations?

No, it has it's own stations and affiliates, but VA does suppurt DC teams, especially the Foreskins:jester: !!!

There is a little overlap of the media market, just like there is for Baltimore. For example, the radio showElliot in the Morning is based in DC but simulcast on different stations in all three cities.

Richmond is a city I've always enjoyed driving through when traveling. It has a surprisingly large skyline for a city its size and is quite urban. Not many cities of Richmond's population can boast the same urban presence.

Plus, one of my all-time favorite bands, Fighting Gravity, is from Richmond.

One of these days I'll drive down and shoot some photos.

The city of Richmond is geographically small and has a population of around 200,000 but the metro area is actually not that small (1,212,977) and is growing rapidly. Also, the skyline is actually SMALLER than what it could be given the area's large concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters. Growth has been quit decentralized here with a huge share of office space in the suburbs.

After living here for six years here are my observations:

The location is great (just an hour to the mountains or the beach) and I-95, I-64, and I-85 coming together here makes it easy to get to. There has been a lack of willingness to change as well as an obsession with the Civil War which has probably held the area back, but that seems to be changing with all the new people moving in. There are great urban neighborhoods, great shopping and restaurants, a great art museum, symphony orchestra, ballet.

^ Thanks for the post mrskyline.:)