View source for Richmond, California

{{Infobox City |official_name = Richmond, California
|nickname = The City of Pride and Purpose
|image_skyline = RichmondBridge.jpg
|image_flag = 
|image_seal = Commnav_r11_c1.jpg
|image_map =
|map_caption = The Richmond-San Rafael bridge and western Richmond shoreline as seen from Marin County. Accross the bay the eastern Richmond hills may be seen in the backround as the industrial areas can be seen in the foreground.
|subdivision_type = [[City]]
|subdivision_name = [[Richmond, California|Richmond]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name =  [[Irma A. Anderson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
|area_magnitude =
|area_total = 136.2
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 52.6
|area_land = 77.6
|LandArea_sq_mi = 29
|area_water = 58.5
|WaterArea_sq_mi = 22
|PCWater = 42.98%
|population_metro =
|population_urban =
|population_as_of =
|population_total = 103,818
|population_density =
|population_density_mi2 =
|timezone = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone]]
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = [[Pacific Daylight Time]]
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|latd = 37
|latm = 56
|lats = 13
|latNS = N
|longd = 122
|longm = 20
|longs = 31
|longEW = W
|elevation = 57
|website = '''http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/'''
|footnotes =}}
'''Richmond''' is a city in western [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]], [[California]], USA.  It is in the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]], part of the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].  It almost surrounds the city of [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]], and the [[unincorporated]] areas of [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]], [[El Sobrante, California|El Sobrante]], and [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]].  [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] and [[Amtrak]] share a [[Richmond Station (California)|station]] in Richmond, which serves as a regional transit interchange. The mayor is [[Irma A. Anderson]], a Democrat. She is notably the first [[African American]] female mayor of the city. As of the [[July 1]], [[2005]] [[United States Census|US Census]] estimate, the city has a population of 102,186, while the [[California Department of Finance]] estimates the city's population at 103,468, as of [[January 1]], [[2006]].[http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/ReportsPapers/Estimates/E1/E-1text.asp]

== History ==
{{Cleanup-section|July 2006}}
Richmond was founded and incorporated in 1905 and was carved out of the [[Rancho San Pablo]], from which the nearby town of San Pablo has inherited its name. Untill 1919 the city had the largest winery in the world and the small but abandoned village of [[Winterhaven]] remanes fenced off along Western Drive in the Point Molate Area. In the 1920s the [[Ku Klux Klan]] was active in the city. In 1930 [[Ford Motor Company]] opened a assembly plant in the south side of town which is now an abandoned industrial area. The plant moved to Milipitas in the 1970s. The city was a small town at that time, untill the onset of [[World War II]] which brought on a rush of migrants and a boom in the industrial sector. The former [[Standard Oil]] set up operations here, including a Refinary with storage tanks over the western hills, and a pier into San Francisco Bay off of point molate on which oil tankers dock. The western terminus of the [[Santa Fe Railroad]] was established in Richmond with ferry connections at Ferry Point in the Brickyard Cove area of Point Richmond. Point Richmond had originally been the commertial hub of the city, but a new downtown arouse in the center of the city. The new downtown was populated by many department stores such as [[Kress]], [[Emporium-Capwells]], [[J.C. Penney]], [[Sear's]], [[Macy's]], and [[Woolworth's]]. During the war the population increased dramatically and topped-off at around 99,000 residents in 1950, by 1960 the temporary housing built for those building ships for the Navy was torn down and the residents moved away and the population dropped to about 71,000 people. Many of the people that moved to Richmond moved from the Midwest and South. Many of these people were Black people and Women. Most of the white men were overseas at war and this opened up new opportunities for minorities and women. The women found a new sense of independance and did not return to the home after the war, this changed the sex politics and gender roles of the country and the world. This era also brought with it the innovation of [[Daycare]] for children, as a few women could care for several dozen women's children while most of the mothers went off to work in the factories and shipyards. In the 1970s the Hilltop area was developed in the northern suburbs of the city, this further depressed downtown and departments stores such as Emporium, Sear's, J.C. Penny's, and Macy's were brought back to the city's limits. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the [[Richmond Parkway]] was built along the western industrial  and northwestern parklands of the city connecting Interstates 80 and 580.

==Geography and climate==
[[Image:CAMap-doton-Richmond.png|right|Location of Richmond, California]]Richmond is located at {{coor dms|37|56|13|N|122|20|31|W|city}} (37.936874, -122.342057){{GR|1}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 52.6 [[square mile|mi²]] (136.2 [[square kilometre|km²]]).  30.0 mi² (77.6 km²) of it is land and 22.6 mi² (58.5 km²) of it (42.98%) is water.

The city borders [[San Francisco Bay]] to the southwest and [[San Pablo Bay]] to the northwest, and includes all or part of [[Brooks Island]], [[Red Rock Island]], and the [[Brother Islands]].

There are several cities and [[Unincorporated community|unincorporated communities]] surrounding or bordering Richmond.  To the south is the city of [[Albany, California|Albany]], in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]].  The cities of [[El Cerrito, California|El Cerrito]] and [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]], along with the unincorporated areas of [[Kensington, California|Kensington]], [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]], [[Rollingwood, California|Rollingwood]], [[El Sobrante, California|El Sobrante]], and [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]] are almost surrounded by Richmond's [[city limits]].  To the north, Richmond borders the city of [[Pinole, California|Pinole]] and the unincorporated areas of [[Bayview-Montalvin, California|Bayview-Montalvin]], and [[Tara Hills, California|Tara Hills]].  Richmond borders Alameda, [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], and [[Marin County, California|Marin]] counties in the Bay.

===Climate===
Richmond, like much of the coastal [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]], enjoys a very mild [[Mediterranean climate]] year round. The climate is slightly warmer than the coastal areas of San Francisco, [[San Francisco Peninsula|the Peninsula]], and Marin County; it is however more temperate than areas further inland. The average highs range from 57 °F (14 °C) to 73 °F (23 °C) and the lows between 43 °F (6 °C) to 56 °F (13 °C) year round.[http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0936?from=dayDetails_bottomnav_allergies] On average the warmest month is September and Richmond usually enjoys a strong "[[Indian Summer]]" every year; which is warmer than the "real" summer itself. January is on average the coldest month.

The highest recorded tempature in Richmond was 107 °F in September 1971 while the coldest was 24 °F in January of 1990. [http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0936?from=dayDetails_bottomnav_allergies]

The rainy season begins in late October and ends in April with some showers in May. Most of the rain however occurs during stronger storms which occur between November and March and drop 3.3 to 4.91 inches of rain per month.  January and February are the rainiest months.[http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0936?from=dayDetails_bottomnav_allergies] 

Like most of the Bay Area, Richmond is made up of several [[microclimate]]s.  Southern parts of the city recieve more [[fog]] than northern areas.  Summer temperatures are higher in inland areas, where the moderating influence of San Francisco Bay is lessened.

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:5px; text-size:80%; text-align:right"
|align=center colspan=2| '''Historical Population'''
|-
| [[1910]] || align="right" | 6,802
|-
| [[1920]] || align="right" | 16,843
|-
| [[1930]] || align="right" | 20,093
|-
| [[1940]] || align="right" | 23,642
|-
| [[1950]] || align="right" | 99,545
|-
| [[1960]] || align="right" | 71,854
|-
| [[1970]] || align="right" | 79,043
|-
| [[1980]] || align="right" | 74,676
|-
| [[1990]] || align="right" | 87,425
|-
| [[2000]] || align="right" | 99,216
|-
|}

As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 99,216 people, 34,625 households, and 23,025 families residing in the city.  The [[population density]] was 3,309.5/mi² (1,277.8/km²).  There were 36,044 housing units at an average density of 1,202.3/mi² (464.2/km²).  The racial makeup of the city was 31.36% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 36.06% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.64% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 12.29% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.50% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 13.86% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.27% from two or more races.  26.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 34,625 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,210, and the median income for a family was $46,659. Males had a median income of $37,389 versus $34,204 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,788.  About 13.4% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.


{{Cleanup-remainder|June 2006}}
==Economy==
Many industries have been pursued in Richmond. It had a [[dynamite]] and [[gunpowder]] works (closed in [[1960]]), the last active [[whaling]] station in the country at Point Molate (closed in [[1971]]), and one of the world's largest [[wineries]] (closed by [[Prohibition]] in [[1919]]).

During [[World War II]] Richmond was developed rapidly as a heavy industrial town, chiefly devoted to [[shipbuilding]]. Its major activity now is as a [[seaport]], and 26 million [[ton]]s of goods were shipped through [[Port Richmond]] in [[1993]], mostly oil and petroleum products.  [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] USA has a major [[oil refinery]] in the city, with a storage capacity of 15 million [[Barrel (unit)|barrel]]s (2,400 m³).  The [[Social Security Administration]] employs over 1,000 at its regional office and program service center in [[downtown Richmond]]. [[Kaiser Permanente]] Medical Center in the Downtown is one of the largest employers.
Many proposals have been approved in the city of Richmond.
MacDonald Avenue Project-
The MacDonald Avenue project is to help save, Richmond's grand main street. It has already been started, it includes new, modern street light, new sidewalks, plants on the side of streets and the median, new streets, and a new parking building in Downtown Richmond. It will began at San Pablo Avenue all the way to Highway 93.
The MacDonald 80 Shopping Center-
the former Wards  will made into a Target, it is part of the MacDonald Avenue project.
Making the new 100 years-
Richmond is creating it's new 100 years. It is changing all the cities problems, and putting it in the past, so far, MacDonald Avenue, Nicknamed the 100 year street, main street, the parade street.
To raise money, Richmond has had many concerts featuring Lenny Williams and Eugene Cole. They have also returned their original, parade, except it was on Juneteenth.
Richmond has also approved many casinos in the city limits.
The Richmond Greenway project, will turn 3 miles of abandoned railroad to a greenway, for residents to walk on.

=== Casinos ===
Many casinos have been proposed for the West Contra Costa area. Point Molate would have a casino, resort, and a luxury shopping mall. Sugar Bowl Casino proposes a casino, steakhouse, and a buffet. Casino San Pablo has already been built in neighboring San Pablo; with 2,500 slots. The projects have been the subject of much civic debate supporters contend that the often cash-strapped government would get a major new source of revenue, while opponents air their concerns over the ramifications including an increase in allready high crime rates, lowered property values, and worsening neighborhood quality of life.

==Government and politics==
The city, is a [[Demecratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold, due to its urban location, laziezz-faire San Francisco attitude, and a sizeable Black population. The city is governed by a 9 member city council and a Mayor, and Vice Mayor; who is also a councilmember. By the early 1990s not a single Republican remainded on the council and Most mayors were Black. Rosemary McCormick was the mayor thoughout the 90s and was an exception, as she is white. By the onset of the Millenium the Green Party took the council on its sights and elected [[Gayle McGlauughin]] as the first Green ton the council, under the support of the Richmond Progfessive Alliance (RPA) a coalition of liberal Democrats, Progerssive Independants, and Greens, fed up with the Democratic party. She is now running for mayor and is challenging mayor Anderson in the 2006 mayorial election who is the incumbant. She would be one of only a handful of Green Mayors in the county.

At present there is a great civic debate over weather city hall should be moved to offices in the Marina Bay neighborhood, since the existing city hall is in dire need of expensive retrofitting.

'''Great American Boycott of 2006'''
The predominatly Latino storefronts of the 23rd Street business district were all closed for the general strike and the usually bustling district became tantamount to a one-day ghostown. Many Latinos from the area protested in San Francisco. There was also a protest in Richmond all on 23rd Street. 1 Lane on 23rd Street was closed to allow traffic to pass. About 25,000 participated.

==Education==
Richmond is under the auspices of the [[West Contra Costa School District]], formerly the [[Richmond School District]], this district encompasses the cities, town, CDPs, and unincorporated areas of Western Contra Costa County. The district provides Elementary, Middle, and High school learning environments. These include: Richmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito, Kensington, Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, North Richmond, El Sobrante, Crockett, Bayview-Montalvin, Rollingwood, East Richmond Heights, and Tara Hills. For private education Richmond and the entire county lie in the [[Oakland Diocese]], which has many Elementary/Middle schools and High Schools throughout. The [[Contra Costa Community College District]] serves the entire county and Richmonders attend classes at [[Contra Costa College]], most of the campus is in San Pablo, allthough some of the land is in El Sobrante. Many students attend schools outside the city, especially High Schools since the local school district encompasses many municipalities. The population of the city has continued to increase for years while the number of classrooms and square footage at public schools has not. Many schools are overcrowded compared to state averages and standards of more affluent communities. The average classroom size is 35 students, while this number is 29 statewide. The school with the most students is 665 at César Chávez Elementary School. Many schools now have after school programs.{{fact}}

=== High Schools ===

'''Public Schools'''


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*[[De Anza High School]], 5000 Valley View Drive

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*[[John F. Kennedy High School]], 4300 Cutting Boulevard

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*[[Richmond High School]], 1250 23rd Street

'''Private Schools'''


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*[[Salesian High School (Richmond, California)|Salesian High School]] ''(Catholic)'', Salesian Avenue

=== Middle Schools (Junior Highs) ===


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*Adams Middle School, 5000 Patterson Circle

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*Levonya DeJean Middle School, MacDonald Avenue

=== Elementary Schools ===

'''Public K through 6 Elementary Schools'''

*César Chávez Elementary School, 960 South 17th Street
*Coronado Elementary School, 2001 Virginia Avenue
*Ford Elementary School, 2711 Maricopa Avenue
*Grant Elementary School, 2400 Downer Avenue
*Harbor Way Elementary School, 214 South 11th Street
*Highland Elementary School, 2829 Moyers Road
*King Elementary School, 234 South 39 Street
*Lincoln Elementary School, 29 6th Street
*Murphy Elementary School, 4350 Valley View Road
*Nystrom Elementary School, 230 South harbour Way
*Peres Elementary School, 719 5th Avenue
*Stege Elementary School, 4949 Cypress Avenue
*Valley View Elementary School, 3416 Maywood Drive
*Verde Elementary School, 2000 Glamarita
*Washington Elementary School, 565 Wine Street
*Wilson Elementary School, 629 42nd street

''' Private Schools '''

*St. Joseph School (''Catholic'')
*St. John School (''Catholic'')
*[[St. David School]] (''Catholic''), 871 Sonoma Street
*El Sobrante Christian Academy

=== Schools in neighboring areas ===

*[[St. Mary's College Prepatory]], [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]
*[[Pinole Valley High School]], [[Pinole, California|Pinole]]
*[[Hercules High School]], [[Hercules, California|Hercules]]
*[[El Cerrito High School]], [[El Cerrito, California|El Cerrito]]
*[[Albany High School]], Albany
*[[Juan Crespi Middle School]], Pinole
*[[Berkeley High School]], Berkeley
*[[Middle High School]], [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]]

=== Adult Education ===
*[[Sierra Adult School]], Sierra Avenue

== Attractions and Landmarks ==
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:macexterior268w.jpg|thumb|right|Hotel Mac]] -->

=== Point Richmond ===

[[Point Richmond]], which is in effect a town withing Richmond is known for its small town charm and its quaint ma' & pa' shops. ''The Point'', as it is known by locals offers visitors and locals alike owner run and operated stores, coffee shops, and historic benches and streetlights. The Hotel Mac Restaurant is the best restaurant in Point Richmond, and the Baltic is one of many nightclubs in Richmond. It has one Starbucks.

Masquers Theature is a performing arts center that offers shows and productions year round. Hotel Mac is one of the oldest buildings in the area and has classic early 1900s architecture, along with many of the buildings found in the area it is over one hundred years old. There is also The Plunge, a Natatorium which is beloved by the community. It has been closed due to the building being unsafe for earthquake conditions and the city wanted to demolish it at one point, however this was haulted by neighborhood opposition and a fundraising campaign continues to, "''Save the Plunge!''" which is the grassroots slogan.

*Ferry Point
The Ferry Point Tunnel, is one of the oldest tunnels in California.  Built in 1899, this structure still stands, bringing access to many attractions, and neighborhoods in Point Richmond. This tunnel goes to the Golden State Railroad Museum, the S.S Red Oak Victory ship,  and many beaches and parks.
*S.S. Red Oak Victory Ship
A restored World War 2 liberty ship,it was the 558th ship made in Richmond. Liberty ships transported troops and supplies during the World War 2. Squeeze in the ship, and see how a war ship looked like in the World War 2. Richmond once was home to the Kaiser Permanente Shipyards.

=== Government Buildings ===

<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Rac.jpg|thumb|left|Richmond Civic Center]] -->
During [[World War II]] the city sprawled and the population of the city to increased dramatically. This led city leaders to construct the Richmond Civic Center in [[1957]]. This center houses the city hall, a small convention center, library, hall of justice, police headquarters, and arts center.

=== Richmond-San Rafael Bridge ===

[[Image:Richmond-San-Rafael-Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Richmond-San Rafael Bridge]]The [[Richmond-San Rafael bridge]] extends 5.5 miles, accross San Pablo Bay. The bridge is the origin of the term ''rollercoaster span'', due to its curves, bumps, and appearance which also have earned  the bridge itself the nickname of, ''The rollercoaster bridge''. It was Built in [[1957]], and it connect Contra Costa County with [[Marin County]]. Traffic is charged a 3 dollar toll in the westbound (towards Marin) direction only.

*Golden State Railroad Museum
 operate trains of various eras chug past miniature freight and passenger terminals, trestles, tunnels, and meticulousy detailed town and city scenes, many copied from real life scenes in the 1950's. Can you find Richmond or San Francisco.
*[[Santa Fe Railroad]]Terminal
 Now closed, the Santa Fe railroad terminal from the early 1900's and late 1800's is fixed like a museum to show you how it would feel to be on the terminal is the 1900's.
*Indian Statue-
Originally made in 1909 by the Women Improvement group, it stands right the corner of Washington and Park Avenues.
*Keller Beach-
From Canoeing to surfing, Keller beach is one of the oldest beaches in Richmond, California. Just enjoy the shores of the sparkling San Francisco Bay.
*Point Molate Beach Park- Once a chinese shrimp camp in the 1870's, Point Molate has a diverse history. There is a plan to build A Casino/Resort and a shopping mall on the land.
*Point San Pablo yacht Harbor- Hundreds of boats are docked at the Point San Pablo Harbor. On Western Drive.

===Shopping===
*The Hilltop Area includes [[Hilltop Mall]], which features a [[Sears]], [[J.C. Penney]], [[Macy's]], and many other [[chain stores]]. It also includes Hilltop Auto Mall with [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]], [[Honda]], [[Toyota Motor Corporation|Toyota]], [[Chevrolet]] car dealerships, among others. In the late 90s [[Hilltop Plaza]] was built featuring a [[Barnes & Noble]], [[Circuit City]], [[International House of Pancakes]], [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]], [[PetSmart]], and a [[Century Theatres]] Multiplex with 16 rooms, the first movie theatre in decades.

[[Mexico Town]]- is a busy district which features latino storefronts.

*''Richmond Shopping Center'' in Downtown Richmond with a [[Foods co]] as the anchor.

*''Pacific East Mall'' on Pierce St has many Asian stores, including [http://www.99ranch.com/Default.asp 99 Ranch Supermarket], many Asian restaurants, and a Chinese bookstore.

Other nearby big-box stores include a [[Home Depot]] in El Cerrito and [[Smart & Final]] in the San Pablo area. There is also a [[Costco]] on [[Point Isabel]] near the border of Albany and El Cerrito.

==Leisure and culture==
Several [[regional park]]s administered by the [[East Bay Regional Park District]] lie within the city limits, including the [[Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline]] and the [[Point Pinole Regional Shoreline]]. They are linked by the [[San Francisco Bay Trail]].  Part of the former shipyard is now a Marina.

Richmond is home to primarily [[African American]] and [[Latino]] residents. Many of the African Americans arrived in Richmond during [[World War II]] to work at the shipyards and factories in Richmond. Richmond has formerly been home to black culture and activist movements, most notably the [[Black Panther Party]]. While the African American population is not currently growing, Richmond has seen increased Latino immigration as many Latinos replace African Americans in Richmond. Richmond has also seen an increase in the Asian population. The White population is expected to grow in 2007.

The Richmond Art Center [http://www.therac.org], founded by Hazel Salmi in 1936, is one of the oldest continually operating non-profit art centers on the entire West Coast of the United States. Its programming includes exhibitions, adult and youth education, and community initiatives. The Center currently (as of 2005) provides some of the only arts education programming in the Richmond City School District, relying primarily on public donations and private grants as its means of support.

Richmond is the "[[twin town]]" of [[Shimada]], [[Japan]].

The [[Richmond Progressive Alliance]] and [[United States Green Party|Green Party]] are active political parties in Richmond. The [[House Rabbit Society]] has its [http://rabbit.org/hrs-info/adoption-education-center.html national headquarters] in Richmond.

Los Centzontles is an important Mexican and Latino Arts and Dance center in the city.

The city is one of the centers of the "Hyphy" movement as are Oakland and Vallejo.

Richmond is home to the National Institute of Art and Disabiltites [http://www.niadart.org], also known locally as the NIAD Art Center.  NIAD is a non-profit organization hosting over sixty client artists weekly.  NIAD's client artist's work can be seen at NIAD's on-site gallery, the Florence Ludins-Katz Gallery.  NIAD has a gift shop.

===Recreation===
Richmond is under the authority of the East Bay Regional Parks District, a consortium of most of the Parks and Redcreation lands and facilities thought Alameda and Contra Costa County.

Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is by far the largest park in the city. It features San Pablo Creek, trails, forests, picnic areas, and a playstructure for children, as well as horses for rent and mountain biking trails. High school students practice cross-country in the park. It is situated in eastern Richmond hills and streches into Berkeley as it crosses into Alameda county as [[Tilden Regional Park]].

===National Monument===
The [[Rosie the Riveter]]/World War II homefront National Historic Monument is located in Richmond and commemorates women's shipbuilding and support for the war effort in the 1940s.

===Media===
There are four local newspapers: the [[Richmond Post]], [[Fronteras]] (a Spanish-language newspaper), the [[Richmond Globe]], and the Richmond West County Times. A local cable access TV station, [[KCRT-TV]], mainly plays historical archives but also airs City Council Meetings and music videos.

==Transportation==
===Roads===
''Freeways, highways, parkways, interstates, expressways''
*[[Interstate 80]] cuts through the Eastern and Northeaster portions of town, through a mostly residential area, connecting to Pinole, Hercules, and furthermore to Vallejo via the [[Carquinez Bridge]]s to the north and to [[El Cerrito, California|El Cerrito]], [[Albany, California|Albany]], and [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] to the South locally and further down to, [[Oakland, California|Oakland]] and [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco.
[[Interstate 580 (California)|Interstate 580]] curves along the southern waterside of Richmond and merges into I-80 in [[Albany, California|Albany]] in the southern [[Oakland, California|Oakland]]/[[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] direction while sliceing through mixed medium and heavy industries and homes through [[Point Richmond]] and onto the [[Richmond-San Rafael Bridge]] over the [[San Pablo Bay]] segment of the [[San Francisco Bay]] into [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]] and [[Marin County, California|Marin County]].
*[[California State Route 93]],built in the late 90s and early 00s connects I-80 to I-580 from the Point Richmond area (I-580) in the southwest to the [[Hilltop Area]] near adjaecnt Pinole (I-80) along the city's heavyly industrial western side and through unincorporated CDP [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]].
*[[San Pablo Avenue]] (California State Route 123) runs through Richmond and San Pablo to Pinole, Hercules and to its terminus in [[Crockett, California|Crockett]] and up south through El Cerrito, Albany, [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]], and until it runs into [[Frank Ogawa Plaza]] in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]].

===Major streets===


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*[[Marina Bay Parkway]] serves the Marina Bay District.

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*[[Marina Way]] goes through Downtown and ends up in Marina Bay.
Formely Fourteenth Street.

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*[[Harbour Way]] goes downtown, Ford Motors was once on the street.

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*[[MacDonald Avenue]], the main street, the parade street. Goes through Downtown.

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*[[Cutting Boulevard]] is a througoughfare to Interstate 80.

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*[[Rheem Avenue]] is another througoughfare to Interstate 80.

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*[[23rd Street]] goes through Mexico Town

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*[[Rumrill Avenue]] is a route to Downtown and the Northside.

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*[[Barrett Avenue]] a througoughfare to Interstate 80 and 580

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*[[Atlas Road]], is a road off of Highway 93. A rest area.

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*[[Giant Highway]], is a exit off of Highway 93.

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*[[Hilltop Drive]], goes to Hilltop Mall.

===Public transportation===
====Intercity Rail====
[[Amtrak]] provides intercity passenger rail service from [[Richmond Station (California)|Richmond Station]], which it shares with the [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] system, in Downtown Richmond on MacDonald.  Train routes serving Richmond are:

*[[Capitol Corridor (Amtrak)]] San Jose - Oakland - Sacramento
*[[San Joaquin (Amtrak)]] Oakland - Stockton - Fresno - Bakersfield - Los Angeles

====Heavy Rail/Rapid Transit====
[[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] has one station in the city of Richmond, mentioned above, which serves as the northern terminus of the [[Richmond - Daly City Line|Richmond - Daly City]] and [[Richmond - Fremont Line]]s.  Two other stations are located near Richmond, [[El Cerrito del Norte]] and [[El Cerrito Plaza (BART)|El Cerrito Plaza]], both in El Cerrito.

====Local Bus Service====
[[AC Transit]] provides a diverse service throughout the West Contra Costa south of Pinole.

'Local Service' Standard bus service that connects neighborhood and business and transit hubs and employment centers and schools as a feeder service with stops on every 1 to 2 blocks.

*70-Appian ([[Richmond Parkway Transit Center]] to Richmond BART/Amtrak station)
*71-Rumrill (El Cerrito del Norte BART station to Richmond Parkway Transit Center)
*72-San Pablo (Hilltop Mall to Oakland Amtrak station)
*72M-MacDonald (Point Richmond to Oakland Amtrak station)
*74-23rd Street (Marina Bay to Orinda BART station)
*76-Cutting (El Cerrito del Norte BART to [[Contra Costa College]])

'Rapid Service' An express service emulating [[Light Rail]] with stops spaced about every 6 regular stops or quarter mile.

*72R-San Pablo Rapid (Contra Costa College to 2nd & Clay Streets)

'All-Nighter' (aka Owl) Bus service designed to run alond the most popular portions of daytime local lines but at the wee hours of the night to provide service to those without cars or other transit options late at night.

*376-North Richmond Night and owl service that connects most of Richmond from 10pm to appoximatly 2am in a 2 way figure 8 loop. (From Richmond BART/Amtrak to Hilltop Mall and El Cerrito del Norte BART to Richmond Parkway Transit Center)

*800-Richmond BART All-Nighter, a service which runs from approximatly 12 Midnight til 5 AM the next day. Its purpose is to emulate the BART line during the early morning when the trains no longer run. It is partb of the regional all-nighter network funded by the 1$ toll increase added by ballot initiative on the 7 state owned bridges in the Bay Area in 2004 for transit improvements.

'Transbay Service' Express service from the [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]] to the [[San Francisco Transbay Terminal]] (SFTT).
*H-Arlington (Barrett Avenue & San Pablo Avenue to SFTT)
*L-Pierce (Princeton Plaza Shopping Center to SFTT)
*LA-Hilltop (Hilltop Park and Ride lot to SFTT)

[[Golden Gate Transit]] provides connecting service to San Rafael Transit Center and [[Marin County]] across the [[Richmond-San Rafael Bridge]] with the Richmond BART/Amtrak stations and the El Cerrito del Norte BART station. With lines 40 and 42

[[Vallejo Transit]] provides Express serive to [[Solano County]] and the Cities of Vallejo, Fairfield, Cordelia, Suisun City, and Vacaville to the El Cerrito del Norte BART station with lines 85, 90, and 92.

[[WestCAT]] provides service to the El Cerrito del Norte BART station to the Richmond Parkway Transit Center, Hilltop Area, Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, and Martinez to the [[El Cerrito del Norte]] BART station with lines J, JX (with JL and JR variations) and 30Z/JPX.

Taxis serves all major shopping centers and stations.

====Intercity Bus Service====
[[Greyhound]] runs service from the Richmond Parkway Transit Center.

====Ferry Service (discontinued)====
The [[Red and White Fleet]] ran a ferry service from the Marina Bay neighborhood from the Old Kaiser Shipyards to San Francisco's Ferry Building and to pier 29 1/2 and to the [[San Francisco Giants]] baseball games at the then ''Pacific Bell Park'' (later ''SBC Park'', currently ''[[AT&T Park]]'') in Mission Bay. This service was discontinued, not due to unpopularity but due to unprofitability.

===Railroads===
The [[Union Pacific Railroad]] (UP) has a mainline passing through Richmond.  This line was formerly operated by the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] (SP).

The [[BNSF Railway]] (BNSF) has a yard and that serves as the [[Northern California]] terminus of their line that goes through the [[San Joaquin Valley]] to their main [[classification yard]] at [[Barstow, CA]].  At Barstow the BNSF has an east-west mainline that runs between [[Los Angeles]] - [[Chicago]].  The track was formerly operated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] (ATSF).  Many years ago the ATSF offered rail car ferry service from [[Point Richmond]] to [[San Francisco, CA|San Francisco]] and the abandoned ferry pier remains at the abandoned location.

The [[Richmond Pacific Railroad]] (RPRC) is a class III shortline railroad operating on 2.5 miles of track, providing switching services at Richmond's wharves.  This RPRC is owned by Levin-Richmond Terminal Corporation and was formerly known as the Parr Terminal Railroad (PRT).

==Notable citizens==

'''Music'''

*[[The Frontline]]'s Left and Locksmith, rappers whose 2004 debut album "Who R You?/Now U Know" helped put the Bay Area back on the map in terms of hip hop.

*[[Les Claypool]], [[bassist]] for [[Primus (band)|Primus]] was born in Richmond in [[1963]].

*[[Stephen Bradley]], member of the band [[No Doubt]].

*[[Master P]], rapper and founder/owner of the P. Miller brand of clothing. Founded three music stores in Richmond before hitting  it big. He is the father of rapper [[Lil' Romeo]].

*[[Mykee Ramen]], founder of [[Burnt Ramen]] records, and its twin punk club.

'''Atheletics'''

*[[David Jobe]] college basketball player, plays for the University of California Riverside Highlanders.

*[[Franco Harris]], [[Boise State]] college basketball player.

*[[Ken Carter]], basketball coach for [[Richmond High School]] and subject of the film [[Coach Carter]], revolving around his benching of the team for poor academic results despite an undefeated season.

*[[Lamont Thompson]], NFL defensive back, number 28, plays for the Tennessee Titans. Born July 30th, 1978

*John Norman, college football player for san jose State University.

*Michael McFadden, college basketball player for the san Jose State Spartans.


'''Other'''

*[[Divine Brown (American prostitute)|Divine Brown]], [[sex worker]] turned actress and "D-list" celebrity, caught in the act of [[fellatio]] with English actor [[Hugh Grant]] by police in [[Los Angeles]].ɰ

== Neighborhoods ==


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*Atchison Village- Many of the homes were built in the World War II as war 
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housing. Now on the national register of historic places

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*Belding Woods- The Upper south side. Main Street is Grant Boulevard.

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*Brickyard Cove- has many houses sitting on the water, known as water sitters.

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*Brickyard Cove #2- Known as the Rocky Point Richmond Hills

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*Brickyard landing- Is a apartment complex with 5 buildings, with a total of 310 housing units. Sitting on the bay next to the Point *Richmond Marina and directly across from the San Francisco Bay, the condiminiums boasts one of the best views from the San Francisco bay. Surrounded by regional parks. This complexs includes a swimming pool, tennis court, and a sauna and spa.

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*Carriage Hills North- Near El Sobrante, Carriage Hills North is by Castro Ranch Road. These are were many rich people live

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*Carriage Hills South- Near El Sobrante, they face the over side of Castro Ranch Road

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*Civic Center- Obviously it is by the Civic Center, Many of these homes are 1 levels, south of the Civic center, but 2 levels are north.

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*Coronado- West of South 23rd Street.

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*Cortez/Stege

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*Crescent Park- Most of these homes are apartments, near El Cerrito

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*Downtown- All commercial, except for apartments here and there.

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*East Richmond heights- None as the Richmond Hills, many big estates are in the area.

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*Eastshore

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*El Sobrante Hills

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*Fairmede/Hilltop- Fairmede homes,consist 2 level homes down Moyers road

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*Greenbriar

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*Green Ridge Heights

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*Hilltop Green

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*Hilltop Village

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*Iron Triangle

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*[[Marina Bay]], located in Richmond's protected Inner Harbor, Marina Bay began 
in the early 80's as a major effort to clean up, what was once the Kaiser Permanente Shipyards. Today Marina Bay is home to 70 big and small businesses in 300,000 square feet. We like to think of Marina Bay as Richmond's redevelopment gem.  Marina Bay is home to High tech businesses, a beautiful waterfront trail, lovely parks, a long shoreline esplanade, and a picturesque 750 boat berth. 

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*May Valley

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*North& East

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*Panhandle

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*Parchester Village

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*Park Plaza

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*Parkview

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*[[Point Richmond]] is famous for it's quaint shops and coffeehouses, the Old Corner of town. Point Richmond was once the commercial boom during the late 1800's and the early 1900's, until Downtown Richmond arrived, Point Richmond was the busiest part of town, it still has coffee shops, and small stores.

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*[[Pullman]], many of these houses are new apartments, named after the Pullman shops in Richmond. It was named after the industry Pullman Shops, that was in Richmond, on Cutting Boulevard. The structure still stands after almost a hundred years.

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*Quail Hill- near el Sobrante. You can see many quails in a day in this district.

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*Richmond Annex

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*Richmond Village

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*Santa Fe

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*Shields-Reid- formely North Richmond, it was home to many jazz musicians

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*SW Richmond Annex

==Books About Richmond==
*To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910-1963 (Paperback) by Shirley Ann Wilson Moore, University of California Press; 1 edition (February 5, 2001.
*Richmond (Images of America) (Paperback) by Donald Bastin, Arcadia Publishing (SC) (November 2003).
*Photographing the 2nd Gold Rush: Dorothea Lange and the East Bay at War 1941-1945 (Paperback) 
by Dorothea Lange, Charles Wollenberg, Heyday Books (August 1995).
*Tales from the Iron Triangle: Boyhood Days in the Bay Area of the 1920s (Hardcover), by James Polese, Ocean Tree Books; 1st ed. edition (September 1994).
*In Contempt (Mass Market Paperback)by Christopher A. Darden, Jess Walter, ReganBooks; Reprint edition (February 1997) (Christopher Darden, one of the prosecuters in the criminal case against O.J. Simpson, grew up in Richmond, California.)

==See also==
*[[East Richmond Heights, California]]
*[[El Sobrante, California]]
*[[North Richmond, California]]
*[[Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park]]
*[[Point Richmond]]
*[[Pullman, Richmond]]

==External links==
*[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/ Official city web site]
*[http://www.richmondmainstreet.org Downtown Richmond]
*[http://www.pointrichmond.com Point Richmond]
*[http://www.beldingwoods.com Belding Woods]
*[http://www.marinabay.com Marina Bay]
*[http://www.brickyardlanding.com/brickyard_landing.htm Brickyard Landing]
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|37.936874|-122.342057}}
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{{Cities of Contra Costa County, California}}
[[Category:San Francisco Bay Area|Richmond, California]]
[[Category:Cities in California]]
[[Category:Contra Costa County, California]]

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