Richmond is the capital of Virginia and is located in the central part of the state. Ideally located with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, Richmond enjoys a delightful climate with rather mild winters and little snow fall. Richmond averages about 39 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 76 degrees in summer.
Richmond real estate tends to increase in value over time. Many people choose to buy a home here because there are good employment opportunities in Richmond, but cost of living is lower than Washington, D.C. Today, Richmond is surrounded by Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield Counties with a total metropolitan population of 1,126,262 in 2003.
Richmond is the home of the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia State University is about 20 miles south of Richmond, in the suburb of Ettrick.
Richmond has a strong job market. The city has a wide range of industries including semiconductor, distribution, tobacco, transportation, healthcare, pharmaceutical and publishing. Major semiconductor manufacturing firms have been attracted to Richmond. The increase in semiconductor firms to the area has made the city a central point of the East Coast's Silicon Dominion.
Richmond is also a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Virginia Biotechnology Research Park supports research and development in the area and is located on 20 acres next to Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Medical College of Virginia. The facility is home to about 34 biotechnology, bioscience and other related companies and research institutions.
