The city of Richmond’s population has grown faster than its neighbors in the last five years, new
City LivingThe view of Richmond’s skyline from Jefferson Park. (Photo by Ansel Olson)
estimates released by the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service show.
Richmond grew by 6.7 percent, adding about 13,700 people between the 2010 Census and July 2015. The increase brings the city’s total population to nearly 218,000. Shockoe Bottom received a special shout-out, as demographers credited the steady conversion of abandoned commercial buildings into housing downtown for turning the tides in the city.
“For decades, Richmond was steadily shedding residents, but after its population bottomed out in the 2000s, Richmond has grown faster than its neighboring counties this decade,” the center’s StatCh@t blog wrote.
During the same period, Chesterfield County's population grew by 5.4 percent, with more than 17,000 people moving into the county. Henrico County's grew by 4.5 percent, adding about 13,800 people. Hanover County's grew by 4.2 percent, adding more than 4,000 new residents.
Overall, the Richmond metropolitan area was the fifth fastest growing in the state, behind Northern Virginia, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and Winchester. Richmond ranked just ahead of Virginia Beach, which is the second largest metro area by population in the state.
