CITY OF RICHMOND

Prior to the arrival of Captain Christopher Newport in 1607, Indian tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy inhabited the area now known as Richmond. After two unsuccessful attempts at settling the area, the luck of the English changed with the construction of Fort Charles. The Fort began attracting many new settlers, and by 1644 the community grew to a busy trading post for furs, hides and tobacco.

The "Father of Richmond," Colonel William Byrd II, founded the area in 1737 on land he inherited from his father. Five years later, Richmond became a town, and in 1780, at the request of the General Assembly, the state capital was temporarily moved to Richmond from Williamsburg to protect it from British invasions. In May 1782 Richmond was incorporated as a city and officially became Virginia's new capital. Two months later Richmond's first city charter was legalized.

Ranked among America's Top 20 "Best Places for Business and Careers" by Forbes magazine, Richmond boasts beautiful neighborhoods, distinctive architecture and a variety of cultural attractions and outdoor opportunities. The city has first-class museums, nationally-known universities and medical centers, its own symphony and professional ballet company and numerous theater companies and art galleries. The city also has sports. Whether you're cheering on the Richmond Braves, AAA farm team for the Atlanta Braves, or rafting through downtown Richmond on the Region's Class IV rapids, you're sure to get your heart pumping.

As for history, Richmond has that too. Explore 1.25 miles and four centuries of history along the banks of the Haxall Canal and the James River and Kanawha Canal. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum honors the great American writer, who began his literary career in Richmond, and houses the first edition of "The Raven and Other Poems." (Poe's mother is buried nearby at St. John's Church.) And no visit to the former Capital of the Confederacy would be complete without a tour of the Museum and White House of the Confederacy.

Richmond city residents have a variety of historic and distinctive neighborhoods in which to live. Ginter Park's northside neighborhood features Tudor, Queen Anne, Four Square, Spanish and bungalow homes. The Fan District, named for the way the streets fan out from Monroe Park, is a close-knit community with historic homes, tree-lined streets and neighborhood stores, bars and restaurants. Jackson Ward, considered a birthplace of African American banking and commerce, is one of the nation's oldest intact African American neighborhoods. Overlooking downtown Richmond is Church Hill, a well-preserved 19th century neighborhood, while the city's River District is experiencing a rebirth with warehouses being converted into upscale apartments, restaurants and businesses. Across the James River, the Manchester area is becoming an arts center with the recent renovation of warehouses into art studios and apartments.

For a complete listing of city of Richmond attractions, search below or click here to visit the City of Richmond website.