Check Out Richmond, Virginia! 

There’s a reason that people have loved making their home in Richmond for more than 400 years. It has beautiful scenery, historic attractions, excellent education opportunities and lovely homes and neighborhoods that have been preserved, protected and enhanced and assure the very best quality of life. Families, singles, seniors, young people, those seeking economic opportunity as well as retirees, people from all races, ethnicities and walks of life have found a great place to settle down and by their diverse presence have made Richmond the ideal home sweet home. 

Richmond is the capital of Virginia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a premier location. You can be in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean within two hours. Richmond is also 100 miles south of Washington, D.C. Richmond is rich in early American history dating back to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The region is the middle point between Boston and Atlanta. 

The Metropolitan Area 

The Greater Richmond Region is a region located in a central part of the state of Virginia. The historic and beautiful City of Richmond is located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic and the metropolitan area includes the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and New Kent. Richmond sits on 62.5 square miles along the scenic James River, 95 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of Virginia and is referred to as the Richmond-Petersburg region. Richmond is surrounded by Henrico County on the north and Chesterfield County on the south. The metropolitan area includes the city (which is an independent city and not part of any county) as well as its two adjoining counties plus an extensive area of central Virginia. The area is rich in natural splendor, incomparable attractions and sensational recreational opportunities. There are nearby mountains, beaches, and historical sites, vibrant cities and charming small towns, all made more enjoyable by the famed Virginia hospitality summed up by the state’s travel motto, “Virginia is for Lovers”. Other counties in the metropolitan area include Amelia, Carilone, Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwidde, Goochland, King and Queen, King William, Louisa, Powhatan, Prince George and Sussex .  

Metropolitan Richmond is located at the junction of the I-95 and I-64, two major interstates that connect
As of 2007, it had a population of 1,212,977 making it the 43rd largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the country. It straddles the fall line, the meeting zone of the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont of the James River at Richmond and the Appomattox Rivaer at Petersburg, each of which were established as ports in the 17th century. 

From 2000 to 2006 The Greater Richmond metro area experience continuous population growth adding about 100,000 residents , a growth of nearly 9 percent.
 

ABOUT EDUCATION
Richmond offers a multitude of quality educational opportunities from the 26,00 student strong public school system, to the over 20 private schools and academies as well as 9 university level schools and one community college all within the metropolitan area. 

The Richmond Metropolitan Area School District includes 31 elementary schools, 9 middle schools and 10 high schools. Richmond public schools have recently launched Discovery Academy programs beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. Discovery Academies combine a rigorous academic curriculum with studies in special interest areas including math, science, technology, foreign language, arts, humanities and community service. In addition there are 12 other schools that serve specific talents including the acclaimed Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology located in Petersburg. It is the only full time secondary school in the state devoted to the fine arts and technology with a unique environment that helps students excel in the many forms of expression from acting to printmaking and from computer programming to ballet. The Franklin Military School is the only publicly funded military high school in the nation with a program designed to allow all students to experience a regular academic course of study while participating in a Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (JROTC).  

The Richmond Public School District is rated at the top in the “2004 Best of the Web” school rankings and ranks in the top ten nationally by the Center for Digital Education. CDE is a national research and advisory institute on K-12 and higher education technology and evaluates districts on their innovation, Web-based delivery of services, efficiency, economy, and functionality for improved student and faculty Internet access.  

There are a many private schools in Richmond serving diverse communities and constituencies. There are parochial and non-secular schools, both coeducational and for boys and girls only. There are 6 private schools that offer pre-kindergarten as well as K-12 classes including one that is boys only and one that is girls only and 10 middle and high schools including highly regarded Benedictine High School that is boys only. Most student bodies range from 100 to just over 500 with very low student-teacher ratios. 

Richmond is blessed with an abundance of renowned colleges and universities that provide the very best higher education opportunities. The local community college is the J Sargent Reynolds Community College with a fulltime student population of 5,000 and the local public university is the Virginia Commonwealth University with a fulltime student population of 19,000. Founded in 1838, it has 2 campuses in the heart of Richmond. The university is a Carnegie Doctoral Research University, one of three only three such accredited schools in the state and 20 of the graduate and professional programs are ranked by US News and World Report as the best in the country.  

There are six private universities in Richmond four of which are seminary schools. The Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School (FT enrollment: 282) offers doctoral degrees as does the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (FT enrollment: 199). The Richmond Virginia Seminary offers master's degrees as does the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care. Additionally, the University of Richmond with just under 3800 students offers Masters degrees in many areas of study and Virginia Union University with just under 1500 students, is a historically black college and one of the most famous institutions of higher learning in the state.  

An outstanding historically black university in an urban setting, it was founded in 1865. The campus covers 84 acres on the north side of the city and five of its oldest buildings, constructed of Virginia granite have been designated national historic landmarks. The school was born out of the end of the Civil War and the idea that all free men should have the right to an education. Virginia Union University is comprised of a College of Liberal Arts, the Sydney Lewis School of Business and The School of Education conferring Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degrees. There is a Graduate School of Theology that confers a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees and the University is always expanding programs in continuing education and developing its potential as a community resource center. The campus also includes an excellent library with an important collection on black history and literature. 

Richmond is a community devoted to intellectual enrichment and dedicated to providing the very best educational opportunities to all its citizens.  

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