From the first clash of European and Native American cultures, the history of Richmond parallels the story of Virginia and the nation. Abundant land, natural resources and trade routes at the Falls of the James fueled the growth of Richmond from a trading post to a small town and eventually to a Southern city. As the nation’s frontier moved westward, Richmond evolved from a society based on agriculture and slave labor to an industrial, commercial and financial center. Riddled with contradictions, the history of Richmond remains a complex story of human enterprise and business development.

See the Settlement to Streetcar Suburbs timeline.