Richmond

About Richmond

Richmond is in Contra Costa County, just across San Francisco Bay from San Rafael and San Francisco. Home to a steadily growing and extremely diverse population, the city offers many cozy residential communities, a variety of shopping and dining and a thriving economy.

The History of Richmond

The area's earliest inhabitants were Ohlone Indians, and Spanish explorers arrived in the late 18th century. Richmond was incorporated in 1905, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway contributed to rapid growth in the early 20th century by establishing a terminus in the city. Until Prohibition, Richmond was the site of the world's largest winery, spanning the entirety of a small town called Winehaven. The local economy received several boosts from big business, including the construction of a Ford assembly plant and an operations center for Standard Oil. Thanks to its thriving ship-building industry during World War II and the development of its aerospace, oil refining and food processing industries after the war, Richmond has experienced continual growth.

Jobs in Richmond

Richmond is home to a diverse array of small and large businesses. The city's largest employer is the Chevron Richmond Refinery, which provides thousands of local jobs in the industrial sector. Local school district West Contra Costa Unified School District and federal government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service, are also major employers in Richmond.

If you're hoping to find a job in Richmond, you might want to start by checking out opportunities in the thriving sectors of government, education, health care and retail.

Richmond Schools

The West Contra Costa Unified School District manages the public schools in the city. There's a large number of private schools in Richmond as well, many of which are served by the Catholic Diocese of Oakland.

If you're planning on working toward a college degree, you can attend the popular Contra Costa College in nearby San Pablo.

Resources for Moving to Richmond

Here are a few quick resources to help make your move to Richmond a bit easier:

• Utilities: Pacific Gas and Electric supplies the Richmond area with electricity. The East Bay Municipal Utilities District manages local water services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash, recyclables and green waste are collected on a regular basis. Your collection day typically depends on your specific location.
• Transportation: AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit operate a network of public bus routes in and around Richmond. You can also utilize the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which provides easy access to the surrounding Bay Area.

Richmond Housing

If you're hoping to purchase a large, upscale home in Richmond, you should focus your search near Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, Pinole Valley Park and Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline. If you're working with a smaller budget, you can find affordable homes in neighborhoods throughout the center of the city.

Although home prices in Richmond have been on the rise, it's still a fairly affordable place to live when compared to the rest of the Bay Area. You have your pick of a variety of single-family homes, townhouses and apartments, so you can find something that works for your lifestyle and budget.