Jun 26, 2024 - Business
10 reasons Richmond locals love their city
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
There's plenty to like about Richmond, but here are a few of the things we locals really love.
1. Our food
- Richmond's restaurant scene is wide-ranging, unreal and has rightfully garnered national attention for being a "culinary powerhouse."
- Essence said we have some of the best food in the South, Bon Appétit called us "America's next great restaurant-obsessed town," and CNN applauded our high concentration of Black-owned restaurants.
2. Monuments
- Richmond was once known for having the most Confederate statues in the nation. Those are gone, and now the most prominent monuments in town pay homage to local Black heroes — tennis legend Arthur Ashe and Maggie Walker, the first woman to charter a U.S. bank.
- Also notable: "Rumors of War" artist Kehinde Wiley's first public art piece, created in response to Richmond's Confederate statues.
3. Historic neighborhoods
- The homes in the Fan District (the nation's largest intact Victorian neighborhood) and Church Hill (the city's oldest neighborhood) make daily walks feel like you're in a Hallmark movie.
4. The James River
- The river flowing through Richmond offers ample swimming holes, boating spots, rocks to lie upon, and running and hiking trails.
- Fun fact: Richmond is the only U.S. city with Class IV whitewater rapids in the middle of downtown.
5. Tattoo culture
- The city has been named one of the most tattooed cities in the nation, a stat locals love — although the science behind the study is questionable.
- One local ZIP code, though, has the state's highest concentration of tattoo shops.
6. Endless sunrise/sunset viewing spots
- Our favorites: Nickel Bridge, T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, Jefferson Park, Libby Hill, the Manchester Floodwall, the Virginia War Memorial, and driving in from South Richmond over the Belvidere Bridge.
- Honorable mention: the VMFA lawn.
7. Beer
- With more than 40 breweries in the area, Richmond has been called the brewery capital of Virginia and a top beer tourism destination.
- Plus, the first canned beer in history was sold here.
8. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Richmond's must-visit fine arts museum is open 365 days a year, and it's completely free.
- It has the largest public collection of Fabergé outside of Russia, plus an incredible jazz night.
9. Dead presidents
- Two U.S. presidents — James Monroe and John Tyler — are buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery, a 19th century garden cemetery overlooking the James River.
- Also buried there: Dave Brockie (aka Oderus Urungus), the former frontman and founding member of costumed heavy metal band GWAR.
10. History is alive and well — and no, not just from that one war.
- Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John's Church in Church Hill. The church still stands, hosting reenactments and tours.
- Thomas Jefferson designed the state capitol.
- Edgar Allan Poe grew up in Richmond, and a museum about his life and work is housed in one of the city's oldest buildings.

