Richmond (CA) (Images of America)

Edmund Randolph, originally from Richmond, Virginia, represented the City of San Francisco when California's first legislature met in San Jose in December, 1849. Randolph became a State Assemblyman from San Francisco. Loyal to the town of his birth he persuaded a Federal surveying party mapping the San Francisco Bay to place the names "Point Richmond" and "Richmond" on the 1854 geodetic coast map. This was the geodetic map at the terminal selected by the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad. By 1899 maps made by the railroad carried the name "Point Richmond Avenue". Richmond, the town and later city, was founded and incorporated in 1905, carved out of the 18,000 acre tract Rancho San Pablo. Through the first half of the 20th Century, growth of the City was slow, but, steady. The building of the Standard Oil Refinery began in 1900. Although severely damaged in the Bay Area earthquake of 1906, the Refinery was back in operation by 1907. The outbreak of the United States's complete and total involvement in World War II in December 1941 brought the most rapid and extensive development that the area had experienced up to that time. Shipbuilding and United States Naval activities brought vast numbers of workers to the Bay Area with Richmond included. But, at the conclusion of the War, these activities quickly ceased and there were no jobs for these thousands of workers. There had also been a Ford Motor Company assembly plant, vast rail yards and a myriad of smaller businesses supporting these workplaces. It wasn't until the 1970's that growth really resumed. However, this new growth which brought the construction of the Hilltop Shopping Center, opening in 1976, practically destroyed the older original downtown core which was virtually vacant by 1986. This book tells the story of a Richmond that was and may never quite be the same again.

Prompt delivery. Excellent condition and is signed by the author. Great book for an excellent price.

The book is of my home town, with memories in text and picture. Several relate to my father and one is a photo of my father-in-law as a boy. I was actually given a copy of the book as a gift, but it went missing, so i had to have another.

This is my home town. I was very pleased with the book about Richmond and the Bay Area. A lot of new information and wonderful pictures. I liked it so much I bought another one and sent it to my sister.

This book had great old pictures of Richmond.

This book tells about the history of Richmond, CA. Some of the interesting information that the book mentions includes the following: Francisco Castro was granted the use of land known as Rancho San Pablo which covered an area roughly from Pinole to Oakland. When Richmond, CA incorporated in 1905, the old Californios names had become a permanent part of Richmond's legacy. Ford assembled cars in Richmond from August 1931 to 1955. It was Henry J. Kaiser who made Richmond into one of the ship-building powerhouses during World War II. In addition to attractive wages, Henry Kaiser made medical coverage an incentive to join his work force. Gordon's Drive In in the early 1950s was a popular place to meet for burgers and a milkshake in Richmond. Hilltop Shopping Center opened up in 1976.