Richmond, Virginia, USA

Richmond is Virginia’s capital, situated at the falls of the James River where the Piedmont meets the coastal plain. Its river setting made it a trading center and supplied power for mills and factories. Founded in 1737, the community grew around routes carrying tobacco and other goods between the interior and the coast. Virginia’s government moved from Williamsburg to Richmond in 1780. The James River now also anchors a park system along both banks, linking the city’s urban landscape with rapids and riverside recreation.