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82º | 79% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:20 a.m. | Sunset 8:08 p.m.

 

We’ll take “Richmond” for 400

25 interesting facts about Richmond
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Richmond in the 1920s. | Photo via VCU Libraries Digital Collections
Did you know Edgar Allan Poe lived in Richmond?

Nah, just kidding. If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around. We put together this list of some interesting facts about the River City.

1. Much of Richmond famously burned to the ground near the end of the Civil War, but did you know that was the second time it was razed? In 1781, Richmond was largely destroyed by British troops led by Benedict Arnold. Virginia’s state militia eventually pushed Arnold’s troops back to Portsmouth.

2. The 17th Street Market is one of America’s oldest public marketplaces. The Shockoe space has been in use as a farmers market since 1737.

3. The first female mayor of Richmond was Eleanor Parker Sheppard. She got her start in public service on the Ginter Park Elementary PTA, then became Richmond’s first female City Council rep. After her term as mayor, Sheppard would go on to serve on the House of Delegates.

4. The Richmond region is probably home to the nation’s first coal mine. Coal was first found at the Midlothian Mines in 1701, and extraction continued for over 200 years.

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The Richmond Planet was one of the first Black-owned newspapers in the country.

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Photos via Richmond Planet

5. The Richmond Planet, one of the country’s first Black-owned newspapers, was founded in 1882 by 13 formerly enslaved Richmonders. Its first editor was Edmund Archer Randolph, the first African American to graduate from Yale Law School.

6. Scott’s Addition is named for General Winfield Scott. He inherited the land from his father-in-law, another name you might recognize: Colonel John Mayo.

7. The Carver neighborhood was once called Sheep Hill. Originally a working class community of mostly Jewish and German immigrants, the neighborhood earned its name from its proximity to the city’s livestock yards.

8. Speaking of sheep, did you know the VCU mascot has a first name? Rodney the Ram has represented VCU since it was Richmond Professional Institute. Rodney first showed up in 1963, replacing the former mascot, the Green Devil.

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Jackson Ward was once known as “the Harlem of the South.”

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Photo by RICtoday

9. Throughout the 20th century, Jackson Ward was famous nationwide for its flourishing culture and strong economy, earning the nicknames “the Harlem of the South” and “Black Wall Street.”

10. You might know Lucy Dacus went to VCU for a while, but did you know Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Steve West from Pavement, and Stefan Lessard of the Dave Matthew’s band did too?
15 more Richmond factoids
Asked
 
Your turn. Think you can get one over on us? Let us know your favorite local trivia tidbit and you just might make it into the newsletter.
 
Children's Museum of Richmond
 
Events
Friday, Aug. 9
  • Back to Back to Black | Friday, Aug. 9 | 7 p.m. | Canal Club | $26 | This Amy Winehouse tribute will feature a 12-piece band performing the whole album and more songs.
  • House Special: The Movies/Street Jelly | Friday, Aug. 9 | 9-10:30 p.m. | Coalition Theater | $5-$10 | Be ready for anything at this long form improv night.
Saturday, Aug. 10
  • Richmond Habitat Annual Youth LEGO Build | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Faison Center Guzman Building | Free | Kids ages 5-12 will show off their building skills at this creative event.
  • East End Street Fair | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Occasions Too! | Free entry | Expect live music, dance performances, and interactive activities at this neighborhood fest.
  • JamPacked Festival | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 2:30 p.m. | Brown’s Island | $45-$125 | Greensky Bluegrass headlines this environmentally friendly fest.
  • VCU Women’s Soccer vs. Longwood | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 6-8 p.m. | Sports Backers Stadium | Free | The Rams face the Lancers in this exhibition match.
Sunday, Aug. 11
  • “My Fair Lady” | Sunday, Aug. 11 | 2 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $9 | The classic musicals series continues at the Byrd with this Audrey Hepburn hit.
Monday, Aug. 12
  • Monday Movie Night | Monday, Aug. 12 | 8 p.m. | Pizza Bones | Cost of purchase | Bring your crew to a screening of “Fantasic Mr. Fox” at the Union Hill pizza place.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Festival
  • Want to know what to expect at this weekend’s Jazz and Music Fest? Check out this write-up of the festival’s lineup — plus a preview of the Mingus Awareness Project, a jazz-packed benefit concert also happening this weekend. (Style Weekly)
Real Estate
  • The price of a home in the Greater Richmond area has increased 9% in the last year, roughly $35,000 more. The median sales price of a house was $425,000 in the second quarter of 2024 — in 2014, that number was $214,000. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Development
  • A site in Midlothian that almost became a Strange’s plant nursery is now being considered for a pair of hotels. The almost 10-acre area may soon hold both a Courtyard by Marriott and a Staybridge Suites — the first from the brand in the Richmond market. (Richmond BizSense)
Edu
  • Ahead of its new school cell phone policy set to be unveiled next month, the VA Dept. of Education hosted its final town hall on the issue in Chesterfield earlier this week. Parents and teachers from across the region weighed in on how to find a policy that effectively limits phone use during class. (VPM)
Job
  • Do you consider yourself an expert on Richmond-area cycling — or just on the River City’s cyclists? Bike Walk RVA is hiring an Engagement Coordinator, aka a “people person.” See what the job entails and submit your application by Saturday, Aug. 31.
Olympics
  • The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France wrap up this weekend. Today’s events include sport climbing, table tennis, wrestling, and rhythmic gymnastics — starting at 9 a.m. EST. Meet Virginia’s Olympians that competed this year and tune in for the closing ceremony on Sunday.
Pets
Listen
  • We like our sound quality how we like our Village Cafe bacon — extra crispy. While most hearing aids have one processor, this device has two, which process speech + noise separately. The result: Clear, crisp, effortless listening and conversations. (Plus, it’s tiny.)*
Finance
  • We’re beyond the halfway point of 2024 — aka a good time to make sure you’re maximizing your money. Personal finance experts have reviewed hundreds of credit cards to present you with the four very best bonus cards of the year.*
Visit Fredericksburg
 
Development

🔨 Canal Walk: Phase II

City begins accessibility improvements on Canal Walk
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Sections of the Canal Walk will be under construction for the next several months. | Photo by RICtoday
The Dept. of Public Works has begun its second phase of construction on the CVT Canal Walk, aiming to improve accessibility and bolster pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

Improvements in this phase of construction include:
  • Installing ramp extensions and retaining walls
  • Adding landscaping and hardscape consistent with the rest of the Canal Walk
  • Building a shared use path
  • Installing curbs, grading, and erosion and sediment control
The construction area is on the south side of the canal, including the pedestrian bridge at the intersection of 15th and Dock Streets. Weather permitting, DPW is aiming to complete work by spring 2025.

Project funding came from the Federal Transportation Alternative Program, along with a 20% match from the city.
The Buy

The Buy 8.09.24 (Affiliate)
The summer’s trending + No. 1 bestselling ice cream maker — the Ninja Creami. Snag it and turn almost anything into frozen, scoopable ice cream (hello, healthy protein treats).
More worth The Buy
Answered

We asked readers if they knew the Folk Fest’s original moniker.

See who’s performing at this year’s Folk Festival
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The Folk Fest returns for 2024 in September. | Photo by RICtoday
52% of respondents correctly identified that, from 2005-2007, it was the National Folk Festival that graced the banks of the James. The first year under the festival’s current name was 2008.
See how Richmonders responded
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png

Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
I love digging into the niche, often strange history of college mascots. For example, in the 1920s alone, William & Mary (my alma mater) was represented by both a 17-inch live alligator named Cal and by Dammit, the campus dog.
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