Richmond, a city and port of entry of Virginia, the capital of the state, and the county seat of Henrico co., is situated on the N. bank of James River, at the lower falls, and at the head of tide-water, about 100 miles from its mouth. It is built on several hills, and is surrounded by beautiful and varied scenery. It is about 100 miles in a straight line S. by W. from Washington, 116 miles from that city by rail, and 22 miles N. of Petersburg. Lat. of capitol, 37° 32' 17" N.; lon. 77° 27' 28" W. It is connected with Manchester, on the S. side of the river, by 4 bridges. A bridge also connects it with Belle Isle. The chief thorough fares run N.W. and S.E., nearly parallel with the river front. The capitol and most of the other public buildings are on Shockoe Hill, the top of which is a plain overlooking the river. The capitol building was finished in 1796, and from its size and elevation is the most conspicuous object in the city. In the capitol grounds are the Foley bronze of General Thomas J. Jackson, Hart's marble of Henry Clay, and the Crawford Washington monument. The latter is one of the finest groups of monumental sculpture in America. It consists of a colossal equestrian bronze of Washington, around and below which are two tiers of pedestals, with figures of Andrew Lewis, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, and John Marshall, and on the lower pedestals are seven symbolic figures. In the W. end of the city is the fine equestrian statue of General Robert E. Lee. In the E., on £ Hill, is the monument to the private soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy...

Richmond was founded by William Byrd in 1737, was incorporated in 1742, and became the capital of the state in 1779-80. It has of late grown rapidly in importance and population, notwithstanding the drawbacks it was subjected to during the civil war. In 1800 the population was 5737; in 1850, 27,570; in 1860, 37,910; in 1870, 51,05"; in 1880, 63,600; in 1890, 81,388; in 1895 (estimated, 91,000; With Manchester and other suburbs, the population is about 115,000

Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

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