Richmond Virginia History

Powhatan Indian tribes inhabited the area until it was discovered in 1607 by Captains Christopher Newport and John Smith. After several failed attempts to establish an English settlement, it finally succeeded with the construction of Fort Charles; the settlement’s growth made it a center for fur and tobacco traders. The city was founded by Colonel William Byrd II in 1737 when he inherited lands from his father; he named it Richmond because the James River was similar to the Thames in Richmond, England. In 1709 coal mining was begun. As with much of Virginia’s agricultural products, tobacco was a major commercial enterprise. The state capital was moved to Richmond from Williamsburg in 1780 to protect it from British invasion, but that move failed--the British burned the capital a year later. In the 1800s the Bank of Virginia was chartered and Richmond’s first public library opened. When Civil War broke out, Richmond became the Capital of the Confederacy. By 1880, the city’s population had soared to 60,000. Four hundred years of history are represented in the city’s museums, historic homes and landmarks, as well as along the James River, and the Haxall and Kanawah Canals. Considered one of the best cities in the United States for business development and careers, Richmond is home to Fortune 500 corporations such as Philip Morris and Reynolds Metals Company. It continues to grow as a cosmopolitan city, attracting thousands of visitors every year.