Richmond, Virginia

:This article is about the city in Virginia. For information on other cities with the same name, please see Richmond (disambiguation).

Geography and Climate

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 city is located in the Piedmont region of Virginia, at the highest navigatable point of the James River. The Piedmont region is categorized by relatively low, rolling hills, and lies between the low, sea level tidewater region and the Blue Ridge mountains.

Related Topics:
United States Census Bureau - Km² - Mi² - Piedmont - Virginia - Tidewater - Blue Ridge

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The Richmond—Petersburg Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), the 47th largest in the United States, includes the independent cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg, as well as the counties of Amelia, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King and Queen, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George, and Sussex. As of 2003, the total population of the Richmond—Petersburg MSA was 1,126,262.

Related Topics:
Metropolitan Statistical Area - 47th largest - Colonial Heights - Hopewell - Petersburg - Amelia - Caroline - Charles City - Chesterfield - Cumberland - Dinwiddie - Goochland - Hanover - Henrico - King and Queen - King William - Louisa - New Kent - Powhatan - Prince George - Sussex - 2003 - MSA

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Richmond is ideally located within 200 miles of several major cities, including Newport News, Virginia (62 miles), Hampton, Virginia (73 miles), Portsmouth, Virginia (77 miles), Norfolk, Virginia (77 miles), Chesapeake, Virginia (87 miles), Alexandria, Virginia (91 miles), Washington DC (96 miles), Virginia Beach, Virginia (96 miles), Baltimore, Maryland (129 miles), Durham, North Carolina (132 miles), Roanoke, Virginia (137 miles), Raleigh, North Carolina (137 miles), Dover, Delaware (154 miles), Greensboro, North Carolina (166 miles), and Winston-Salem, North Carolina (183 miles).

Related Topics:
Miles - Newport News, Virginia - Hampton, Virginia - Portsmouth, Virginia - Norfolk, Virginia - Chesapeake, Virginia - Alexandria, Virginia - Washington DC - Virginia Beach, Virginia - Baltimore, Maryland - Durham, North Carolina - Roanoke, Virginia - Raleigh, North Carolina - Dover, Delaware - Greensboro, North Carolina - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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:See also: Richmond-Petersburg

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Cityscape

The city is made up of a number of neighboorhoods, including the Fan district, Oregon Hill, Shockoe Bottom, the West End and Church Hill – site of Patrick Henry's famous speech. For more information, see Richmond neighborhoods.

Related Topics:
Fan district - Oregon Hill - West End - Church Hill - Richmond neighborhoods

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Most of the roads in the downtown area are arranged in a regular grid arrangement, with alternating one way streets. Several major roads lead outwards from the city, and are actually former Indian trails, leading to other towns and sites in Virginia. For example, Three Chopt Road, was so named as it was an Indian trail marked by three chops on trees near the trail. The major highways leading into the city of Richmond area I-64 and I-95. I-195 forms an "inner loop" around the downtown and fan districts of the city, and I-295, combined with the Chippenham Parkway forms an "outer loop", or bypass, around the metropolitan area. State route 288 connects I-64 and I-95 in the southwest quadrant of the area to complete a staggered loop around the city with I-295.

Related Topics:
Virginia - I-64 - I-95 - I-195 - I-295

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Ever since the first electric trolley was installed in 1888, Richmond urban sprawl has been steadily expanding westward and southward. Development along Monument Avenue and Broad Street have led to the most affluent people moving farther and farther West, towards a part of the metro area known as the West End.

Related Topics:
Urban sprawl - Monument Avenue - Broad Street - West End

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Climate

Richmond has four distinct seasons. Spring arrives in April with mild days and cool nights, and by late May, the temperature has warmed up considerably to herald warm summer days. Summer temperatures can be unpleasantly hot, often topping 90 degrees with high humidity. July is the wettest month. Days stay warm to mild until October, when hurricanes are less likely and fall is marked by nights once again becoming very chilly. December and January are the coldest months. Light snowfalls occur from the end of November, but most snow falls in January. Average yearly snowfall is 14 inches.http://www.noaa.gov/

Related Topics:
Spring - April - May - Summer - July - October - Hurricane - Fall - December - January - November

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