HENRICO COUNTY

County Offices
4301 E. Parham Road
Richmond 804-501-4206
www.co.henrico.va.us

Chamber of Commerce
201 E. Franklin Street
Richmond 804-648-1234
www.grcc.com

With a rapidly growing population that is quickly moving toward the 300,000 mark, Henrico County enjoys a reputation as one of the nation’s most desirable localities. An award-winning county government drives the impressive economic stability and regional attractions to offer newcomers a wealth of opportunity. Nestled between the rolling Chickahominy and James rivers, the county borders the City of Richmond on the west, north, and east. Surrounding the City of Richmond like a crescent moon, Henrico has become the focal point of Richmond’s expansion toward Charlotteville and makes up more than a third of the metropolitan area.

Over the past three decades, the traditional viewpoint of a downtown skyline has given way to the concept of suburban business centers bustling with office and community activity. Multi-faceted developments like Innsbrook have forever changed the face of the region, where hundreds of companies employ thousands of workers. Sprinkled with cul-de-sac apartment communities and amenities that include outdoor musical concerts on balmy summer days, Innsbrook is the undisputed pinnacle of commerce in western Henrico County.

 

Services
Abundant land for expansion blends with efficient transportation amenities in Henrico County, served by major Interstates like 95, 295, 85, 64, and State Route 288 — Greater Richmond’s beltway. The eastern section of the county is home to the vast resources at Richmond International Airport. Cargo and  Amtrak passenger rail service and the Port of Richmond — the most western inland port in the nation that offers direct access to the Atlantic—are other advantages.

Boasting one of the best public educational systems in the entire nation, Henrico County Public Schools are nationally recognized for emphasis on discipline, professional growth of employees, and integration of classroom technology. The latter includes networked multimedia computers. The county is the home of the regional Math and Science Center and provides other specialty centers where high school students can select a concentrated study program. Classes within the public school district are televised to  Virginia communities and out-of-state sites. Community colleges provide an affordable opportunity to begin a four-year degree or pursue a career path, although the choices in private and public colleges are diverse and abundant in Metropolitan Richmond.

Highly respected healthcare institutions are only minutes from home in Henrico County. The VCU Medical Center associated with Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine consistently earns international recognition for its diagnostics and treatment programs, including the clinical research performed by the Massey Cancer Center.  Locally, Henrico Doctor’s Hospital offers  one of the nation’s finest heart hospitals and a number of other specialties from women’s health to sports medicine.

 

Lifestyle
The list of advantages and amenities that are available in Henrico County seems to be constantly expanding. Recreational facilities include lush county parks, tennis courts, challenging golf courses, a myriad of playgrounds, sports fields and courts, public boat landings, multi-screen cinemas, swimming pools, and scores of sports clubs and leagues. The 400-acre Dorey Park, as one example, offers an equestrian ring, an exercise/hiking trail, a fishing pond, and a disc golf course.

“Modern and beautiful” seems to be the best description for nearly everything. Just 30 years ago, this rural countryside lacked even one groomed park for community events and family picnics. Today, varied attractions like the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens at Bloemendaal and Richmond International Raceway have matured into major regional magnets for visitors. In fact, the NASCAR races at RIR are noted for attracting the largest crowds of any Virginia sports event.

The latest jewel in the crown of historic and cultural attractions is the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, Central Virginia’s premier and most inclusive cultural facility. Remarkably fashioned from the historic Glen Allen School on Old Washington Highway, the initial $8.5 million in renovation investment has produced a 50,300-foot-square complex complete with theater, art and dance studios, and galleries. Visitors can watch professional artists at work, enroll in classes, or attend first-rate productions and events.

The Barksdale Theatre, distinguished as America’s first dinner theater, moved to the Shops at Willow Lawn in Henrico County from it long-established home in Hanover County. The spectacular Amphitheater at Richmond Raceway Complex provides a 10,000-seat venue for top-billed rock and pop concerts. Virginia Aviation Museum, Virginia Randolph Museum, Vawter Street Park/Glen Lea Recreation Area, the Forest Lawn Cemetery, beautiful Deep Run Park, and Meadow Farm are all located in Henrico County. Because of its vast acreage and semi-circle formation, the county is easily divided into quadrants. The more sparsely populated western section borders Hanover County, providing land for large facilities like the Richmond International Airport, vintage cemeteries, popular golf courses, the State Fairgrounds at Strawberry Hill, and lush parks with sparkling lakes. Strip malls, retail centers, and shopping centers dot the county, ensuring that daily conveniences are available just minutes from home.

The fashionable West End neighborhood of Greater Richmond stretches from the City of Richmond into Henrico County, drawing into its boundaries the Country Club of Virginia, the University of Richmond, and exclusive neighborhoods such as Windsor Farms, Westhampton, and Westmoreland Place. Stately older homes overlook the river and harmonize with Carytown’s charming shops. Relatively newer communities are scattered throughout this historic section, adding luxurious townhouses and single-family residences. Many refer to the area west of Parham Road in suburban Henrico County as the “Far West End.”

Short Pump is a welcoming residential community located along the periphery of western Henrico County, a prime site near the intersection of Interstates 295 and 64 that began simply as a stage coach stop. The growing roadside village retained the odd nickname that was derived from the short-handled pump beneath the tavern porch. Even today, the neighborhood’s 15-acre park features a restored two-room 1902 school house along with picnic shelters, ballfields, and abundant open space for relaxation and recreation. One of the most attractive and frequently visited shopping centers in the region joins a medley of commercial shops and services for a truly convenient lifestyle. Close-knit neighborhoods of lovely homes along tree-shaded streets create an idyllic atmosphere. While the names for some of the residential developments may reflect the romance of the past, you’ll find only modern conveniences in contemporary residences.

Short Pump has emerged as a veritable retail jewel within Greater Richmond. The latest feather in the cap of this high-growth area is a 70-acre entertainment and retail site anchored by a 90,000-square-foot movie theater with 20 screens and plush stadium-style seating. Short Pump Towne Center is celebrated as one of the metropolitan area’s largest and most elegant malls, combining exclusive retailers and popular restaurants in a single location. The center is ideally located near the SkateNation indoor ice skating rink and a leading fitness center.

Newcomers to Henrico County may feel overwhelmed by the selection of amenities and possibilities their new hometown offers. Housing choices include farmhouses that are surrounded by fertile acreage, horse properties, homes that command lakefront or fairway views, new condominiums, or custom construction. The fact that Henrico is on a fast-paced track toward urbanization is undeniable. Still, planners are integrating this growth into well-zoned sectors for retail development, cultural amenities, industry, and serene residential communities. This blending of an unsurpassed quality of life with the world-class resources of Richmond makes the good life even better!