Richmond - Community Overview

The area’s first inhabitants were the Coast Salish First Nations, though mainly they visited the islands on fishing excursions. In 1861, Col. R.C. Moody, while surveying southern BC and selecting town sites on the Fraser River named Sea Island and Lulu Island. Moody named Lulu Island after American actress Lulu Street.

In 1862, the first settler, Hugh McRoberts purchased 648 ha on Sea Island and named his farm Richmond View after his previous home in Australia. A slow but steady immigration of farmers began and by 1879 the area had approximately 30 families. 

The first bridge connecting Richmond with the mainland was constructed in 1889; by 1902 a railway link also existed. With improved connections, Richmond had become primarily a residential area within the vicinity of Greater Vancouver. In 1931, the Vancouver International Airport was built on Sea Island.

Today, Richmond is an urban centre with a mixture of residential and commercial property, agricultural lands, industrial parks and nature areas. Richmond is an important transportation centre as it is serviced by two major highways and highway connections via Deas Island Freeway, which leads to the Trans Canada Highway, the American border, and the Ferry Terminal to Vancouver Island. Vancouver International Airport is based at Sea Island in Richmond and the city is also serviced by two railway lines as well as two international seaports.

The City of Richmond is situated in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, directly south of the City of Vancouver, just off Highway #99. Richmond is known as the “Island City” as it is comprised of a series of islands at the mouth of the Fraser River, including Sea Island, part of Lulu Island and 15 smaller islands.

The population of Richmond numbers approximately 174,461.

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