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The history of Richmond
Richmond's waterfront, industrial heritage and culturally rich neighborhoods create one of the East Bay's most distinctive local landscapes.
People who shaped Richmond
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The history of Richmond, California
A local history film shared by World History Official tv.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Richmond
See all 48 famous people
- 1900
Santa Fe's western terminus
The Santa Fe Railroad established its western terminus at Point Richmond with ferry links to San Francisco.
Richmond city reference ↗ - 1901
The refinery era begins
Standard Oil established operations on the site of today's Richmond refinery and tank farm.
Richmond city reference ↗ - 1905
City incorporation
Richmond incorporated as a California city.
Richmond city reference ↗ - 1930
Ford assembly plant
Ford Motor Company opened its Richmond Assembly Plant on the waterfront.
Richmond city reference ↗ - 1942
Wartime shipyard growth
Richmond's wartime industries helped drive the population from about 23,000 in 1940 to more than 114,000 in 1942.
Richmond city reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Point Richmond Historic District, Point Richmond’s downtown, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. Check current opening hours before visiting the Richmond Museum of History & Culture.
For deeper research, the Richmond library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.