Editing Richmond, California

{{see also|Point Richmond, Richmond, California}}
{{About|the East Bay city|the San Francisco neighborhood|Richmond District, San Francisco}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Richmond
| named_for          = [[Richmond, Virginia]], U.S.
| motto              = The City of Pride and Purpose
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| perrow                   = 1/2/2
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 280
| caption_align            = center
| image1                   = Richmond California aerial (cropped).jpg
| caption1                 = Aerial view of Richmond
| image2                   = Point Richmond houses (4589842386).jpg
| caption2                 = [[Point Richmond]]
| image3                   = New Hotel Carquinez (Richmond, CA).JPG
| caption3                 = [[New Hotel Carquinez|Hotel Carquinez]]
| image4                   = Caltrans District4 7904D072.jpg
| caption4                 = [[Richmond-San Rafael Bridge]]
| image5                   = Richmond Ferry Terminal from ferry, March 2021.jpg
| caption5                 = [[Richmond Ferry Terminal]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Richmond, California.gif
| image_seal         = Richmond_seal.png
| image_map          = Contra_Costa_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Richmond_Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location in Contra Costa County
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|56|09|N|122|20|52|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map        = San Francisco Bay Area#USA California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]]
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council-Manager]]<ref>{{Cite web
  |url= http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2013
  |publisher= Richmond, California
  |title= Government
  |access-date= March 18, 2015}}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[City council]]:,<ref>{{Cite web
  |url= http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=29
  |publisher= Richmond, California
  |access-date=May 3, 2022
|title= City Council}}</ref><br />Doria Robinson,<br />Claudia Jimenez,<br />Soheila Bana,<br />Eduardo Martinez,<br />[[Gayle McLaughlin]], and<br />Melvin Willis
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Richmond, California|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Eduardo Martinez ([[California Democratic Party|D]])
| leader_title1      = [[Board of Supervisors (Contra Costa County, California)|Supervisor]]
| leader_name1       = District 1:<br />[[John M. Gioia|John Gioia]]
| leader_title2      = [[California's 7th State Senate district|State senator]]
| leader_name2       = {{Representative|casd|7|fmt=sleader}}<ref>
  {{Cite web
  |url= http://senate.ca.gov/senators
  |title= Senators 
  |access-date= March 27, 2013
|publisher= State of California
  }}</ref>
| leader_title3      = [[California's 14th State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
| leader_name3       = {{Representative|caad|14|fmt=sleader}}<ref>
  {{cite web
  |url= http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
  |title= Members Assembly
  |access-date= March 27, 2013
|publisher= State of California
  }}</ref>
| leader_title4      = [[California's 8th congressional district|U. S. rep.]]
| leader_name4       = {{Representative|cacd|8|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|8 |access-date= March 12, 2023}}</ref>
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = August 3, 1905<ref>
  {{cite web
 |url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
 |format=Word 
 |publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
 |archive-date=February 21, 2013 }}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 52.51
| area_land_sq_mi    = 30.05
| area_water_sq_mi   = 22.46
| area_water_percent = 42.71
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/>
| elevation_ft       = 46
<!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of   = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=quif>{{Cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0660620.html|title=Richmond (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901215958/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0660620.html|archive-date=September 1, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_total   = 103701
| pop_est_as_of      = 2019
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| population_est     = 110567
| population_rank    = [[Contra Costa County, California|2nd]] in Contra Costa County<br />[[List of largest California cities by population|54th]] in California
| population_density_sq_mi = 3678.94
| population_urban   = 28038
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/310M100US41860|title=American FactFinder – Results|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416153127/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/310M100US41860|archive-date=April 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population_metro   = 4335391
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 94801, 94802, 94804, 94805, 94807, 94808, 94850
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 510 and 341|510, 341]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS]] code<ref name="GNIS"/><ref name="FIPS55"/>
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|60620}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] IDs<ref name="GNIS">
  {{Cite GNIS|1659507|Richmond|access-date=May 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>
  {{Cite GNIS|2410939|City of Richmond|access-date=May 10, 2014}}</ref><ref name="FIPS55">
  {{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/fips55/CAfips55_delim.txt |title=FIPS55 Data: California |work=geonames.usgs.gov |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |date=February 23, 2006 |access-date=May 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618155602/http://geonames.usgs.gov/fips55/CAfips55_delim.txt |archive-date=June 18, 2006 }}</ref>
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS4|1659507}}, {{GNIS4|2410939}}
| website            = {{URL|www.ci.richmond.ca.us}}
| footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2     = 136.00
| area_land_km2      = 77.84
| area_water_km2     = 58.16
| population_density_km2 = 1420.43
}}

'''Richmond''' is a city in western [[Contra Costa County, California]], United States. The city was [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] on August 3, 1905, and has a [[Richmond, California, City Council|city council]].<ref name="ecrailhist">[http://elcerritowire.com/history/pages/railchron.pdf East Shore and Suburban Railway Chronology] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200642/http://elcerritowire.com/history/pages/railchron.pdf|date=September 27, 2007}}, ''[[El Cerrito Historical Society]]'', June 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2007.</ref> Located in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]'s [[East Bay]] region, Richmond borders [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]], [[Albany, California|Albany]], [[El Cerrito, California|El Cerrito]] and [[Pinole, California|Pinole]] in addition to the [[unincorporated area|unincorporated communities]] of [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]], Hasford Heights, [[Kensington, California|Kensington]], [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante]], [[Bayview-Montalvin Manor]], [[Tara Hills, California|Tara Hills]], and [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]], and for a short distance San Francisco on [[Red Rock Island]] in the [[San Francisco Bay]].

Richmond is one of two cities, the other being [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]], that sits on the shores of both San Francisco Bay and [[San Pablo Bay]]. Its population was 116,448 as of the [[2020 United States census]] making it the second largest city in the United States named Richmond after [[Richmond, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richmond city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0660620|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 16, 2022}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name "Richmond" predates incorporation of the city by more than fifty years. [[Edmund Randolph (ante bellum jurist)|Edmund Randolph]], originally from [[Richmond, Virginia]], represented the city of San Francisco when California's first legislature met in San Jose in December 1849, and he became state assemblyman from San Francisco. Out of fondness for his hometown, Randolph persuaded a federal surveying party, surveying and mapping the San Francisco Bay, to place the names "Point Richmond" and "Richmond" on their 1854 geodetic coastal map. The map was used at the terminal selected by the [[San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad]]. By 1899 maps made by the railroad carried the name "Point Richmond Avenue", a county road that later became Barrett Avenue, a central street in Richmond. The [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad]] purchased the railroad making their terminus at Richmond.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|689}}</ref> The first post office opened in 1900,<ref name=CGN /> and the city of Richmond [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1905.

==History==
[[File:Don_Víctor_Castro.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Richmond was originally part of [[Rancho San Pablo]], a Mexican-era [[ranchos of California|rancho]] granted to [[Francisco María Castro]] in 1823 and reconfirmed to his son Don [[Víctor Castro (landowner)|Víctor Castro]], a noted [[Californio]] ranchero and politician (pictured), in 1834.]]

The [[Ohlone]] were the first inhabitants of the Richmond area, settling an estimated 5,000 years ago.<ref name="History of Richmond">{{cite web |title=History of Richmond |publisher=City of Richmond |url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/112/History-of-Richmond |access-date=June 25, 2007}}</ref> They spoke the [[Chochenyo language]],<ref name="UCB Linguistics">{{Cite web|url=http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~survey/languages/chochenyo.php|title=Chochenyo – Survey of California and Other Indian Language|publisher=University of California, Berkeley|date=2016|access-date=August 28, 2017}}</ref> and subsisted as [[hunter-gatherer]]s and [[harvest]]ers.<ref>Controlled burning as harvesting, Brown 1973:3,4,25; Levy 1978:491; Stanger, 1969:94; Bean and Lawton, 1973:11,30,39 (Lewis). Quotation, "A rough husbandry of the land", Brown 1973:4. Seafood, nuts and seeds, Levy 1978:491–492. Trapped small animals, Milliken, 1995:18. Food maintenance and natural resource management, Teixeira, 1997:2.</ref>

===Origins===
The site that would eventually become the city of Richmond was part of the [[Rancho San Pablo]] land granted to Don [[Francisco María Castro]], from which the nearby town of San Pablo inherited its name; the [[Point Richmond]] area was known originally as The Potrero and then renamed as Point Stevens in early charts of [[San Francisco Bay]].<ref name=PtRichHist/> Point Richmond was an island, but industrial development and deliberate fill connected it to the mainland by the early 1900s.<ref name=PtRichHist/>

On July 4, 1900, the [[Santa Fe Railroad]]'s western terminus was established at Point Richmond with ferry connections from Ferry Point in the Brickyard Cove area to San Francisco.<ref name=PtRichHist/> The Santa Fe railroad also built a major rail yard next to Point Richmond. It constructed a tunnel through the Potrero San Pablo ridge to run track from the yard to a ferry landing from which freight cars could be transshipped to San Francisco. Where this track crosses the main street in Point Richmond, there remain two of the last operational [[Wigwag (railroad)|wigwag]] grade crossing signals in the United States, and the only surviving examples of the "upside-down" type. The wigwag is a type of railroad crossing signal that was phased out in the 1970s and '80s across the country. There was controversy in 2005 when the State Transportation Authority ordered the BNSF railroad company to upgrade the railroad crossing signals. A compromise was achieved that included installing new modern crossing gates, red lights and bells while not removing, but simply shutting off, the historic ones and preserving their functionality for special events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baycrossings.com/Archives/2002/06_July/going_wiggy_over_wig-wags.htm |title=Going Wiggy over Wig-Wags – Pt. Richmond's Wig-Wag Controversy |first=Jim |last=Mallory |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608180018/http://www.baycrossings.com/Archives/2002/06_July/going_wiggy_over_wig-wags.htm |archive-date=June 8, 2007 |website=BayCrossings.com |date=July 6, 2002 |access-date=May 18, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Standard Oil Refinery Richmond CA 1913.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Standard Oil refinery pictured in 1913.]]

[[Standard Oil]] set up operations on land sold by Emily Tewksbury in 1901, including what is now the [[Chevron Richmond Refinery]] and [[Oil depot|tank farm]], which [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] still operates. There is a pier into San Francisco Bay south of [[Point Molate Beach Park|Point Molate]] for oil tankers.
===Early days===
The city of Richmond was incorporated in 1905.<ref name=PtRichHist>{{cite web |url=https://www.pointrichmondhistory.org/PDF_Other/history.html |title=A Brief History of Point Richmond |author=Roselius, Donna |publisher=The Point Richmond History Association |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref> Until the enactment of prohibition in 1919, the city had the largest [[winery]] in the world;<ref name="SFC20080629"/> the small abandoned village of [[Winehaven, California|Winehaven]] remains fenced off along Western Drive in the Point Molate Area. Richmond was a small town at that time, with some industrial development centered on the waterfront based around the railroad and oil refineries.

The [[Pullman Company]] also established a major facility in Richmond in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pullmanshops.com |title=Pullman Shop |access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref> The facility connected with both the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific and serviced their passenger coach equipment. The Pullman Company was a large employer of African American men, who worked mainly as [[porter (railroad)|porters]] on the Pullman cars.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lyn |last=Hughes |url=http://www.aphiliprandolphmuseum.com |title=A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116030009/http://aphiliprandolphmuseum.com/ |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pullman-museum.org/laborAndRace/raceRelations.html |publisher=The Pullman State Historic Site |title=Pullman & the African-American Experience |access-date=May 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907014525/http://www.pullman-museum.org/laborAndRace/raceRelations.html |archive-date=September 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Many of them settled in the East Bay, from Richmond to Oakland, before World War II.

[[File:Stegeaerial1930.jpg|thumb|left|Southern Richmond in 1930, then known as the town of [[Stege, California]]]]
From 1917 and throughout the 1920s, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] was active in the city.<ref name="Moore2001">{{cite book|author=Shirley Ann Wilson Moore|title=To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910-1963|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaYwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=April 13, 2001|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-22920-4|page=25}}</ref>

In 1930 the [[Ford Motor Company]] opened the [[Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant|Richmond Assembly Plant]], which later moved to [[Milpitas, California|Milpitas]] in 1956. The old Ford plant in Richmond has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988.<ref>{{NRISref |version=2013a |refnum=88000919 |name=Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant}}</ref> In 2004 it was purchased by developer Eddie Orton,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ford-Point-bringing-new-life-to-Richmond-3166378.php |title=Ford Point bringing new life to Richmond |first=Carolyn |last=Said |date=November 14, 2010 |access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> who converted it into an events center named Ford Point Building–The Craneway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondca4business.com/news/documents/ScenicEastBayEventVenue-FordPointCranewayNov07.pdf |title=Richmond's Historic Ford Point Building Craneway, ''Bay Crossings'', November 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314104451/http://www.richmondca4business.com/news/documents/ScenicEastBayEventVenue-FordPointCranewayNov07.pdf |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Wartime boomtown and shifting demographics===
At the onset of [[World War II]], the four [[Richmond Shipyards]] were built along Richmond's waterfront, employing thousands of workers, many migrating to Richmond from other parts of the country after being recruited. These new workers generally lived in housing constructed specifically for the wartime boom, scattered throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Richmond, Berkeley and Albany. Many of these new migrants were [[Great Migration (African American)|Black Americans from the South and to a lesser extent the Midwest]] who took jobs in heavy industry and transport as those industries expanded to meet the needs of the war economy, while increased numbers of women also joined the industrial workforce for the first time as large numbers of working-age men were drafted for the war effort. During the war, Richmond's population increased dramatically, rising from 23,000 in 1940 to 114,899 in 1942 and peaking at around 120,000 by 1945.<ref name=Graves>{{cite report |url=http://www.tombutt.com/pdf/mapping%20richmond%20final.pdf |title=Mapping Richmond's World War II Home Front |author=Graves, Donna |date=July 2004 |publisher=National Park Service, Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park |access-date=March 8, 2023}}</ref>{{rp|3}}

A specially built rail line, the [[Shipyard Railway]], transported workers to the shipyards. Kaiser's Richmond shipyards built 747 [[Victory ship|Victory]] and [[Liberty ship]]s for the war effort, more than any other site in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rosie the Riveter – World War II Home Front National Historical Park: World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area |publisher =National Park Service |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/ros.htm |access-date=June 26, 2007}}</ref> The shipyards broke many records, including the completion of a Liberty ship in just five days. On average the yards built a new ship in 30 days.

The medical system established for the shipyard workers at the [[Richmond Field Hospital]] eventually became today's [[Kaiser Permanente]] [[HMO]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hendricks |first=Rickey |title=A Model for National Health Care: The History of Kaiser Permanente |location=New Brunswick, New Jersey |publisher=Rutgers University Press |date=1993 |pages=40–47, 63}}</ref> The hospital remained in operation until 1993, when it was replaced by the [[Richmond Medical Center]] hospital, which has since expanded to a multi-building campus.

Point Richmond was Richmond's original commercial hub, but a new downtown arose in the center of the city along Macdonald Avenue during the war. It was populated by department stores such as [[S. H. Kress & Co.|Kress]], [[J.C. Penney]], [[Sears, Roebuck and Company|Sears]], [[Macy's]], and [[F.W. Woolworth Company|Woolworth's]].
<gallery mode=packed heights=150px widths=200px>
File:Richmondunderpass.jpg|An [[East Shore and Suburban Railway|E&SR]] streetcar in the Macdonald Avenue subway in downtown Richmond, 1906
File:"4,000 Unit Housing Project Progress Photographs March 6,1943 to August 11, 1943, Looking down a street towards the... - NARA - 296755.tif|A 4,000-unit housing project was completed in Richmond during 1943.
File:USNS General A.W. Greely (T-AP-141) at Thule, Greenland, on 19 July 1951 (NH 97108).jpg|{{USS|General A. W. Greely|AP-141|6}}, built in Richmond
File:12-3-1 Permanente-Nos1-4-25.jpg|Aerial photo of Richmond Shipyards, 1944, view directed north: #3 (west, foreground); #2 (rectangular basin, east foreground); #4 (end of the channel, south bank); #1 (north of the channel bend).
File:Wendy Welder Richmond Shipyards.jpg|A "Wendy the Welder" at the Kaiser [[Richmond Shipyards]], contributing to the [[United States home front during World War II|war effort]]
File:Welders Alivia Scott, Hattie Carpenter, and Flossie Burtos await an opportunity to weld their first piece of steel - NARA - 535800.jpg|Richmond Shipyards welders prepare for a performance demonstration test
</gallery>

===Post-war decline and rebound===
When the war ended the shipyard workers were no longer needed, and a decades-long population decline ensued. The census listed 99,545 residents in 1950. By 1960 much of the temporary housing built for the shipyard workers was torn down, and the population dropped to about 71,800.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bayareacensus.ca.gov/cities/Richmond50.htm |title=City of Richmond, Contra Costa County |website=Bay Area Census |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref>

Just before his April 1968 [[assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.|assassination]], [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] had been working on plans for the [[Poor People's Campaign]], including a multi-city tour of the U.S. with a stop in Richmond.<ref name=KingIII>{{cite news |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/05/01/son-of-king-shining-light-on-poor/ |title=Son of King shining light on poor |first=John |last=Geluardi |newspaper=[[East Bay Times]] |date=May 1, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2007}}</ref> His son, [[Martin Luther King III]], completed the Poverty in America Tour in 2007, stopping in Richmond.<ref name=KingIII/> Unrest in late June 1968, sparked by the police shooting of a 15-year-old boy, damaged businesses in downtown along Macdonald Avenue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19680627.1.1 |title=Richmond Has Second Night Of Disturbances |agency=AP |date=June 27, 1968 |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2014/12/21/long-neglected-richmonds-downtown-is-being-slowly-reborn/ |title=Long neglected, Richmond's downtown is being slowly reborn |author=Schmidt-Hopper, Elly |date=December 21, 2014 |work=Richmond Confidential |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref> Most notably, the Travalini Furniture Store was destroyed by fire, which was assumed to be the result of the violent protests, but according to Fraser Felter, who was a reporter for the ''Richmond Independent'', police sources told him the fire was set to avoid a debt instead by destroying store records.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://richmondmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Winter10Final.pdf |title=The Travalini Furniture Store Fire: The Rest of the Story |author=Bastin, Donalsd |date=Winter 2010 |work=The Mirror |volume=58 |number=3 |publisher=The Richmond Museum Association |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Hilltop Mall entrance IMG 4272 (32288340296).jpg|thumb|right|Entrance to [[Hilltop Horizon|Hilltop Mall]]]]
In the 1970s, the Hilltop area was developed in Richmond's northern suburbs, further depressing the downtown area as it drew retail clients and tenants away to the large indoor Hilltop Mall, which opened in 1976. The shopping mall, last named [[Hilltop Horizon]], was opened under [[Taubman Centers]], and has been sold since then to GM Pension Trust (1998), [[Simon Property Group]] (2007), [[JLL (company)|Jones Lang LaSalle]] (2012),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2014/10/21/once-full-of-shoppers-and-hopes-hilltop-mall-faces-foreclosure-and-an-uncertain-future/|title=Once full of shoppers, and hopes, Hilltop Mall faces an uncertain future |author=Fei, Fan |date=October 21, 2014 |work=Richmond Confidential |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref> LBG Real Estate (2017), and [[Prologis]] (2021), who announced plans to close and demolish the building, reusing the land for a mixed-use development including residential, retail, and logistics facilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/2021-04-Richmond-mall-closed-Prologis-development-16124623.php |title=Hilltop Mall is dead: What's up next for the East Bay property? |author=Graff, Amy |date=April 23, 2021 |work=SFGate |access-date=March 15, 2023}}</ref>

In the late 1990s the [[Richmond Parkway (California)|Richmond Parkway]] was built along Richmond's western industrial and northwestern parkland, connecting Interstates 80 and 580. Construction of the Parkway, which follows the alignment of [[California State Route 93|SR&nbsp;93]] as proposed in 1958, started in 1990 and completed in 1996 at a cost of $193&nbsp;million. However, [[California Department of Transportation|Caltrans]] issued a letter in 1998 saying it would not take over responsibility for the road unless it was brought up to expressway standards; as it was cost-prohibitive to convert it, the road remains the responsibility of the city and county.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In 2006, the city celebrated its centennial. This coincided with the repaving and streetscaping project of [[Macdonald Avenue]]. The city's old rundown commercial district along Macdonald has been designated the city's "Main Street District" by the state of California. This has led to funding of improvements in the form of state grants.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/premium/0199/0199-853061.html |title=TTCA Welcomes the City of Richmond Into the California Main Street Program. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121045342/http://goliath.ecnext.com/premium/0199/0199-853061.html |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |publisher=Business Wire |date=December 13, 2007 |access-date=May 24, 2007}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:East Brother Light (panoramic view).jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[East Brother Island Light]]house, located in a small island group in [[San Francisco Bay]] called [[The Brothers (San Francisco Bay)|The Brothers]]]]
Richmond is located at {{Coord|37|56|09|N|122|20|52|W|type:city}}.<ref name="GNIS"/> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|52.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|30.1|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|22.4|sqmi|km2}} (comprising 42.71%) is water. The city sits on {{convert|32|mi|km}} of waterfront, more than any other city in the Bay Area.<ref name="richmonddata">{{Cite web|title=Richmond, California (CA 94850) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Richmond-California.html|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=city-data.com}}</ref> The city borders [[San Francisco Bay]] to the southwest and [[San Pablo Bay]] to the northwest, and includes [[Brooks Island Regional Preserve|Brooks Island]] and the [[The Brothers (San Francisco Bay)|Brother Islands]] entirely, and half of [[Red Rock Island]].

There are several cities and [[unincorporated community|unincorporated communities]] surrounding or bordering Richmond. To the south is the city of [[Albany, California|Albany]] which is in [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]] and the city of [[El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California|El Cerrito]]. The unincorporated communities of [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]], [[Rollingwood, California|Rollingwood]], Hasford Heights, and [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante]] lie to the east. [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]] to the west and [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]] to the east are almost entirely surrounded by Richmond's city limits. To the north, Richmond borders the city of [[Pinole, California|Pinole]] and the unincorporated areas of [[Bayview, Contra Costa County, California|Bayview]], [[Montalvin Manor, California|Montalvin Manor]], Hilltop Green, [[Tara Hills, California|Tara Hills]]. Richmond borders Alameda, San Francisco, and [[Marin County, California|Marin]] counties in the Bay and Red Rock Island.

The city is within the 94801, 94803, 94804, 94805, and 94806 [[ZIP Code]]s.<ref name="infosys">[http://gisweb.ci.richmond.ca.us/webapp/corgis/viewer.htm City of Richmond Geographic Information System Viewer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817192158/http://gisweb.ci.richmond.ca.us/webapp/corgis/viewer.htm |date=August 17, 2007 }}. Retrieved August 1, 2007.</ref>
[[File:Richmond-California-aerial.jpg|thumb|Aerial view in 2015]]

===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 {{convert|57|to|73|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and the lows range from {{convert|43|to|56|°F|°C|abbr=on}} year round.<ref name="richmondweather">[http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0936?from=dayDetails_bottomnav_allergies Average Weather for Richmond, California], Weather.com. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522122355/http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0936?from=dayDetails_bottomnav_allergies |date=May 22, 2011 }}</ref> Richmond usually enjoys an "[[Indian summer]]", and September is, on average, the warmest month. January is on average the coldest month.

The highest recorded temperature in Richmond was {{convert|107|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in September 1971 while the coldest was {{convert|24|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in December 1990.<ref name="richmondweather"/>

The rainy season begins in late October and ends in April, with some showers in May. Most of the rain occurs during stronger storms which occur between November and March and drop {{convert|3.3-4.91|in|mm}} of rain per month. January and February are the rainiest months.<ref name="richmondweather"/>

Like most of the Bay Area, Richmond is made up of several [[microclimate]]s. Southern parts of the city and the ridges receive more [[fog]] than northern areas. Summer temperatures are higher in inland areas, where the moderating influence of San Francisco Bay is lessened. The average wind speed is {{convert|6-9|mph|4=0}} with stronger winds from March through August; the strongest winds are in June.<ref name="richmonddata"/> The city also enjoys more than 80% sunshine seven months out of the year and ten months with 60% or more. December and January are the darkest months with about 45% average brightness.<ref name="richmonddata"/> The city experiences virtually no snowfall, and brief hail annually.

{{Weather box
| location = Richmond, California (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present)
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 78
| Feb record high F = 81
| Mar record high F = 87
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 100
| Jun record high F = 106
| Jul record high F = 98
| Aug record high F = 103
| Sep record high F = 107
| Oct record high F = 100
| Nov record high F = 89
| Dec record high F = 76
| year record high F = 107
| Jan high F = 58.2	
| Feb high F = 61.3	
| Mar high F = 64.1	
| Apr high F = 67.2	
| May high F = 69.0	
| Jun high F = 70.1
| Jul high F = 70.8	
| Aug high F = 72.2	
| Sep high F = 74.7	
| Oct high F = 72.8	
| Nov high F = 64.8	
| Dec high F = 58.2	
| year high F = 67.1	
| Jan mean F = 51.1
| Feb mean F = 53.6
| Mar mean F = 55.8
| Apr mean F = 58.2
| May mean F = 60.5
| Jun mean F = 63.0
| Jul mean F = 63.0
| Aug mean F = 64.0
| Sep mean F = 65.4
| Oct mean F = 63.3
| Nov mean F = 56.7
| Dec mean F = 51.3
| year mean F = 58.8
| Jan low F = 44.1	
| Feb low F = 45.9	
| Mar low F = 47.4	
| Apr low F = 49.3	
| May low F = 52.0	
| Jun low F = 54.1	
| Jul low F = 55.2	
| Aug low F = 55.9	
| Sep low F = 56.2	
| Oct low F = 53.7	
| Nov low F = 48.7	
| Dec low F = 44.4	
| year low F = 50.6	
| Jan record low F = 27
| Feb record low F = 28
| Mar record low F = 33
| Apr record low F = 35
| May record low F = 38
| Jun record low F = 43
| Jul record low F = 44
| Aug record low F = 44
| Sep record low F = 43
| Oct record low F = 41
| Nov record low F = 34
| Dec record low F = 24
| year record low F = 24
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.83	
| Feb precipitation inch = 4.76	
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.17	
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.57	
| May precipitation inch = 0.72	
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.27	
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.00
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.07
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.03
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.42	
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.67	
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.90	
| year precipitation inch = 24.41	
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.0	
| Feb precipitation days = 9.2	
| Mar precipitation days = 9.3	
| Apr precipitation days = 5.5	
| May precipitation days = 3.3	
| Jun precipitation days = 1.2	
| Jul precipitation days = 0.0
| Aug precipitation days = 0.1
| Sep precipitation days = 0.4
| Oct precipitation days = 2.7	
| Nov precipitation days = 6.3	
| Dec precipitation days = 9.8	
| year precipitation days = 57.8	
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mtr|title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=March 3, 2012|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418234102/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mtr|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00047414&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL|title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=July 26, 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Environment==
[[File:Winehaven-17 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|View of [[Winehaven, California|Winehaven]]]]
Richmond is home to many species of animals. [[Canada goose|Canada geese]] visit the city on their annual migrations. [[Harbor seal]]s live on the Castro Rocks, and pigeons and [[gull]]s populate the sidewalks and parking lots. Tadpoles and frogs can be found in the local creeks and vernal pools. [[Vole|Field mice]] and lizards are also found. [[Heron]]s and [[egret]]s nest in protected areas on Brooks Island. [[Deer]], [[falcon]]s, [[raccoon]]s, ducks, foxes, owls, and [[mountain lion]]s live in Wildcat Canyon and [[Point Pinole Regional Shoreline]].

A license is needed for fishing on the waterfront or city waters but not on the piers, where in addition to crabs, [[sturgeon]] are plentiful. [[Striped bass]], [[bat ray]]s, [[Triakis semifasciata|leopard shark]]s, surf [[perch]], [[jacksmelt]], [[white croaker]], and [[flounder]]s are also found.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Point Isabel Regional Shoreline|url=https://www.ebparks.org/parks/point-isabel|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=East Bay Parks|language=en}}</ref> Richmond is one of the few places where you can find the rare [[Olympia oyster]] on the West Coast, in the waters along the refinery's shoreline. [[Rainbow trout]] have recently returned to San Pablo and Wildcat creeks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=DelVecchio|first=Rick|date=April 22, 2005|title=Born to be wild trout: Local fish goes global|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Born-to-be-wild-trout-Local-fish-goes-global-2639128.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Red-tailed hawk]]s patrol the skies. [[Monarch butterfly|Monarch butterflies]] migrate through the city on their journey between Mexico and Canada. Wildcat Marsh has two ponds where Canada geese often rest, and is also the home of the endangered [[salt marsh harvest mouse]] and [[California clapper rail]]. Another endangered species in the city is the [[Santa Cruz tarweed]] which survives alongside Interstate 80. Wildcat Canyon also hosts falcons and vultures. Threatened black rails also live in the city's marshes.<ref>[http://www.spawners.net/ourwatershed.html Spawners, Our Watershed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730173345/http://www.spawners.net/ourwatershed.html |date=July 30, 2007 }}. Retrieved July 26, 2007.</ref>

[[File:River otter Richmond Marina Scott Campbell July 29, 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Otter]]s at the Richmond Marina]]

After a baby [[gray whale]] was beached on the Point Richmond shore in May 2007, its rotting corpse became bothersome to neighbors. Removal was delayed as various agencies argued over which would have to pay for it, at an eventual cost of $18,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/25/BAG6RQ1AKI1.DTL|title=POINT RICHMOND / Young whale washes up in East Bay / Baby gray unrelated to the 2 humpbacks wandering the delta|date=May 25, 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_6085645 Beached whale's carcass to be towed to sea for burial]. Retrieved June 7, 2007. {{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nbc11.com/news/13463810/detail.html CoCo County Pays $18K To Remove Whale Carcass]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612163936/http://www.nbc11.com/news/13463810/detail.html |date=June 12, 2007 }} Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.nbc11.com/news/13463810/detail.html Burial at sea for hulkRed tape delayed earlier disposition of rotting remains]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612163936/http://www.nbc11.com/news/13463810/detail.html |date=June 12, 2007 }} Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>

Richmond is also home to one of the last pristine moist grassland habitats in the entire Bay Area at the former [[Campus Bay, Richmond, California|Campus Bay]] [[University of California Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] Field Station near [[Meeker Slough]].<ref name="savebay">{{Cite web|title=Save the Bay and Creeks to the Bay vision for the Eastshore State Park|url=https://people.well.com/user/pk/waterfront/EastshoreStatePark/SaveBay/STBvision.html|access-date=February 23, 2023|via=people.well.com}}</ref> Richmond residents, however, have limited access to other environmental benefits. Because of the refineries located in Richmond, air quality is particularly low, and residents are especially at risk of air-pollution-related health issues.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fractracker.org/2016/04/air-pollution-refinery-corridor/|title=Air Pollution in the Bay Area's Refinery Corridor|date=April 29, 2016|newspaper=FracTracker Alliance|language=en-US|access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref>

In 2006, the city was sued by an environmental group for dumping raw [[sewage]] into the Bay. Councilmember Tom Butt was very vocal on the subject, accusing the city council of turning a blind eye to the problem.<ref name="sewage">[http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2006-03-01/news/sewage-leaks/ Sewage Leaks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806132813/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2006-03-01/news/sewage-leaks/ |date=August 6, 2007 }}, Richmond Councilman Tom Butt can't keep his mouth shut, bless him. Wikipedians poke at Dick Pombo's bio; and mystery fliers sully mayor's race, by Will Harper, ''[[East Bay Express]]'', March 1, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2007.</ref>

A 60-acre, 10.5-megawatt solar farm was opened within the city in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=New 10.5 megawatt solar farm opens on site of former Chevron landfill in Richmond |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/04/18/new-10-5-megawatt-solar-farm-opens-on-site-of-former-chevron-landfill-in-richmond/ |website=East Bay Times |date=April 18, 2018}}</ref> The farm sits on a former landfill owned by [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]].

==Crime==
The city has in the past suffered from a high crime rate; at one point, the city council requested a declaration of a state of emergency and asked for the intervention of the Contra Costa County Sheriff and the [[California Highway Patrol]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zamora|first=Jim Herron|date=June 17, 2005|title=RICHMOND / 4 on council call for a state of emergency / The idea is to raise $2 million to fight violent crime wave|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/richmond-4-on-council-call-for-a-state-of-2627613.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> Murder, vehicle theft, and larceny rates remain high, although they tend to be concentrated in the [[Iron Triangle, Richmond, California|Iron Triangle]] and adjacent unincorporated [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]], which is outside the jurisdiction of the [[Richmond Police Department (California)|Richmond Police Department]]. By 1991, the city's all-time high of 62 homicides, among a population of 98,000, was seven times the national average. The portion of these homicides that were drug- or gang-related increased from 5 percent to 55 percent between 1989 and 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wtvr.com/2015/05/08/by-the-numbers-here-are-the-most-dangerous-cities-in-america/ |title=By the numbers: Here are the 'most dangerous' cities in America|date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>

Despite the city making extreme headway in crime reduction and prevention, Richmond received widespread attention in 2009 when a [[2009 Richmond High School gang rape|girl was gang raped]] at a homecoming dance at Richmond High School.

In 2007, Richmond opened a program to prevent gun violence, the Office of Neighborhood Safety.<ref>{{Cite web
| title=Office of Neighborhood Safety
| work=Richmond, California – Official Website
| access-date=June 21, 2014
| url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=271
}}</ref> The program collects information and analyzes public records to determine "the 50 people in Richmond most likely to shoot someone and to be shot themselves." It then offers selected individuals "a spot in a program that includes a stipend to turn their lives around".<ref>{{Cite news
| last=Murphy
| first=Tim
| title=Did This City Bring Down Its Murder Rate by Paying People Not to Kill?
| work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]
| access-date=June 21, 2014
| date=August 2014
| url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/richmond-california-murder-rate-gun-death
}}</ref> "Over an 18-month period, if the men demonstrate better behavior, ONS offers them up to $1,000 a month in cash, plus opportunities to travel beyond Richmond."<ref>{{Cite news
| publisher=Al Jazeera America
| author=Jason Motlagh (Director)
| title=A city that pays criminals to behave
| work=America Tonight
| access-date=June 21, 2014
| date=June 6, 2014
| url=http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/articles/2014/6/6/a-city-that-payscriminalstobehave.html
}}</ref>

In 2004, Richmond was ranked the 12th most dangerous city in America.<ref>[http://journalism.berkeley.edu/ngno/stories/004050.html The Iron Triangle: Richmond's Forgotten Neighborhood], North Gate News Online. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610170941/http://journalism.berkeley.edu/ngno/stories/004050.html |date=June 10, 2007 }}</ref> Those rankings have changed, and Richmond is no longer ranked as a "most dangerous" city, in either California or the United States. This is in large part due to the efforts of Police Chief Chris Magnus, who established "community policing", which involves police officers engaging with affected high crime communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/crime/la-me-richmond-pd-20150503-story.html|title=Homicide rates drop as Richmond chief builds bond with community|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 2, 2015|first=Lee|last=Romney}}</ref>

==Disasters==
[[File:122-38HaywardFault.jpg|thumb|Map showing the Hayward fault running through the eastern Richmond hills and the hilltop area through to San Pablo Bay]]

Richmond lies in the volatile California region that has a potential for devastating earthquakes. Many buildings were damaged in the 1989 [[Loma Prieta earthquake]]. The city has also had at least one minor tornado. The [[Chevron Richmond Refinery]] had highly noted chemical leaks in the 1990s. The company has been fined thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Richmond has a siren system consisting of 17 emergency warning sirens located across the city; they are tested on the first Wednesday of every month, at 11 am [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]] (12 pm PDT), and are usually used to warn of toxic chemical releases from the Chevron Richmond Refinery.<ref>[http://www.kron4.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=778 Malfunction Causes Emergency Warning Siren to Go Off in Richmond] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125655/http://www.kron4.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=778|date=July 20, 2011}}. KRON News. April 12, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.</ref>

<ref name="Chevronfined">{{Cite web|last=Pimentel|first=Benjamin|date=September 17, 1999|title=Chevron Fined Over March Blast, Fire / Firm may fight $31,000 citation by Cal-OSHA|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/chevron-fined-over-march-blast-fire-firm-may-2908097.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>
In a July 26, 1993, industrial accident, a [[General Chemical]] company rail tanker car containing [[oleum]] overheated and exploded in the General Chemical railyard. This resulted in a {{convert|17|mi|km|0|adj=on}} area contaminated with the poisonous gas, and led to 25,000 people landing in the hospital. The incident led to lawsuits, and has been referred to as a mini-[[Bhopal disaster|Bhopal]].<ref>[http://commongroundmag.com/2005/02/toxictour0502.html Taking the Toxic Tour] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121232003/http://commongroundmag.com/2005/02/toxictour0502.html |date=November 21, 2008 }}, Commongroundmag.com, ''Common Ground Magazine'', February 2005.</ref>

[[File:Richmond marina bay shore closure - oil spill.jpg|thumb|A beach closed due to [[Oil spill|oil contamination]] along the shoreline at Marina Bay]]

=== 2007 San Francisco Bay Oil Spill ===
The city's shoreline and wildlife were seriously affected by the [[2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill]]. Beaches and shoreline were closed, but later reopened.<ref name="oil">[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=468 Oil Spill Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106061243/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=468 |date=January 6, 2008 }}, City of Richmond website. Retrieved December 18, 2007.</ref> Keller Beach was closed to public access for swimmers.

=== 2010 sinkhole ===
On April 15, 2010, a [[sinkhole]] roughly {{convert|30|ft|m}} deep appeared at the intersection of El Portal Drive and Via Verdi. Although no one was hurt, a car fell into the sinkhole.<ref name="sink">[http://cbs5.com/local/east.bay.sinkhole.2.1662208.html Richmond Sinkhole Fix Could Cost $7.5 Million] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507230322/http://cbs5.com/local/east.bay.sinkhole.2.1662208.html |date=May 7, 2010 }}, CBS Local News, April 28, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.</ref>

=== 2012 Chevron Refinery fire ===
On August 6, 2012, at around 6:15 PM, a [[Chevron Richmond Refinery#2012 fire|large fire erupted]] at the Chevron refinery, sending plumes of toxic smoke into the surrounding area and resulting in nearly 15,000 people to seek medical treatment following the incident. Just minutes after the fire was reported, Contra Costa Health Services notified residents “[[Shelter-in-place|shelter in place]]”; the local siren system was activated and several messages were issued through the [[Emergency Alert System]]. The fire was reported contained at around 10:40 PM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2628 |title=Richmond, CA - Official Website - Chevron Refinery Fire |access-date=August 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203120722/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=2628 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 6802
|1920= 16843
|1930= 20093
|1940= 23642
|1950= 99545
|1960= 71854
|1970= 79043
|1980= 74676
|1990= 87425
|2000= 99216
|2010= 103701
|2020= 116448
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br /> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Richmond city, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br /><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Richmond city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0660620&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Richmond city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US0660620&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Richmond city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US0660620&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|21,081
|17,769
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,985
|21.25%
|17.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.30%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|35,279
|26,872
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,753
|35.56%
|25.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18.68%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|351
|250
|style='background: #ffffe6; |266
|0.35%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|12,077
|13,783
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,460
|12.17%
|13.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14.14%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|476
|462
|style='background: #ffffe6; |609
|0.48%
|0.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|400
|585
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,243
|0.40%
|0.56%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.07%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,233
|3,059
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,220
|3.26%
|2.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.48%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|26,319
|40,921
|style='background: #ffffe6; |51,912
|26.53%
|39.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |44.58%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''99,216'''
|'''103,701'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''116,448'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660620|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715134438/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660620|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Richmond city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Richmond had a population of 103,701. The population density was {{convert|1976.0|PD/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of Richmond was 32,590 (31.4%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 27,542 (26.6%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 662 (0.6%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 13,984 (13.5%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (4.0% [[Chinese American|Chinese]], 3.5% [[Filipino American|Filipino]], 1.6% [[Laotian American|Laotian]], 1.2% [[Indian American|Indian]], 0.7% [[Vietnamese American|Vietnamese]], 0.6% [[Japanese American|Japanese]], 0.4% [[Korean American|Korean]], 0.2% [[Pakistani American|Pakistani]], 0.1% [[Thai American|Thai]]), 537 (0.5%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 22,573 (21.8%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5,813 (5.6%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 40,921 persons (39.5%). Among the Hispanic population, 27.3% were of [[Mexican American|Mexican]] origin, 4.7% [[Salvadoran American|Salvadoran]], 1.7% [[Guatemalan American|Guatemalan]], and 1.2% [[Nicaraguan American|Nicaraguan]] heritage.

The census reported that 102,118 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 670 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 913 (0.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 36,093 households, out of which 13,487 (37.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 14,502 (40.2%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 6,931 (19.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,585 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,538 (7.0%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 427 (1.2%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 9,546 households (26.4%) were made up of individuals, and 2,707 (7.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83. There were 24,018 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (66.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.43.

The age distribution of the population shows 25,800 people (24.9%) under the age of 18, 10,364 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 30,846 people (29.7%) aged 25 to 44, 26,109 people (25.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,582 people (10.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

There were 39,328 housing units at an average density of {{convert|749.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 36,093 were occupied, of which 18,659 (51.7%) were owner-occupied, and 17,434 (48.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%. 52,683 people (50.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 49,435 people (47.7%) lived in rented housing.

The population of Richmond was 22% African-American as of 2015, while it was 44% African-American in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2015/05/22/richmonds-african-american-population-declining/|title=Richmond's African-American population declining |publisher=[[Bay Area News Group]] at [[East Bay Times]]|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref>

===2000===
[[File:Red Rock island from the water.jpg|thumb|left|[[Red Rock Island]]]]
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 99,216 people, 34,625 households, and 23,025 families in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,309.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 36,044 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,202.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 36.06% [[Race (United States Census)|black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 21.36% [[Race (United States Census)|white]], 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. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Laycock |first=Richard |title=Most diverse cities in the US |work=finder.com |access-date=2024-12-11 |date=2021-09-07 |url=https://www.finder.com/research/most-diverse-cities-in-the-us}}</ref>

Of the 34,625 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were 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 age distribution of the population shows 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.

75.4% of inhabitants over the age of 25 were high school graduates, while 22.4% had bachelor's degrees, and 8.3% had a graduate or professional degree. 7.7% of the population was unemployed and those who were employed took, on average, 34.3 minutes to commute to their place of work.<ref name="richmonddata"/>

33.2% of the population aged 15 and over has never married, while 46.3% is currently wed. 11.1% have already divorced, 3.1% is currently separated, and 6.4% has been widowed.<ref name="richmonddata"/>

20.6% of the population was born outside the U.S., of which 15.4% were born in Latin America and 8.7% in Asia.<ref name="richmonddata"/>

During the day the population shrinks by 6.2% due to commuting while 23.3% of the population works within the city limits. 20.5% of the jobs in the city are in the educational, health, and social service fields, while 10.9% are professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste disposal, and 10.4% are in retail.<ref name="richmonddata"/>

7.0% of Richmonders are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces compared with 10.9% nationally. 33.2% are foreign born while 12.4% are nationwide. 48.1% of men and 43.2% of women are married; 55.9 and 51% of Americans are respectively. Nearly half (46.7%) speak a language other than the English language at home. 65.3% are employed, even with the national average. The average household income is US$52,794; $6,552 higher than the national average. The average family makes 57,931 dollars while the average American household makes 55,832 dollars. The per capita income is 22,326 compared with 25,035 federally.<ref name="richmonddata3">[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US0660620&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US06%7C16000US0660620&_street=&_county=richmond%2C+contra+costa&_cityTown=richmond%2C+contra+costa&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Richmond Fact Sheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121062844/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US0660620&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US06%7C16000US0660620&_street=&_county=richmond%2C+contra+costa&_cityTown=richmond%2C+contra+costa&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= |date=November 21, 2007 }}, U.S. Census Bureau.</ref>

Among Richmond residents, 64.56% residents speak English, 23.13% speak Spanish, 2.11% speak [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], 1.75% speak Chinese, 1.20% speak [[Hmong–Mien languages|Miao–Mien]], 1.12% speak [[Laotian language|Laotian]], 0.72% speak [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], 0.54% speak [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]], 0.51% speak French, 0.5% speak [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], 3.49% speak other languages, none of which represents more than half of one percent of the population.<ref name="langs">[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=6&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=60620&cty_id=&ll=&a=&order=r&ea=y Richmond, California entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123102120/http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26state_id%3D6%26county_id%3D%26mode%3D%26zip%3D%26place_id%3D60620%26cty_id%3D%26ll%3D%26a%3D%26order%3Dr%26ea%3Dy |date=January 23, 2008 }}, MLA Data Center. Retrieved October 21, 2007.</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Richmondca2019.jpg|thumb|left|The Port of Richmond (seen in the distance) has been a major part of the economy of the city.]]

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:5px; text-size:90%; text-align:right"
|-
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| '''Largest employers in Richmond<br />2021'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/59911/City-of-Richmond-ACFR-FY2021---FINAL---V3 |title=City of Richmond 2020-2021 CAFR |access-date=October 27, 2022 }}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| '''Rank''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Name''' || style="text-align:center;"| '''Industry'''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 1. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Chevron Corporation]] || style="text-align:center;"| Petrochemical
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 2. || style="text-align:center;"| [[West Contra Costa Unified School District]] || style="text-align:center;"| Education
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 3. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Kaiser Permanente|Kaiser Foundation Hospitals]] || style="text-align:center;"| Healthcare
|- style="text-align:center;" 
|| 4. || style="text-align:center;"| [[United Parcel Service]] || style="text-align:center;"| Shipping
|- style="text-align:center;" 
|| 5. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Social Security Administration]]|| style="text-align:center;"| Government
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 6. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Amazon (company)|Amazon.com services]] || style="text-align:center;"| E-Commerce
|- style="text-align:center;" 
|| 7. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Kaiser Permanente|Permanente Medical Group]] || style="text-align:center;"| Healthcare
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 8. || style="text-align:center;"| [[United States Postal Service]] (including San Francisco [[Network Distribution Center|NDC]])|| style="text-align:center;"| Government
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 9. || style="text-align:center;"| [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]]|| style="text-align:center;"| Government
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| 10. || style="text-align:center;"| City of Richmond || style="text-align:center;"| Government
|- style="text-align:center;"
|}

Many industries have been and are still sited in Richmond. It had a [[dynamite]] and [[gunpowder]] works (the [[Giant Powder Company]], closed in 1960, now the site of [[Point Pinole Regional Shoreline]]), the last active [[whaling]] station in the country at Point Molate (closed in 1971), and one of the world's largest [[wineries]] ([[Winehaven, California|Winehaven]]), closed by [[Prohibition]] in 1919.

During World War II, Richmond developed rapidly as a heavy industrial town, chiefly devoted to [[shipbuilding]]. Its major activity now is as a [[seaport]], with 26 million [[ton]]s of goods shipped through [[Port Richmond, California|Port Richmond]] in 1993, mostly oil and petroleum products. The seaport is also home to [[Chevron Richmond Refinery|a major oil refinery]] operated by [[Chevron Corporation]]. The [[Social Security Administration]] employs over 1,000 at its regional office and program service center in Downtown Richmond. [[Kaiser Permanente]]'s [[Richmond Medical Center]] hospital in the Downtown Richmond is one of the largest employers in the city.

===Retail===
[[File:Kaiser Richmond.jpeg|thumb|upright|Kaiser Permanente [[Richmond Medical Center]] in [[Downtown Richmond, Richmond, California|downtown Richmond]]]]

The [[Hilltop, Richmond, California|Hilltop District]] includes [[Hilltop Mall|Prologis Hilltop Center]] and a 16-screen [[Century Theatres]] alongside Hilltop Plaza Shopping Center. The [[23rd Street (Richmond, California)|23rd Street business district]] has evolved into a predominantly Latino neighborhood over the last twenty years as have the storefronts.<ref name="char">[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=6187 23rd Street Corridor Visioning and Form-Based Code: Charette Summary Report Richmond, California] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505041406/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=6187 |date=May 5, 2011 }}. City of Richmond website. August 26, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2011.</ref>

In the [[Downtown Richmond, Richmond, California|Downtown Richmond District]] the Richmond Shopping Center was built as part of the city's "''main street''" revitalization efforts.

The [[Macdonald 80 Shopping Center]] is a commercial plot along the trunk route of Macdonald Avenue which has been designated the city's main street under the aforementioned program. It was once anchored by the now-defunct Montgomery Wards and a Toys"R"Us. Demolition of the former buildings and construction of a new shopping mall were completed in 2006.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=243
 |title        = Macdonald 80 Shopping Center: Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
 |publisher    = Pacific Municipal Consultants
 |date         = June 2004
 |format       = PDF
 |access-date  = July 28, 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231034/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=243
 |archive-date = September 27, 2007
|url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>

===Redevelopment===
[[File:Point Richmond Historic District-7.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Point Richmond Historic District|Pt. Richmond Historic District]]]]
The former [[Richmond Shipyards|Richmond Shipyard No.&nbsp;2]] and Inner Harbor were transformed starting in the late 1980s into a multiunit residential area, now known as [[Marina Bay, Richmond, California|Marina Bay]]. Starting in the early 2000s, the city began an aggressive redevelopment effort spurring exurban tract housing, condominiums, townhomes, a [[Richmond Station (California)|transit village]], and terraced hillside subdivisions. The city also created a [[redevelopment agency]] that refurbished [[Macdonald Avenue]], funded the Metro Walk transit village, resurrected the Macdonald 80 Shopping Center, and created the [[Richmond Greenway]] [[rails-to-trails]] trail and [[urban farming]] project. Since 1996, new homes have increased in price by 32%,<ref name="richmonddata"/> and there has been a 65.6% increase in the total amount of new dwellings built annually.

Country Club Vista is a development surrounding the Richmond Country Club to the south and north. It includes suburban style tract houses with cul-de-sac courts and small yards. Seacliff, at Point Richmond, is a development of luxury waterfront homes built on a terraced hillside. San Marcos is a series of about ten condominium multistory buildings between The Shops at Hilltop and Country Club Vista. Richmond Transit Village has been constructed in the former west parking lot and an adjacent empty lot of the combined Richmond BART and Amtrak station. The development is part of the city's downtown revitalization efforts.

===Richmond CARES===
On September 11, 2013, the seven-member Richmond City Council, in a four-to-three vote, decided to pursue a scheme for using [[eminent domain]] to buy out mortgages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2013/09/11/richmond-to-move-forward-with-eminent-domain-plan/ |title=Richmond to move forward with eminent domain plan |publisher=blog.sfgate.com |date=September 11, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013 |first=Carolyn |last=Said |quote=Richmond's City Council voted 4-3 early Wednesday morning to continue exploring the use of eminent domain for underwater mortgages [...] |archive-date=September 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914132630/http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2013/09/11/richmond-to-move-forward-with-eminent-domain-plan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The vote was on "[setting] up a Joint Powers Authority to bring more cities into the plan". However, at least five votes would be needed before any mortgage could actually be bought out. [[North Las Vegas, Nevada]]<ref name="contra-eminent">{{cite news |url=http://www.contracostatimes.com/west-county-times/ci_24035711/both-sides-richmond-eminent-domain-plan-set-showdown |title=Both sides in Richmond eminent domain plan set for showdown at City Council meeting |work=Contra Costa Times |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013 |first=Robert |last=Rogers |quote=Any vote to seize assets through eminent domain requires a supermajority of the council, per state law, meaning that five of Richmond's seven council members would need to agree.}}</ref> and California governments including [[El Monte, California|El Monte]]<ref name=ap911>{{cite news |url=http://www.adn.com/2013/09/11/3069495/calif-city-moves-ahead-with-eminent.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911191736/http://www.adn.com/2013/09/11/3069495/calif-city-moves-ahead-with-eminent.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2013 |title=Calif. city moves ahead with eminent domain plan |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=September 11, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 11, 2013 }}</ref> [[Fontana, California|Fontana]], the city of [[Ontario, California|Ontario]] and [[San Bernardino County]] had considered such plans but decided not to pursue them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.pe.com/cassie-macduff/2013/09/06/mortgages-eminent-domain-plan-didnt-fly-in-inland-area/ |title=MORTGAGES: Eminent domain plan didn't fly in Inland area |work=Press-Enterprise blog |date=September 6, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013 |first=Cassie |last=MacDuff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182359/http://blog.pe.com/cassie-macduff/2013/09/06/mortgages-eminent-domain-plan-didnt-fly-in-inland-area/ |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The vote made Richmond the first to accept the idea.<ref name=ap911/> The plan had been opposed by the vice-mayor and some members of the city council, who said it would "compromise" the city's finances.

Critics of the plan noted that the company Mortgage Resolution Partners stood to potentially profit: it would receive $4,500 from the new lenders for each refinanced mortgage for arranging the financing to purchase the original loans and for handling all legal, administrative, and refinancing operations (an amount matching what lenders are compensated for under the Federal HARP loan modification program). Critics also questioned the inclusion of wealthy neighborhoods such as "the area near the Richmond Country Club".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/09/05/richmond-cas-eminent-domain-mortgage-scheme-could-set-an-ugly-national-precedent/ |title=Richmond, CA's Eminent Domain Mortgage Scheme Could Set An Ugly National Precedent |work=Forbes |date=September 5, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013 |first=Marc |last=Joffe}}</ref> The Western Contra Costa Association of Realtors hired a public relations agency and sent mass mailings<ref name="contra-eminent"/> warning against the scheme; its advertising was "funded, in part, by more than $70,000 from the California Association of Realtors and the National Associations of Realtors."<ref name="http://richmondconfidential.org/2013/09/10/realtors-and-residents-debate-richmonds-eminent-domain-plan/">{{cite news |title=Realtors and residents debate Richmond&'s eminent domain plan |work=Richmond Confidential |date=September 10, 2013 |first=Joaquin |last=Palomino}}</ref>

[[Deutsche Bank]] and [[Wells Fargo]] had sued, claiming the program was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/09/10/richmond-reconsidering-eminent-domain-plan-for-underwater-homeowners/ |title=Richmond Reconsidering Eminent Domain Plan For Underwater Homeowners |publisher=[[KPIX-TV]] |date=September 10, 2013 |agency=Bay City News Service |access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref> "[T]he National Housing Law Project, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, Bay Area Legal Aid, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, and the California Reinvestment Coalition" opposed the suit, calling the banks' request for an injunction against the city "discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.realestaterama.com/2013/09/10/fair-housing-groups-ask-court-to-deny-banks%E2%80%99-effort-to-stop-richmond%E2%80%99s-mortgage-rescue-plan-ID022583.html |title=Fair Housing Groups Ask Court to Deny Banks' Effort to Stop Richmond's Mortgage Rescue Plan |work=RealEstateRama |date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref>

Supporters of the plan include the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment and Robert Hockett, a professor of law at [[Cornell University]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.housingwire.com/articles/26752-city-council-to-vote-on-richmond-eminent-domain-proposal |title=City council to vote on Richmond eminent domain proposal |work=HousingWire |date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2013 |first=Megan |last=Hopkins}}</ref>

==Casinos==
Many casinos have been proposed for the West Contra Costa area. [[Point Molate Beach Park|Point Molate]] would have a casino, resort, and a luxury shopping mall. Sugar Bowl Casino proposed a casino, a steakhouse, and a buffet promoted by the [[Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians|Pomo Tribe's Scotts Valley Band]] near the border between [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]] and the city of Richmond's [[Parchester Village, Richmond, California|Parchester Village]], whose residents have lauded it as a boon to fighting crime by adding more of a police presence and creating jobs for shiftless youth, but residents from neighboring newly developed sub-divisions along the [[Richmond Country Club]] were fervently opposed based on potential losses to property values.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vega|first=Cecilia M.|date=October 14, 2004|title=RICHMOND / Neighbors at odds over casino plan / Proposal pits poor community against new subdivision|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/richmond-neighbors-at-odds-over-casino-plan-2717680.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> 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 already high crime rates, lowered property values, and worsening neighborhood quality of life.

Point Molate is currently slated to either become a housing and conference center, a [[casino]] resort shopping area, or a large regional park.<ref>{{Cite web|last=DelVecchio|first=Rick|date=April 9, 2001|title=Time Bomb Or Treasure / Old Navy depot at Point Molate has stunning views for housing but is loaded with environmental red flags|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Time-Bomb-Or-Treasure-Old-Navy-depot-at-Point-2933355.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010, the city approved the environmental review of the plan in which the tribe agreed to contain development of the casino to the footprint of the buildings on the former naval depot site.<ref name="nogame">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Carolyn|date=April 6, 2011|title=Richmond rejects tribe's plans for casino resort|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/richmond-rejects-tribe-s-plans-for-casino-resort-2375902.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> The lobbying and reports required by Richmond have cost the tribe $15 million.<ref name="nogame"/> This approval won over the region's strict environmentalists and many council members.<ref name="nogame"/> Later that year residents were given the opportunity to weigh in on the issue and voted on the non-binding measure U to determine their approval of the project.<ref name="nogame"/> 58% of voters opposed the $1 billion project.<ref name="nogame"/> Citing the people's opposition and the inability to negotiate several key points with the developer, the city council voted down the project in 2011.<ref name="nogame"/> Councilman Nat Bates remained a proponent of the plan with its projected 17,000 jobs, while the remainder of the council was chagrined at the fact that there was no guarantee that the jobs would go to Richmonders.<ref name="nogame"/> The city of San Pablo, whose lifeline is their card club, [[Casino San Pablo]], was elated. The [[Guideville Band of Pomo Indians]] was given the opportunity of 150 days to create a non-casino plan for the site such as alternatives in the environmental report for a convention center, conference center, hotel, spa, and housing.<ref name="nogame"/>

==Government==
{{Main|Richmond, California, City Council}}
[[File:Point Richmond Historic District-11 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The Richmond Municipal Natatorium, commonly known as [[The Plunge]], is a public swimming center.]]
The Richmond city government operates under a [[Council-manager government|council-manager system]] with seven members (including mayor and vice mayor) elected to alternating four-year terms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richmond Government |publisher=City of Richmond |url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=27 |access-date=June 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623072717/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=27 |archive-date=June 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Politically, the city is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold. By the early 1990s, not a single [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] remained on the council. The city council has four African Americans, four whites and two Latinos.

The position of Mayor rotated between members of the Richmond City Council until 1981, when the office became an elected position.<ref name=sfc>{{cite news |first=Carolyn |last=Jones |title=George Livingston, Richmond's 1st black elected mayor |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/10/BALF1MNF43.DTL |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2012}}</ref> [[George Carroll (judge)|George D. Carroll]], who was voted by the City Council to become Mayor on July 6, 1964, was described at the time as "the first Negro mayor in California and first in America with the exception of small, scattered all-Negro communities in the Deep South,".<ref>"Negro Councilman Elevated to Richmond Mayor's Post", ''Oakland Tribune'', July 7, 1964, p19.</ref> [[George Livingston]] Sr. was the first elected African American mayor. He served from 1985 to 1993. [[Rosemary Corbin]] served as the mayor from 1993 to 2001. The current mayor [[Eduardo Martinez (politician)|Eduardo Martinez]] was elected Mayor of Richmond in 2022, winning 39% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kqed.org/elections/results/contracosta |title=2024 Contra Costa Election Results: Elected Leaders & Measures Passed &#124; KQED }}</ref> Prior to winning the mayoral election, he had served on the Richmond City Council since 2014. Martinez, a former primary school teacher, is Richmond's first Latino mayor and a vocal critic of Chevron.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11933240/a-progressive-vision-for-richmond-mayor-elect-eduardo-martinez-talks-about-what-lies-ahead |title=A Progressive Vision for Richmond: Mayor-Elect Eduardo Martinez Talks About What Lies Ahead &#124; KQED |date=November 27, 2022 }}</ref>

Years of political domination by the local firefighters union subsided after an [[FBI]] corruption investigation.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hallissy|first1=Erin|title='TeflonDon' Faces FBI Probe in Richmond|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Teflon-Don-Faces-FBI-Probe-In-Richmond-Union-2890668.php|access-date=February 19, 2015|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 13, 1999}}</ref> In the early 2000s [[Gayle McLaughlin]] was the first Green elected to the council, with the support of the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA), a coalition of liberal Democrats, progressive independents, and Greens. In November 2006, McLaughlin was elected mayor, defeating incumbent first-term Mayor [[Irma Anderson]]. During McLaughlin's mayoralty (2007–2015), Richmond was the nation's largest city with a [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]] mayor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Jason B. |date=January 10, 2007 |title=Green Party mayor takes the reins |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/10/BAGPQNG56H1.DTL |access-date=June 26, 2007 |archive-date=February 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207151910/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/01/10/BAGPQNG56H1.DTL |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2006, the city implemented a computer program that it had ordered from a German firm that provides the city with statistical interactive maps. These maps cover such areas as signage locations, streets, crime hot-spots, and zoning information.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Esri News &ndash; ArcNews Winter 2002/2003 Issue &ndash; The City of Richmond, California, Implements Enterprise Framework|url=https://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter0203articles/city-of-richmond.html|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=esri.com}}</ref> In 2007 the city won a contest in which its previously substandard website was upgraded and improved to make it more modern and functional. The prize includes two years of free webmastering.<ref>[http://www.civicplus.com/Archive.asp?ADID=189 Grand Prize-Winning "Extreme Makeover" Website Is Unveiled!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928101238/http://www.civicplus.com/Archive.asp?ADID=189 |date=September 28, 2007 }}, CivicPlus, January 5, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.</ref>

Mayor McLaughlin and Councilperson Butt opposed Chevron's Renewal Project that would replace their 1950s era Hydrogen Manufacturing plant with a newer more efficient plant and would increase pollution by using dirtier, thicker, but cheaper crude oil.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Chip |title=California city questions Chevron's refinery upgrade |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/24005 |access-date=June 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152052/http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/24005 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The city of Richmond has eight community centers which are located within city parks.<ref name="infosys"/> Many of the city's community centers were closed in the early 2000s following budget miscalculations and financial difficulties. In the 2006 city elections many candidates ran on platforms promising to reopen these community centers, most of which had been closed due to budget cuts. That election also featured a city sales tax increase, Measure Q, which failed.

There are 53 voting precincts in Richmond. Richmond has formerly been home to black culture and activist movements, most notably the [[Black Panther Party]].

Richmond became the first city in the United States to pass a [[Municipal resolutions for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war|resolution for a ceasefire]] in the [[Gaza war]] on October 25, 2023, eighteen days after the outbreak of hostilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Amaray |date=October 25, 2023 |title=Richmond City Council passes controversial resolution supporting Gaza that draws hundreds to meeting |url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2023/10/25/richmond-city-council-passes-controversial-resolution-supporting-gaza-that-draws-hundreds-to-meeting/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=Richmond Confidential |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Cannabis===
The city has eight [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] dispensaries, and although the city has passed legislation approving them and has legalized their presence, city management does not accept their legality. In fact, the city had sued to close them. It is trying to enforce an injunction that would suspend their operating licenses.<ref name="pot">{{cite news |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/LegalizationNation/archives/2010/07/22/will-richmond-close-its-pot-clubs-before-its-new-law-goes-into-effect |title=Will Richmond close its pot clubs before its new law goes into effect? |work=East Bay Express |first=Alex |last=Weber |date=July 22, 2010}}</ref> Although the city council has passed an ordinance permitting the dispensaries, city management refuses to cooperate with the spirit of the law because it has yet to take effect.<ref name="pot"/> The question remains whether the clubs will be closed before the law allowing them to open takes effect.<ref name="pot"/>

In 2019 the city approved "Power Plant Park" a marijuana farm consisting of 45 greenhouses on 18 acres north of North Richmond near [[Breuner Marsh]] and a solar farm. It is expected the create 500 new jobs and become a major economic contributor to the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title='PowerPlant Park' Could Make Richmond The Cannabis Capital Of Contra Costa County|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/powerplant-park-could-make-richmond-the-cannabis-capital-of-contra-costa-county/|access-date=February 23, 2023|publisher=CBS News |date=May 5, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PowerPlant Park Project |website=Richmond, CA Official Website|url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/3670/PowerPlant-Park-Project|access-date=February 23, 2023}}</ref>

===Political party affiliation===
According to the [[Secretary of State of California|California Secretary of State]], as of February 10, 2019, Richmond has 52,364 registered voters. Of those, 33,166 (63.3%) are registered [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]], 2,979 (5.7%) are registered [[California Republican Party|Republicans]], 14,108 (26.9%) have [[Decline to State|declined to state]] a political party, and 4.1% are registered members of a third party.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2019/politicalsub.pdf|title=CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2019|website=ca.gov|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:De Anza High School Sign.jpg|thumb|De Anza High School, located in Richmond's Eastern Valley area, also serves the nearby unincorporated areas.]]
The public schools in all portions of Richmond are administered by the [[West Contra Costa Unified School District]],<ref name=ContraCostaSDmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06013_contra_costa/DC20SD_C06013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Contra Costa County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 25, 2022}}</ref> formerly the Richmond Unified School District. There are also many private schools, mostly Catholic schools under the authority of the [[Diocese of Oakland]].

The city has four high schools: [[De Anza High School]], [[Salesian College Preparatory]], [[Richmond High School (Richmond, California)|Richmond High School]], and [[John F. Kennedy High School (Richmond, California)|Kennedy High School]]. In addition, there are four charter high schools, [[Making Waves Academy]], Aspire Richmond California College Preparatory Academy, Leadership Public Schools: Richmond and West County Community High School, although West County Community High School was shut down in 2012. In 2012, Richmond Charter Academy, part of the [[Amethod Public Schools]] system, opened a charter middle school. There are also three middle schools, 16 elementary schools, and seven elementary-middle schools. Richmond also hosts three adult education schools.

The [[Contra Costa Community College District]] serves all of Contra Costa County, and Richmonders who decide to attend a community college typically go to [[Contra Costa College]], located in the neighboring city of San Pablo.

79.8% of Richmonders have a high school diploma or equivalent, compared with 84.2% nationally. But 27.1% have a bachelor's degree compared with a statistically similar 27.2% nationally.<ref name="richmonddata3"/>

Since an exit exam requirement was implemented for California high schools, the [[CAHSEE]], some Richmond high school students have been protesting against it. Some students sued the district in an attempt to eliminate the requirement. In July 2007, a compromise was reached in which the district would provide two additional years of educational assistance for the purposes of passing the exam. That year, only 28% of Richmond High School students had passed the CAHSEE, a prerequisite for graduating.<ref>[http://www.orovillemr.com/news/bayarea/ci_6083333 Richmond students protest Exit Exam results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007015818/http://www.orovillemr.com/news/bayarea/ci_6083333 |date=October 7, 2007 }}, [[Oroville Mercury Register]], June 7, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2007.</ref>

===Obesity===
All Richmond schools have banned junk food, such as candy, soda, [[Twinkies]], pizza, and other similar items in attempt to curb [[childhood obesity]] and change children's eating habits. It has been speculated that this was done preemptively, because some believe the state will soon mandate such restrictions.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-9060700.html Contra Costa, Calif., School District Bans Soda, Junk Food, by Kara Shire], ''Contra Costa Times'', August 30, 2003. Retrieved May 24, 2007.</ref> Despite these efforts, soda consumption in Richmond schools has not diminished.<ref name="fatax">{{Cite web|last=Kenyon|first=Alexis|date=December 12, 2011|title=City Council moves forward with soda tax|url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2011/12/12/city-council-moves-forward-with-soda-tax/|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Richmond Confidential|language=en-US}}</ref> Furthermore, the current 32% of Richmond children who are obese will increase the current 24% adult obesity rate to 42% according to the [[Contra Costa County Health Services]].<ref name="fatax"/> This led the city council to approve a referendum on a 1 cent per ounce tax on beverages with a high sugar content for the 2012 elections, a first in the nation.<ref name="fatax"/> The measure was opposed by councilmembers Corky Boozé and [[Nat Bates]], who stated that he knew "many obese people that are perfectly healthy" and that it was "elitist" and "targeted black" people respectively.<ref name="fatax"/> Members [[Jovanka Beckles]] and Jeff Ritterman – the latter a cardiologist – expressed horror at the obesity rate. Beckles chastized the other black members (Bates and Boozé) for not supporting the measure, as she found that the epidemic most affected people of color like themselves.<ref name="fatax"/> The revenues would have been used to counter obesity through health and fitness campaigns and expenditures.<ref name="fatax"/> The referendum was defeated by voters in the November 2012 election.

==Attractions and landmarks==
{{OSM Location map
 |coord={{Coord|37.948|-122.3615}}
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  |shape-color1=#00a
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 |mark-coord1 ={{Coord|37.93194|-122.39104}}
 |mark-title1 =[[Chevron Richmond Refinery]] / Eastern end of the [[Richmond–San Rafael Bridge]]
 |mark-image1 =Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire 2012 -02.jpg
 |mark-description1 =Smoke from a fire at Chevron Richmond Refinery, viewed from Tiburon

 |mark-coord2 ={{Coord|37.90947|-122.39079}}
  |shape-color2=#d00
 |mark-title2 =[[Brickyard Cove, Richmond, California|Brickyard Cove]] / Santa Fe Railroad Depot / [[Golden State Model Railroad Museum]] / [[Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline]]
 |mark-image2 =42Richmond yd - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg
 |mark-description2 =Richmond Yard, AT&SF

 |mark-coord3 ={{Coord|37.90648|-122.36698}}
  |shape-color3=#d00
 |mark-title3 =[[Richmond Shipyards|Kaiser Shipyard No. 3]] & {{ship|SS|Red Oak Victory}}
 |mark-image3 =12-2-6 Kaiser-Richmond-No3-25.jpg
 |mark-description3 =Aerial view of Kaiser Richmond Shipyard No. 3; the four slips are occupied by ships under construction.

 |mark-coord4 ={{Coord|37.90974|-122.35734}}
  |shape-color4=#d00
 |mark-title4 =[[Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant]] / [[Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park]] Visitor Center / Lucretia Edwards Park, Harbor Way
 |mark-image4 =Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant (Richmond, CA).JPG
 |mark-description4 =Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, viewed from the southwest. The building was designed by noted architect [[Louis Kahn]].

 |mark-coord5 ={{Coord|37.91472|-122.34658}}
  |shape-color5=#080
 |mark-title5 =Rosie the Riveter Memorial at Marina Bay Park
 |mark-image5 =Richmond - Marina Bay - Rosie the Riveter monument 01.jpg
 |mark-description5 =Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Bay Park; view shows the structure, representing the bow, looking south towards another structure, representing the stack, and beyond to the water's edge, representing the fantail.

 |mark-coord6 ={{Coord|37.93572|-122.35995}}
  |shape-color6=#d00
 |mark-title6 =[[Macdonald Avenue]] / [[Macdonald 80 Shopping Center]]
 |mark-image6 =Dntnrichmond.jpg
 |mark-description6 =Macdonald Avenue and Harbor Way, downtown Richmond

 |mark-coord7 ={{Coord|37.93692|-122.34367}}
  |shape-color7=#d00
 |mark-title7 =Richmond Civic Center
 |mark-image7 =Richmondciviccenter.jpg
 |mark-description7 =Richmond Civic Center

 |mark-coord8 ={{Coord|37.98066|-122.32849}}
 |mark-title8 =[[Hilltop Horizon]]
 |mark-image8 =Hiltopvlg.jpg
 |mark-description8 =Hilltop Village

 |mark-coord9 ={{Coord|37.94113|-122.41055}}
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 |mark-title9 =[[Point Molate Beach Park]]
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 |mark-coord10={{Coord|37.92443|-122.35639}}
 |mark-title10=[[Kaiser Richmond Field Hospital]], 1330 Cutting Blvd
 |mark-image10=KaiserRichmondField Front.jpg
 |mark-description10=Kaiser Richmond Field Hospital facade

 |fullscreen-option=1
 |caption=Selected locations in Richmond, California <small>{{flatlist|
* {{color box|#00a|Businesses|#fff|border=silver}}
* {{color box|#d00|Attractions|#fff|border=silver}} 
* {{color box|#080|Parks|#fff|border=silver}} }}</small>
 |auto-caption=1
}}
The city of Richmond has dozens of parks, national historic parks, and 10 sites listed under the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

===Point Richmond===
[[File:Point Richmond, Richmond, California.jpg|thumb|Point Richmond is one of the city's widely known neighborhoods; the Richmond Chevron Refinery and the marshlands are in the background.]]
[[Point Richmond]], a neighborhood in Richmond, is known for its small-town appearance. ''The Point'', as it is known by locals, offers owner-operated stores, coffee shops, historic benches, and streetlights. [[The Masquers Playhouse]] 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 20th century architecture, like many other buildings in the area. There is also [[The Plunge]], a natatorium which had been closed due to seismic safety issues but was re-opened in August 2010 after the retrofitting was completed. The city expressed a desire to demolish the building at one point, but this was halted by the actions of a neighborhood preservation campaign which continues its mission to "''Save the Plunge!''".

The [[Richmond–San Rafael Bridge]] extends {{convert|5.5|mi|km|1}} across San Pablo Bay, entering Richmond just to the north of Point Richmond. The bridge is the origin of the term ''rollercoaster span'', due to its curves, bumps, and appearance, which have also earned the bridge the nickname of ''the rollercoaster bridge''. It was completed in 1957, and connects Contra Costa County with [[Marin County]]. Automobiles are charged a [[USD|$]]6 toll in the westbound (towards Marin) direction only.

The Richmond Chevron Refinery occupies most of the land north of Point Richmond and the eastern end of the bridge. Some areas of this northern section are protected and publicly accessible, including Point Molate Beach Park, a park on the western coast of Richmond along Western Drive. It was originally a Chinese shrimp camp in the 1870s. On the northern end, near [[Point San Pablo]], there is a yacht harbor that accommodates hundreds of private boats.

===Brickyard Cove===
The Ferry Point Tunnel is one of the oldest tunnels in California, connecting Point Richmond with Brickyard Cove to the south. Built in 1899, this structure still gives access to many attractions and neighborhoods in Brickyard Cove. The tunnel goes to the Golden State Railroad Museum, the USS ''Red Oak Victory'', and many beaches and parks, and to Ferry Point where an abandoned ferry-rail pier stands with a historic ferry slip still standing, though somewhat damaged by fire. It can be viewed from an adjacent fishing pier.

[[File:VIEW OF REAR OF FREIGHT HOUSE AND SANTA FE RAILROAD DEPOT, FACING WEST - Santa Fe Railroad Depot, 101 Garrard Boulevard, Richmond, Contra Costa County, CA HABS CAL,7-RICH,5-6.tif|thumb|right|Santa Fe Railroad Depot]]
The Santa Fe Railroad established ferry service to San Francisco in 1900 and later built a station that operated as the western terminus for the railroad from 1903 to 1992. It has now been transformed into a museum to exemplify the feel of the terminal in that era. The [[Golden State Railroad Museum]] is a complex series of model railroad layouts in a museum in the Brickyard Cove area of Point Richmond. A visitor can operate trains of various eras, and there are miniature freight and passenger terminals, trestles, tunnels, and meticulously detailed town and city scenes, many of which are copied from real life scenes of the 1950s.

Keller Beach is one of the city's beaches, located at Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, a park in Brickyard Cove. It offers picnicking, sunbathing, wading, and swimming. The beach is overlooked by vehicles exiting the Brickyard Cove drive, Ferry Point tunnel and houses on the steep cliffs above. The beach, as with most of the cove, offers spectacular panoramic bay views of the Oakland hills, bridges, the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate.

===Southern waterfront / Shipyards===
[[File:RedOakVictory2.JPG|thumb|The [[SS Red Oak Victory (AK-235)|''Red Oak Victory'']] at Ferry Point in Brickyard Cove, 2006]]
Further east, the {{USS|Red Oak Victory|AK-235|6}} is a restored World War II [[Victory ship]], the 558th ship made in Richmond. It is moored in the former Richmond Shipyard No. 3. [[Liberty ship|Liberty]] and Victory ships built in Richmond transported troops and supplies during World War II.

East across the Harbor/Santa Fe Channel, the [[Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park]] is in Richmond, and commemorates women's shipbuilding and support for the war effort in the 1940s. The visitor's center is in a small utility building next to the former Ford Assembly Plant. Regular ferry service is provided to San Francisco from the [[Richmond Ferry Terminal]] via [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]].

This area is connected by the [[San Francisco Bay Trail]] to several city parks along the waterfront, including Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park, Marina Bay Park and the Rosie the Riveter Memorial, Barbara and Jay Vincent Park, and Shimada Friendship Park. The Bay Trail continues past these parks further southeast to [[Point Isabel Regional Shoreline]] and beyond to parks in El Cerrito, Albany, and Berkeley.

[[File:Rosieriveterwecan.gif|thumb|"[[We Can Do It!]]" image used in a marker designating the [[Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park]]]]

===Civic Center===
During World War II the city sprawled and its population increased dramatically. This led city leaders to construct the Richmond Civic Center, with buildings completed between 1949 and 1957. This center houses the city hall, a small convention center, library, hall of justice, police headquarters, and arts center.

Architectural Forum magazine called the new Memorial Civic Center: "a milestone in U.S. civic design: it is the first modern Civic Center built in any American city: and it is one of the most comprehensive centers constructed anywhere in the world."<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the library |access-date=2024-08-12 |url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1128/About-the-Library}}</ref>

The Richmond Public Library, the only public library independent of the Contra Costa County Public Libraries system, lies in the heart of the civic center. It houses over 204,686 books, 4,014 audio materials, 5,277 video materials, and 491 serial subscriptions.<ref name="richmonddata"/>

===Offshore===
East Brother Light Station on East Brother Island (one of the [[The Brothers (San Francisco Bay)|Brother Islands]]) is host to an exclusive [[bed and breakfast]]. It is only accessible by private boat. Visitors come and stay for the day and picnic for free or they may pay for a room.

The [[Brooks Island Regional Preserve]] is on an island south of the Shipyards.

===Others===
The city is also home to a radio controlled model airplane airport, [[Breuner Airfield]] that is located in [[Breuner Marsh]] a contested piece of land near Point Pinole Regional Park in the Parchester Village neighborhood.

The city's cemeteries include [[Rolling Hills Memorial Park]] and [[St. Joseph Cemetery (Richmond, California)|St. Joseph Cemetery]].

==Leisure and culture==
Several [[regional park]]s administered by the [[East Bay Regional Park District]] lie within the city, 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.

The [[Richmond Art Center]], 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 provides some of the only visual arts education programming in the city of Richmond, relying primarily on public donations and private grants as its means of support.

There is also the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Hilltop Multiplex, or Masquers Theaters in Point Richmond.

The [[Richmond Progressive Alliance]] and [[California Green Party]] are active political parties in Richmond. The [[House Rabbit Society]] has its national headquarters in Richmond.

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

The [http://richmondartcenter.org/] is a contemporary visual arts center, with a gallery and art classes in the heart of Richmond. A showcase for emerging and established artists, the Richmond Art Center hosts the annual ''"The Art of Living Black''", art show which is a showcase of the artwork of Bay Area Black Artists. ''"Featuring over 50 local artists, the works include fine arts and crafts, paintings, sculpture, photography, prints, masks, stained glass, quilts, textile art, ceramics, jewelry and dolls."'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.therac.org/html/new_exhibitions.html |title=Current Exhibitions – Richmond Art Center |publisher=Therac.org |date=September 18, 1980 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511061731/http://www.therac.org/html/new_exhibitions.html |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The beauty, the pain, the power and the eye of these black artists touch the soul deeply. Founded in 1936 by local artist Hazel Salmi, the Richmond Art Center is a Bay Area cultural institution.

In addition, [http://www.eastbaycenter.org East Bay Center for the Performing Arts] has maintained its roots in the Richmond community since 1968. The Center engages youth and young adults in imagining and creating new worlds for themselves and new visions for their communities through the inspiration and discipline of rigorous training in world performance traditions.

The [[Hyphy]] subculture and subgenre of rap music originated in Richmond and surrounding cities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/dec/30/entertainment/et-stunt30 |title=Hip-hop stunt 'recipe for disaster'|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 30, 2006|last1=Burke|first1=Garance}}</ref>

From 1996 to 2002 a "[[geekfest]]" was held on the beach in Point Molate every few weeks or monthly by [[S.P.A.M. Records]]. The festival was a community service for under-21-year-olds.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}

===Religion===
There are dozens of houses of worship for various religions in the city, and some which are not represented in the city can be found nearby. Christian denominational churches include the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses; Word of Faith church; St. Peters C.M.E.; Kingdom Land Baptist Church; Grace Baptist Church; Grace Lutheran Church; Grace Lao Lutheran Church; Temple Baptist Church; Unity Church of Richmond; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; First Mexican Baptist Church; Holy Mission Christian Center; [[St. David School (Richmond, California)|St. David Catholic Church]], Greater New Bethel Apostolic Ministries, formerly New Bethel Church of God in Christ, founded by Bishop A.D. Bradley in 1945; Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C., and Faith Tabernacle A.O.H. Church Of God; and the Largest Church in Richmond, Hilltop Community Church which is Assemblies of God. There is also a large [[Laotian American|Laotian]] Buddhist temple that serves as a community center for the Lao community of the East Bay. There is a synagogue in the [[Hilltop Green, Richmond, California|Hilltop Green District]].<ref>[http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20410463/chris-treadway-richmond-temple-plans-holocaust-remembrance-event?source=rss Chris Treadway: Richmond temple plans Holocaust remembrance event], Chris Treadway, ''[[Contra Costa Times]]'', April 16, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
[[File:kellerbeach1.jpg|thumb|Beachgoers wading at [[Keller Beach]] in [[Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline]] in southern Richmond between [[Point Richmond]] and [[Brickyard Cove]]]]

The city has {{convert|292.6|acre|km2|1}} of parkland, which constitutes 1.5% of the city's land territory. The [[Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park]] was established in 2000, encompassing the former Kaiser shipyards and other wartime industrial sites in Richmond. The park is a memorial to the six million women who labored on the home front, symbolized by the mythical figure "Rosie the Riveter". Richmond was selected for the park because it has many intact buildings that were constructed for 56 wartime industries. Its four shipyards produced an amazing 747 large ships and set production records. The home front changed Richmond from a predominantly rural community of 23,600 residents to a diverse population of over 100,000 people within a year. Industries operated around the clock and public housing, schools, day care centers, health care and merchants mobilized to support the new workforce that arrived on the city's doorstep. Fortunately, Richmond's turbulent and productive home front years were well chronicled and photographed. The National Park Service provides interpretive services and operates a Visitor Center in a former utility building next to the Ford Assembly Building.

Richmond also has number of local parks and two large regional parks are under the authority of the East Bay Regional Parks District, a consortium of most of the Parks and Recreation lands and facilities of Alameda and Contra Costa County.

[[Wildcat Canyon Regional Park]] is the city's largest park at {{convert|2428|acre|km2|0}}. The park once housed a dance hall and roller rink and has distinctive stonework throughout, which was the rationale for its placement on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ebparks.org/parks/miller_knox |title=Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline &#124; East Bay Regional Parks |publisher=Ebparks.org |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-date=February 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211055049/http://www.ebparks.org/parks/miller_knox |url-status=dead }}</ref> It features San Pablo Creek, trails, forests, horseback riding, picnic areas, and a play structure 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 the eastern Richmond hills and stretches into Berkeley's [[Tilden Regional Park]] in Alameda County. The park has diverse animal and plant life including great horned owls, opossums, king snakes, rubber boas, turkey vultures and many others.

[[Point Isabel Regional Shoreline]] is the largest off-leash dog park in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Glen|date=August 16, 2004|title=EAST BAY PARKS AT 70 / Point Isabel Shoreline the largest off-leash dog park in the nation|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/east-bay-parks-at-70-point-isabel-shoreline-the-2701020.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Richmond Greenway]] is a project costing millions of dollars to transform an old rail line into a walking, jogging, and biking trail. It will span east to west from the end of the Ohlone Trail that follows the BART line from El Cerrito to Berkeley. It will also follow the BART line to Richmond station and continue to Point Richmond. Pedestrian bridges will be used to cross major avenues such as San Pablo Avenue and 23rd Street. An additional side project will add a bike lane/bike trail between the Richmond Greenway and the Ohlone trail at Potrero Avenue via 23rd Street, Carlson Boulevard, Cutting Boulevard, and Potrero. It is currently under construction.

Richmond is home to four marinas: the Brickyard Cove Yacht Club, Point San Pablo Yacht Club, Marina Bay Marina, and Channel Marina in the Santa Fe channel. In addition, Richmond has the "Richmond Plunge", a municipal [[natatorium]] dating back to 1926 and which reopened August 14, 2010. The pool is located in the [[Point Richmond, California|Point Richmond]] neighborhood.

[[File:Richmondfromwildcatcanyon2019.jpg|thumb|left|Richmond as seen from Wildcat Canyon Regional Park]]

==Celebrations and conferences==
The city has annual [[Juneteenth]] and [[Cinco de Mayo]] celebrations.<ref name="cinco">{{Cite web|last=Trytko|first=Kornelia|date=May 2, 2011|title=Thousands celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Richmond|url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2011/05/02/thousands-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo-in-richmond/|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Richmond Confidential|language=en-US}}</ref> The Cinco de Mayo celebrations sponsored by the [[23rd Street (Richmond, California)|23rd Street]] Merchant's Association attracts thousands and closes the entire length of the roadway.<ref name="cinco"/> The Richmond Police Department, Fire Brigade, United States Marine Corps and other organizations participate in the parade.<ref name="cinco"/> This is in addition to a fireworks show at Marina Bay celebrating the [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]] and a Silly Parade, an event where people march down the street and generally act "weird" and silly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://richmondconfidential.org/2011/04/04/richmond-united-in-silly-parade/ |title=Richmond United in Silly Parade |publisher=Richmondconfidential.org |date=April 4, 2011 |access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref> The city also participates in various [[Earth Day]] activities.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Trytko|first=Kornelia|date=April 26, 2011|title=Earth Day celebrations bring Richmond together|url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2011/04/26/earth-day-celebrations-bring-richmond-together/|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Richmond Confidential|language=en-US}}</ref> The city hosts an annual and a physical activity and nutrition forum to discuss health in the community, it has been running since 2006.<ref>[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=7151 Physical Activity and Nurtrition Forum Flyer 2011.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318213051/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=7151 |date=March 18, 2012 }} 2011.</ref> In 2010 the city began celebrating the Richmond Native American Pow-Wow in Nicholl Park, in 2012 this included area politicians and members of over 50 tribes from throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitney|first=Spencer|date=June 25, 2012|title=Pow-Wow in Richmond honors Native American culture|url=https://richmondconfidential.org/2012/06/25/pow-wow-in-richmond-honors-native-american-culture/|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Richmond Confidential|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Media==
===Newspapers===
There are two African American weekly newspapers, one general interest online publication, and one multimedia news project that cover Richmond exclusively. The [[Richmond Post]] and Richmond Globe publish print and online editions. RichmondConfidential.org, which is run by the [[UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism]], is a general interest online-only news publication serving the city of Richmond. Richmond Pulse is a youth-led print and online publication which focuses on community health. The [[West County Times]], run by [[Media News Group]], covers greater Contra Costa County.

===Television===
A local cable TV station, [[KCRT-TV]], mainly plays historical archives but also airs [[government-access television]] (GATV), city council meetings and music videos.

===Radio===
[[KKSF (AM)]] transmits from towers at [[Point Isabel (promontory)|Point Isabel]].<ref name="is">{{Cite web |url={{GNIS3|1664890}} |title=Feature Detail Report for: KNEW-AM (Oakland) |work=[[Geographic Names Information System]] |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |access-date=August 10, 2008}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Richmond California aerial.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Richmond from the west, with the [[Richmond–San Rafael Bridge]], the [[Port of Richmond (California)|Port of Richmond]], and the petroleum ship terminals]]

===Port of Richmond===
{{Main|Port of Richmond, California}}
The Port of Richmond, located in along the city's [[South Richmond, Richmond, California|southern]] coast beside the Richmond Inner Harbor, handles the third-largest shipping tonnage in California annually,<ref name="ci.richmond">{{cite web |title=Richmond, California – Official Website – Port Operations |publisher=City of Richmond |url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=102 |access-date=June 26, 2007}}</ref> a total of 19 million short tons. It ranks number one for ports of the San Francisco Bay for vehicles and liquid bulk.<ref name="ci.richmond" /> In addition to these commodities, the port can also handle dry-bulk, break-bulk, and containers. Seven of the terminals are city-owned, in addition to five dry docks, while there are 11 privately owned terminals. The port is served by a rail network operated by four major rail companies.<ref name="History of Richmond" />

===Roadways===
====Highways and expressways====
[[File:I-80 Eastshore Fwy.jpg|alt=|thumb|Looking south above [[Interstate 80]], the Eastshore Freeway, on a Saturday afternoon. [[Emeryville, California]], is at the towers. To the right is the east shore of the [[San Francisco Bay]].]]

* [[Interstate 80 (California)|Interstate 80]] cuts through the eastern and northeastern portions of the city, through a mostly residential area, connecting to Pinole, Hercules and then on to [[Vallejo, California|Vallejo]] via the [[Carquinez Bridge]] in the eastbound direction, and through [[Albany, California|Albany]], [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]] and eventually terminating in San Francisco via the [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge|Bay Bridge]] in the westbound direction. The weekday westbound morning commute on I-80 through Richmond lies within the most congested stretch of freeway in the Bay Area, according to [[Caltrans]], and has been ranked as such since 2001.<ref>{{cite web
 |title        = Bay Area Freeway Congestion Up for Third Straight Year in 2006
 |publisher    = Metropolitan Transportation Commission
 |date         = June 18, 2007
|url          = http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/press_releases/rel407.htm
 |access-date  = June 26, 2007
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626120049/http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/press_releases/rel407.htm
 |archive-date = June 26, 2007
|url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>

* [[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 direction while slicing 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]].
* The [[Richmond Parkway (California)|Richmond Parkway]], built between the early 1990s and early 2000s, connects I-580 in the Point Richmond area in the southwest to the [[Hilltop Area]] and I-80, and runs along the city's heavily industrial western side and through the unincorporated area of [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]]. It has been proposed that it be upgraded to a state highway and be redesignated: [[California State Route 93|State Route 93]] and transferred to the authority of Caltrans.
* [[San Pablo Avenue]] ([[California State Route 123|State Route 123]]) runs through Richmond and San Pablo to Pinole, Hercules and to its terminus in [[Crockett, California|Crockett]], and south through El Cerrito, Albany, [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]], and Berkeley, until it runs into [[Oscar Grant Plaza|Frank Ogawa Plaza]] in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]].

====Major trunk streets====
* [[Macdonald Avenue]] is the "Main Street" of Richmond, running east–west from Atchison Village through downtown to San Pablo Avenue in the [[North & East, Richmond, California|North & East]] neighborhood. In 2010, it was repaved and refitted with new lampposts, street furniture, business façades, landscaping and trees.
* [[Cutting Boulevard]] parallels Macdonald Avenue to the south, traveling from Point Richmond to Arlington Ave. near the top of the hills. It is a busy commercial and commute route. In 1990, a major improvement program was designed by the city also involving Knox Freeway. It is named after the founder of the Port of Richmond, [[Henry Cutting]].
* [[23rd Street (Richmond, California)|23rd Street]] runs through the heart of the city north–south from where it turns to Marina Bay Parkway at I-580 through this heavily Latino business district and neighborhood to San Pablo Avenue in the city of San Pablo.
* Barrett Avenue parallels Macdonald Ave two blocks north; it is slightly less traveled and has less activity than Macdonald.
* Marina Bay Parkway serves as a link between I-580 and the Marina Bay neighborhood, it turns into 23rd street after crossing 580.
* Marina Way and Harbour Way/Harbour Way South (formerly 14th Street and 10th Street, respectively) run north–south.
* Giant Highway, named for the former Giant Powder Company, runs in the northern part of town between San Pablo Avenue and the Leroy Heights neighborhood.
* Hilltop Drive is a trunk street which runs from Richmond Parkway, crosses San Pablo Avenue, passes [[The Shops at Hilltop]] and continues over Interstate 80 into the neighboring city of El Sobrante.
* Carlson Boulevard (formerly Pullman Avenue) is the primary access from Downtown Richmond to the Richmond Annex neighborhood, starting from 23rd Street and terminating at San Pablo Avenue just north of the Alameda–Contra Costa county boundary, feeding into the El Cerrito Plaza shopping center.

===Public transportation===
The city's primary transportation hub is [[Richmond station (California)|Richmond station]]. It is served by [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] (BART) {{lnl|BART|Red}} and {{lnl|BART|Orange}} service, plus [[Amtrak]] {{lnl|Amtrak|Capitol Corridor}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|San Joaquins}}, and {{lnl|Amtrak|California Zephyr}} [[regional rail]] and [[intercity rail]] service.

The primary bus service in Richmond is operated by [[AC Transit]], which runs 14 bus lines in the city. Service includes a number of local routes, rapid route 72R along San Pablo Avenue, transbay commuter service across the Bay Bridge to the [[Salesforce Transit Center]] and limited [[All Nighter (night bus service)|All-Nighter]] service. Additional local service is operated by [[WestCAT]], including a [[park and ride]] facility at the [[Richmond Parkway Transit Center]]. [[Bear Transit]] provides commuter and student service from El Cerrito del Norte BART station and UC Berkeley to the UC Field Station in Campus Bay on route RFS.<ref name="rfs">[http://pt.berkeley.edu/print/177 RFS schedule] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719153154/http://pt.berkeley.edu/print/177 |date=July 19, 2011 }}, Bear Transit website</ref> Several regional bus operators serve [[El Cerrito del Norte station]] (just south of Richmond) rather than Richmond station because of the former station's proximity to I-80.

Before AC Transit and BART, the [[Key System]] provided a network of several rail lines on the [[East Shore and Suburban Railway]].<ref name="bayrails">[http://www.bayarearails.org/photogal/full.php?id=1327&s=24 keysystemmap.gif] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928101348/http://www.bayarearails.org/photogal/full.php?id=1327&s=24 |date=September 28, 2007 }}, BayRails. Retrieved August 13, 2007.</ref>

===Commercial and cargo rail===
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 to their main [[classification yard]] at [[Barstow, California|Barstow]] via the [[San Joaquin Valley]]. 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. The partially burnt remnants of the ferry pier can still be seen at Point Richmond.

The [[Richmond Pacific Railroad]] (RPRC) is a class III shortline railroad operating on {{convert|2.5|mi|km|1}} of track, providing switching services at Richmond's wharves. The RPRC is owned by the Levin-Richmond Terminal Corporation and was formerly known as the Parr Terminal Railroad (PRT).

===Ferry===
[[File:Ferryterminalrichwboat2019.jpg|thumb|Richmond Ferry Terminal]]

The [[San Francisco Bay Ferry]] relaunched ferry service to the [[San Francisco Ferry Building]] in January 2019. The service runs from the Craneway Pavilion in Marina Bay to the San Francisco Ferry Building seven days a week, with lower frequency on the weekends as opposed to higher volume weekday commutes. Schedules call for a 35-minute commute from the Marina Bay Terminal to San Francisco Ferry Building in either direction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond-ferry-route |title=Richmond Ferry Route &#124; San Francisco Bay Ferry }}</ref>

Historically, Richmond had commuter ferry service from the Richmond Ferry Terminal to the San Francisco Ferry Building on weekdays and [[Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco|Fisherman's Wharf]] on weekends in addition to special [[San Francisco Giants|Giants]] [[AT&T Park|Ballpark]] service during the [[MLB|baseball]] season. The voyage took approximately 45 minutes each way. The service began in 1999, but was discontinued in the late 2000s in the economic downturn following the dot-com bust. Ferry ridership plummeted and the service became economically unsustainable, which led [[Red and White Fleet]] to discontinue the service. The Richmond ferry terminal is at Ford Point located adjacent to the historic [[Ford Richmond Plant|Ford Plant]] in [[Marina Bay, Richmond, California|Marina Bay]] which is now open as an industrial park and under renovation. The terminal had its own dedicated [[AC Transit]] feeder service from [[Point Richmond, Richmond, California|Point Richmond]] and [[Downtown Richmond, Richmond, California|downtown Richmond]] with route 374 also now discontinued.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtc.ca.gov/news/transactions/ta09-1099/richmond_ferry.htm |title=MTC – News – Transactions |publisher=Mtc.ca.gov |date=September 7, 2010 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209062905/http://www.mtc.ca.gov///news/transactions/ta09-1099/richmond_ferry.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cabanatuan|first=Michael|date=September 27, 1999|title=Richmond Ferry to Sail / Commuter line to commence amid criticism of bay plan|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Richmond-Ferry-to-Sail-Commuter-line-to-2906967.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pimentel|first=Benjamin|date=October 6, 1999|title=Richmond Ferry Wins Praise But Few Riders|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Richmond-Ferry-Wins-Praise-But-Few-Riders-2903075.php|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref> A [[Richmond Ferry Terminal|new ferry service]] from Richmond is planned for 2018 by the [[San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority]]. The new ferry will take only half an hour to San Francisco and will use the existing terminal and parking facilities at Ford Point in Marina Bay.<ref>http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/11/15/commuter-ferry-service-from-richmond-launched/[http://www.watertransit.org/richmond_overview.shtml Water Transit Authority] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002631/http://www.watertransit.org/richmond_overview.shtml |date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref>  The San Francisco Bay Ferry relaunched ferry service to the San Francisco Ferry Building in January 2019.

===Pedestrian and bike lanes===
The city has aggressively developed its portions of the [[San Francisco Bay Trail]] and has more than any other city at present. The total length is {{convert|17|mi|km|0}}<ref name="statecity07">[http://www.gaylemclaughlin.net/speech2007Mayor.htm 2007 State of the City Address] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070530084421/http://www.gaylemclaughlin.net/speech2007Mayor.htm |date=May 30, 2007 }}, by Gayle McLaughlin, March 6, 2007, Gayle McGlaughlin website. Retrieved August 3, 2007.</ref> and more is to be built. The city is also currently developing the [[Richmond Greenway]] a [[rails to trails]] project running parallel to Macdonald Avenue which will feed into the [[Ohlone Trail]] which serves as feeder service for the [[El Cerrito del Norte (BART station)|El Cerrito del Norte BART station]]. There is also the [[Hercules Bikeway]] connecting the Ohlone Trail with Hercules, which runs along the neighborhoods of East Richmond and El Sobrante. There is a trail under construction along [[Wildcat Creek (California)|Wildcat Creek]] to connect the Bay Trail and [[Wildcat Marsh]] with [[Wildcat Canyon Regional Park]]. The city also has many miles of trails in that park in addition to Miller/Knox, Point Isabel, and Point Pinole parks, among others.

<gallery>
Image:Wfm red rock island.jpg|The [[Richmond–San Rafael Bridge]] ([[Interstate 580 (California)|Interstate 580]]) alongside [[Red Rock Island]] and barges crossing [[San Pablo Bay]].
Image:Sanpab-n-mac.jpg|Tree-lined [[San Pablo Avenue]] at Macdonald Avenue with an [[AC Transit]] [[bus rapid transit|BRT]] stop and businesses in [[East Richmond, Richmond, California|eastern Richmond]].
Image:Richmond Pacific Railroad RPRC Switcher 1268.JPG|A freight train of the Richmond Short Railroad
Image:Richmond BART.jpg|Richmond BART Station within the intermodal Richmond Station which carries 1.9 million passengers annually.
</gallery>

== Municipal services ==

Dozens of parks are run by the Richmond Parks & Recreation Department. The Richmond Civic Center is currently undergoing a seismic upgrade and renovations program. Some buildings are being refurbished while other buildings will be replaced.<ref name="civicupgrade">[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=833 Civic Center Revitalization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234431/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=833 |date=September 27, 2007 }}, Mitigative and negative declaration, City of Richmond website. Retrieved August 1, 2007.</ref>

{{stack|[[File:West_County_Detention_Center_sign.jpg|thumb|275px|[[West County Detention Facility]] on Giant Highway]]}}Richmond is also home to the [[West County Detention Facility]] in the [[Point Pinole Regional Shoreline|Point Pinole area]]. It is a male and female county jail.

RichmondWorks and Richmond Summer YouthWorks are city programs that aim to decrease unemployment and crime and have led to hundreds receiving employment at area retail businesses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Safe Homes |publisher=The U.S. Conference of Mayors |url=http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/best_practices/bp_volume_4/ca-richm.htm |access-date=June 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927230114/http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/best_practices/bp_volume_4/ca-richm.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Richmond's waste disposal and recycling is handled by the Richmond Sanitary Service. Water is provided by the East Bay Municipal Utility District ([[EBMUD]]), while sewers are operated by the city government. The city's electricity and gas is provided by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company ([[PG&E]]).

Sewage is largely handed by the Richmond Sewage Treatment Plant in [[Point Richmond, Richmond, California|Point Richmond]].<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=81900 Richmond wastewater treatment plant to resume operations amid controversy]. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 28, 2011.</ref>

Medical and trauma patients are transported by American Medical Response Paramedics and EMTs.<ref name="infosys"/>

===Fire Department===
{{Infobox fire department
| name                   = Richmond Fire Department
| native_name            =
| logo                   = 
| motto                  =
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| country                =United States
| subdivision_type1      =State
| subdivision_name1      = California
| subdivision_type2      =[[Lists of populated places in the United States|City]]
| subdivision_name2      = Richmond
<!-- Agency Overview -->
| reference1             =<ref name=facts>{{cite web|title=Department Facts|url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=1483|website=City of Richmond|access-date=February 27, 2015}}</ref>
| established            =
| annual calls           =
| annual budget          =
| employees              = 95+{{small|(2014)}}
| staffing               = Career
| ALSorBLS = BLS
| chief                  =Adrian Sheppard
| iaff                   =188
<!-- Facilities & Equipment history -->
| reference2             =<ref name=facts/>
| divisions              =
| battalions             =1
| stations               =7
| engines                =7
| trucks                 =1
| rescues               = 2
| hazmat                 = 1
| fireboats              = 1
<!-- Footer -->
| website                ={{official website|http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/Index.aspx?NIDDefOrdGenAa1.1z79}}
| iaffweb                =
}}

The Richmond Fire Department is the fire and rescue service for Richmond, and by contract with [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa County]] it also serves [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]], and [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]].<ref name="fire">{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=79 |title=Richmond Fire Department |publisher=Ci.richmond.ca.us |access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref> The department is responsible for an area of {{convert| 56.1|sqmi|sqkm}}.<ref name=facts/> The department has seven fire stations in the city.

{{stack|[[File:RFD66.jpg|thumb|275px|RFD station 66 in [[North & East, Richmond, California|North & East]]]]}}

In September 2002 the city coordinated an eight alarm fire call at the Richmond Sanitary Service landfill.<ref name=landfire>{{cite news|title=Bay Area Briefs|url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2002-09-24/article/14814|access-date=March 25, 2015|agency=Berkeley Daily Planet|date=September 24, 2002}}</ref> After putting the fire out steam continued to spew forcing crews to remain on site for hours to water the still heated area in order to prevent reignition.<ref name=landfire/>

===Police department===
The [[Richmond Police Department (California)|Richmond Police Department]], first organized in 1909,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1848/A-Century-of-Service|title=A Century of Service &#124; Richmond, CA - Official Website}}</ref> is now headquartered at the Richmond Civic Center. The building was recently renovated, and is LEED certified.<ref name="xpxn">{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=918 |title=Public Safety Police Department |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-date=November 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114122440/http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.asp?DID=918 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2021}}

===Athletics===
* [[Brian Abshire]] (born 1963), Olympic track and field athlete, [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in 3,000-meter steeplechase<ref>[http://www.caltrack.com/news/conning012803.html Regional News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011115732/http://www.caltrack.com/news/conning012803.html |date=October 11, 2007 }}, California Track and Running News</ref>
* [[C. J. Anderson]], running back for NFL's [[Denver Broncos]]
* [[Courtney Anderson]] (born 1980), Oakland Raiders football player<ref>[http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=218 Raiders.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160639/http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=218 |date=September 30, 2007 }}, Courtney Anderson profile. Retrieved June 23, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/courtney_anderson NFL.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120044346/http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/courtney_anderson |date=November 20, 2008 }}, 2007 Draft: Prospect Profiles, Courtney Anderson. Retrieved June 23, 2007.</ref>
* [[Benny Barnes]], Stanford and NFL player, 11 years as cornerback for [[Dallas Cowboys]], starter for [[Super Bowl XII]] champions
* [[Ken Carter]] (born 1959), [[Richmond High School (Richmond, California)|Richmond High School]] basketball coach, inspiration for 2005 film ''[[Coach Carter]]''<ref>[http://www.coachcarter.com/movie.htm Coach Carter movie official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531190150/http://www.coachcarter.com/movie.htm |date=May 31, 2007 }}, CoachCarter.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
* [[Loyd Christopher]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player and scout
* [[Russ Christopher]], MLB pitcher for [[1948 World Series]] champion [[Cleveland Indians]]
* [[Darrell Johnson]], MLB player, backup catcher for [[New York Yankees]] behind [[Yogi Berra]]; also played with [[St. Louis Cardinals]]; manager for [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Seattle Mariners]] and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]
* [[Ricky Jordan]] (born 1965), MLB first baseman for [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Seattle Mariners]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ricky Jordan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jordari02.shtml|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Willie McGee]] (born 1958), MLB player, outfielder for [[1982 World Series]] champion [[St. Louis Cardinals]], two-time National League batting champion, 1985 MVP<ref>[http://www.williemcgee.com/foundation.html Willie McGee Goes to Bat for Students] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905092823/http://williemcgee.com/foundation.html |date=September 5, 2008 }}, by Jason B. Johnson, reprinted with the permission of the San Francisco Chronicle, January 29, 2005. Retrieved January 29, 2009.</ref>
* [[Takkarist McKinley]], NFL player for [[Atlanta Falcons]]
* [[Master P|Percy Robert Miller]] (also known as Master P), had a contract with NBA teams twice, with [[Charlotte Hornets]] during 1998–99 season and [[Toronto Raptors]] in 1999 pre-season; played in Continental Basketball Association for Fort Wayne Fury and for ABA's Las Vegas Rattlers; in 2008 McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game scored 17 points, hit two free throws to win the game<ref>[[Master P#Professional basketball career]]</ref>
* [[Dave Smith (NL pitcher)|Dave Smith]] (born 1955), MLB pitcher for [[Houston Astros]], [[Chicago Cubs]], and [[San Diego Padres]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dave Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithda02.shtml|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Dale Sveum]], MLB player and former manager of [[Chicago Cubs]]
* [[Lamont Thompson]] (born 1978), [[National Football League|NFL]] [[American football|football]] [[defensive back]] for [[Tennessee Titans]] and [[Cincinnati Bengals]]<ref>[http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=THOMPLAM01 Database Football profile of Lamont Thompson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216024417/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=THOMPLAM01 |date=February 16, 2007 }}, Databasefootball.com. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>

===Music===
* [[Jason Becker]] (born 1969), musician, songwriter and composer<ref>[http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20242222/richmond-world-renowned-guitarist-two-decades-als?source=rss Rock on: Richmond world-renowned guitarist has lived more than two decades with ALS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191933/http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20242222/richmond-world-renowned-guitarist-two-decades-als?source=rss |date=March 3, 2016 }}, Matthias Gafni, ''[[Contra Costa Times]]'', March 23, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012</ref>
* [[Stephen Bradley (musician)|Stephen Bradley]], musician, producer, and touring member of band No Doubt
*[[Tom Brock (singer)|Tom Brock]] (1942 – 2002), singer and songwriter
* [[Billie Joe Armstrong]] (born 1972), lead singer and musician from the band Green Day was born in Richmond.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bravo |first=Jorge |date=March 7, 2022 |title=Billie Joe Armstrong: Welcome To My Panic (Audible exclusive) |url=https://www.audible.com/pd/Welcome-to-My-Panic-Audiobook/B0929HF74W |access-date=April 22, 2021 |via=Audible}}</ref>
* [[Peter Buck]] (born 1956), guitarist for rock band [[R.E.M.]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wyman|first=Bill|date=1989|title=How R.E.M. Woke Up Rock 'N' Roll in the '80s|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-12-05-8903150461-story.html|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Norton Buffalo]] (born Phillip Jackson; 1951–2009), twice Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, country and blues harmonica, toured 32 years with Steve Miller.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Selvin|first=Joel|date=November 2, 2009|title=Harmonica maestro Norton Buffalo dies at 58|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Harmonica-maestro-Norton-Buffalo-dies-at-58-3282046.php|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=SFGate |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Canary Lee Burton]] (born 1942), composer and keyboardist
* [[Les Claypool]] (born 1963), bassist, songwriter and vocalist of Primus<ref>{{Cite book|last=Coryat|first=Karl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0Bwm9QCU3gC|title=The Bass Player Book|date=1999|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-0-87930-573-4|pages=200|language=en|chapter=Les Claypool: The Cheese Stands Alone}}</ref>
* [[Gary Holt (musician)|Gary Holt]] (born 1964), guitarist and founding member of [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]]; also a member of [[Slayer]] since 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 4, 2017|title=CBS SF Talks To Exodus And Slayer Guitarist Gary Holt|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/07/04/exodus/|access-date=September 6, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Iamsu!]] (born 1989), rapper and fellow organizer of [[The HBK Gang]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Braddy|first=Liam|date=October 5, 2017|title=Iamsu! to headline homecoming concert|url=https://statehornet.com/2017/10/iamsu-to-headline-homecoming-concert/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=The State Hornet}}</ref>
* [[Larry LaLonde]] (born 1968), guitarist in [[Primus (band)|Primus]]
* [[Locksmith (rapper)|Locksmith]] (born 1984), rapper.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 9, 2009|title=Feature Locksmith Interview|url=http://www.rapreviews.com/interview/locksmith09.html|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=RapReview}}</ref>
* [[Master P]] (born Percy Robert Miller), rapper, founder and owner of [[P. Miller]] clothing, former local businessman<ref>[http://www.kochentertainment.com/master_p.htm KochEntertainment.com profile of Master P] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518200709/http://www.kochentertainment.com/master_p.htm |date=May 18, 2007 }}, KochEntertainment.com . Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
::* Also connected to Master P: [[Silkk Tha Shocker]], [[Lil Romeo]], both relatives/associates of Master P, and [[Big Ed (rapper)|Big Ed]] (formerly under Master P's No Limit Records) were residents of Richmond
* [[Dorothy Combs Morrison|Dorothy Morrison]] (born 1944), lead singer for [[Edwin Hawkins Singers]] on their hit "Oh Happy Day"<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HLo7AQAAIAAJ|title=The Virgin encyclopedia of sixties music|publisher=Virgin in association with Muze Inc.|year=1997|isbn=9780753501498|page=227}}</ref>

===Other===
* [[Peter S. Beagle]] (born 1939), writer, author of the fantasy novel ''[[The Last Unicorn]]''
* [[David DePape]] (born 1980), Canadian convicted in assault of Paul Pelosi
* [[Lucretia Edwards]] (1916–2005), preservation activist and environmentalist<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lucretia Edwards Shoreline Park &#124; Richmond, CA - Official Website|url=https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/754/Lucretia-Edwards-Park|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=ci.richmond.ca.us}}</ref><ref>[http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?archiveDate=01-02-04&storyID=18038 Open Space Advocate Honored With a Park, by John Geluardi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144640/http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?archiveDate=01-02-04&storyID=18038 |date=March 10, 2007 }}, ''Berkeley Daily Planet'', January 2, 2004. Retrieved May 17, 2007.</ref>
* [[Carl Franklin]] (born 1949), director of films such as ''[[Devil in a Blue Dress (film)|Devil in a Blue Dress]]'' and ''[[One True Thing]]''
* [[William Haynes (comedian)|William Haynes]], comedian, co-host of the YouTube channel [[SourceFed]].
* [[Janet Lipkin]] (born 1948), [[Artwear]] clothing designer, visual artist and educator<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bean |first=Kyrsten |date=February 14, 2011 |title=Who's Who: Janet Lipkin, Artist and Teacher |url=https://patch.com/california/elcerrito/whos-who-janet-lipkin-artist-and-teacher |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=El Cerrito, California [[Patch Media|Patch]] |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Emiko Nakano]] (1925–1990), abstract expressionist artist<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Wakida|first=Patricia|date=May 19, 2015|title=Emiko Nakano|url=https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Emiko_Nakano/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=Densho Encyclopedia}}</ref>
* [[Glenn Plummer]] (born 1961), actor, known for films such as ''[[South Central (film)|South Central]]'', ''[[Showgirls]]'' and ''[[Menace II Society]]''
* [[Ronnie Schell]] (born 1931), actor and comedian
* [[Betty Reid Soskin]] (born 1921), park ranger, educator, and activist

==Neighborhoods==
[[File:EastRichmond1912.jpg|thumb|[[Richmond Heights, Richmond, California|Richmond Heights]] as seen from [[North & East, Richmond, California|North & East]] at the dawn of the 20th century]]
{{See also|List of Richmond neighborhoods}}
Richmond has many distinct neighborhoods. The city can roughly be divided into the northern Hilltop/El Sobrante, eastern Central/East Richmond, downtown/Iron Triangle and Southern Point Richmond/Marina Bay areas.

==In literature and film==
===Books===
* {{Cite book|last=Cole|first=Susan D.|title=Richmond – Windows to the Past|publisher=Wildcat Canyon Books|year=1980|isbn=0936034009|location=Richmond, CA}} An oral history based photographic history.
* {{Cite book|last=Sutherland|first=Anne|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zY0iAQAAMAAJ|title=Gypsies: The Hidden Americans|publisher=Waveland Press|year=1986|isbn=9780881332353}} This book is an anthropological study of a group of [[Romani Americans]] living in Richmond (Barvale), California; based on fieldwork done during 1968–1970.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2020|title=Romani Realities in the United States: Breaking The Silence, Challenging the Stereotypes|url=https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2464/2020/11/Romani-realities-report-final-11.30.2020.pdf|website=FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University|page=14}}</ref>
*{{Cite book|last=Polese|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LxNOAAAACAAJ|title=Tales from the Iron Triangle: Boyhood Days in the San Francisco Bay Area of the 1920s|publisher=Ocean Tree Books|year=1995|isbn=9780943734125}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lange|first=Dorothea|title=Photographing the Second Gold Rush: Dorothea Lange and the East Bay at War, 1941-1945|publisher=[[Heyday Books]]|others=Charles Wollenberg (contributions)|year=1995|isbn=9780930588786}}
*''In Contempt'' (Mass Market Paperback) by Christopher A. Darden, [[Jess Walter]], ReganBooks; Reprint edition (February 1997) (Christopher Darden, one of the prosecutors in the criminal case against O.J. Simpson, grew up in Richmond.)
* {{Cite book|last=Moore|first=Shirley Ann Wilson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZaYwDwAAQBAJ|title=To Place Our Deeds: The African American Community in Richmond, California, 1910–1963|publisher=University of California Press|year=2001|isbn=9780520229204|series=George Gund Foundation imprint in African American studies}}
* {{Cite book|last=Bastin|first=Donald|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WsyCwShqXtgC|title=Richmond|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2003|isbn=9780738528588|series=Images of America}}
* {{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Rodney|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNwnngEACAAJ|title=If My Eyes Could Rewind: The Real Richmond, California story|publisher=SEP Publishing|year=2013|isbn=9780988845121}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 21, 2013|title=Rodney Brown, with help of Facebook, compiles book of famous Richmond natives|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2013/08/21/rodney-brown-with-help-of-facebook-compiles-book-of-famous-richmond-natives/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=East Bay Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
* {{Cite book|last=Early|first=Steve|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rsIDAAAQBAJ|title=Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City|publisher=Beacon Press|others=Bernie Sanders (contribution)|year=2017|isbn=9780807094273}}
* ''[[The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America]]'' by [[Richard Rothstein]] (2017)

===Film and television===
* The film documentary "Enough is Enough: Live From Tent City in Richmond, CA," details a grassroots movement of Richmond city residents to fight violence on their streets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s-data.current.com/news/89473956_enough-is-enough-live-from-tent-city-in-richmond-ca-movie.htm |title="Enough is Enough"-Live from Tent City in Richmond,CA-MOVIE // Curren… |access-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120025251/http://s-data.current.com/news/89473956_enough-is-enough-live-from-tent-city-in-richmond-ca-movie.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Much of the movie ''[[Tucker: The Man and His Dream]]'' was filmed at the National Preservation Award-winning Ford Assembly Building, now commonly referred to as Ford Point.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/ |title=Ford Point bringing new life to Richmond |last=Said |first=Carly |publisher=Open Publishing |date=November 14, 2010}}</ref>
* Many scenes from the [[Robin Williams]] film, ''[[Patch Adams (film)|Patch Adams]]'' were filmed during a week in Point Richmond.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129290/locations|title=Patch Adams (1998)|via=IMDb}}</ref>
* The basketball movie, ''[[Coach Carter]]'' although filmed across the bay in San Francisco was based on the story of the Richmond High School Basketball team being benched for poor grades despite an undefeated season.
* In the TV show ''[[The Game (U.S. TV series)|The Game]]'', character ''[[Latasha "Tasha" Mack]]'' grew up in Richmond.
* Many parts of the [[Mel Gibson]] movie ''[[Forever Young (1992 film)|Forever Young]]'' were filmed in Point Richmond.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forever Young (1992) - Filming & Production - IMDb |website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104291/locations |access-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref>
* DeVry College has made a commercial showing businesses along San Pablo Avenue in Richmond.
* Kaiser Permanente made a commercial showing a man riding a bicycle in Point Richmond.
* In the 2002 movie, [[The Sweetest Thing (film)|The Sweetest Thing]] starring Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate, the town of Somerset, where an important wedding scene takes place, includes filming in the historic Point Richmond district (not the church itself however).

==Sister cities==
Richmond, California has three [[sister cities]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
* {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Shimada, Shizuoka|Shimada]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]], Japan (December 12, 1961)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Northern and Central California Sister Cities in Japan|url=https://www.sf.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/e_m07_06_01.html|access-date=February 23, 2023|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan|language=en}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|CUB}} [[Regla, Cuba|Regla]], Cuba
* {{flagdeco|PRC}} [[Zhoushan]], Zhejiang, China

==See also==
{{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area}}
* [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]]
* [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante]]
* [[Harry Ells High School]]
* [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]]
* [[Point Richmond, Richmond, California|Point Richmond]]
* [[Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park]]
* {{USS|Tacoma|PF-3|6}}
* [[List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations]]

==References==
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{{Reflist | colwidth = 30em | refs =
<ref name="SFC20080629">
 {{cite web
 | author     = Perrigan, Dana
 | date       = June 29, 2008
| url        = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/29/REL311CKGC.DTL&ao=all
 | title      = Where we live. Steeped in history, Richmond looks forward
 | work       = San Francisco Chronicle
 | publisher  = SFGate
 | quote      = Richmond was home to the world's largest winery, called Winehaven, until the federal government enacted Prohibition in 1919.
 | access-date = December 11, 2011
}}
</ref>
}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite web  |url={{GNIS3|1659507}}  |title=Feature Detail Report for: Richmond |work=[[Geographic Names Information System]] |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Richmond (California)|display=Richmond, a city of California |short=x}}

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Geographic location
| Centre    = [[North Richmond, California|North Richmond]], [[San Pablo, California|San Pablo]]
| North     = [[Tara Hills, California|Tara Hills]]
| Northeast = [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante]]
| East      = [[East Richmond Heights, California|East Richmond Heights]]
| Southeast = [[El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California|El Cerrito]]
| South     = [[Albany, California|Albany]]
| Southwest = [[San Francisco Bay]]
| West      = [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]]
| Northwest = [[San Pablo Bay]]
| image     =
}}
{{Richmond, California}}
{{Contra Costa County, California}}
{{SF Bay Area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Richmond, California| ]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Contra Costa County, California]]
[[Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1905]]
[[Category:Port cities in California]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in California]]