Richmond is a bustling city, south of the City of Vancouver. The city is estimated to have a population of approximately 209,937, according to the 2021 Census.
Most of Richmond is known for its diverse community, sprawling detached home neighbourhoods, with condo buildings and high-rises near the SkyTrain stations. The south of Richmond is known for its agriculture and farmlands.
The city offers access to amazing foods, more affordable housing accommodations than other cities and a great range of different activities—biking trails, ocean access and lots of places to play different sports.
About Richmond
History of the city
The city of Richmond was officially established as a municipality in 1879, and finally became a city in 1990. The Fraser River helped contribute to much of the area’s growth over the years. This allowed for access from different industries.
Ultimately, helping to deep-root the agricultural, fishing, shipping, and later aviation industries in the area, leading to a thriving economy.
As the area grew in popularity, it’s been on the radar for many people looking to immigrate to Canada. Richmond is known as one of Canada’s most multicultural cities, with over 60% of residents being immigrants.
This helps create the amazing diversity that the Richmond community offers that is sought after worldwide.
Appeal
Average rent in Richmond for a 1-bedroom unit starts around $1,316 and goes up to around $2,000 for a 3-bedroom unit according to CMHC 2021. The average price for an apartment sells for $699,600 whereas detached homes sell for $2,053,800 according to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®.
Young graduate
In Richmond, you’ll find that the area appeals to college/university students and new graduates as the Skytrains and transit systems offer easy accessibility to campus. Also, rental prices are more affordable when compared to living right near the Vancouver campus’.
Families
While real estate isn’t cheap in Richmond, a beautiful detached home is much more affordable than in other cities, like Vancouver. And it’s only about a 30 to 45-minute drive into Downtown Vancouver during morning rush hour, or take the a 20 minute skytrain ride.
This makes it more accessible to Downtown Vancouver than some other cities in the area. Costs of living in Richmond are also much more affordable for families, another reason why it’s an attractive area.
Top places to see
Steveston
If you like access to the ocean with quiet neighbourhoods, Steveston is the place to be. It’s located near the south and corner of Richmond making it not as accessible for transit as some of the other places in the area. But a great neighbourhood for living in peace while still having access to everything you need.
The Steveston area is famous for the Steveston Fishing Village. A historic area in the neighbourhood that offers a bustling main street of merchants and fresh seafood.
And if you’re into learning more about the history, make sure to visit some of the historical spots in the Steveston area, including the Cannery National Historic Site or the Shipyards National Historic site.
Seafair & Blundell
If you’re looking for a neighbourhood a bit closer to the city of Vancouver or with easier transit access, the Seafair and Blundell area offers a great choice for that. The west and northern parts of Richmond are some of the most desired. As they offer amazing coastal views, access to trails like the West Dyke Trail and easy access to places like the Richmond Oval or shopping at Richmond Centre.
The area offers a great mix of detached homes, townhouses and condo living, so you have a range of living options available. And developments of old homes into new large mansions is becoming a popular trend in the area.
There is also dedicated heritage real estate in this area and many vast parks that are great for the whole family.
Golden Village
North of the Seafair and Blundell area, you’ll find the Golden Village neighbourhood. This is the place to live if you love to shop and need your urban necessities within walking distance. There is a multitude of different malls and plazas to check out, including:
- President Plaza
- Aberdeen Centre
- Yaohao Centre
- Parker Place
- Continental Centre
- Union Square
- And More!
The Golden Village area is conveniently located near many bus stops and Skytrain stations. You can easily access other parts of the city and Vancouver. Or, access some of the best and most authentic Asian dining, with a host of different choices for whatever mood you’re in.
This area is also predominately made up of townhouses, low-rise and high-rise condos, to accommodate for the growing density in the area.
Things to do in Richmond + Local Tips
Richmond offers a multitude of different activities and here are the top things to do in Richmond if you visit or live here.
Steveston Pear & Fishing Village
The Steveston Pear and Fishing Village is an amazing little centre located the southeast side of Richmond—in the corner of the Steveston neighbourhood.
Heading into the village, you’ll smell the sweet scents of the ocean and hear the seagulls cheer. If you own a boat, you can launch it from the public boat launch, or you can simply tour around the village, enjoy the unique shops and fresh seafood the village has to offer.
Garry Point Park
Garry Point Park is a beautiful park and beach located just outside the Steveston Village and covers an approximate 75 acres on the mouth of the Fraser River. It offers stunning views of the ships in the area, views of mountain ranges, including Mount Baker and lots of great picnic areas for family gatherings on the beach and in the park.
This park is also home to the amazing Cherry Blossom Festival, which features approximately 250 Akebono Cherry Blossom trees. A sure sight to see in the spring.
And if you’re a dog person, good news! You can bring your dogs here as long, as they are kept on a leash.
Buddhist Temple
The Buddhist Temples in Richmond are breathtaking. The International Buddhist Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in North America. Visit and take-in the wonderful gardens, sculptures and architecture of the temple.
It can be an amazing place to get out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city and enjoy the peace that the temple has to offer. Or get lost in reviewing the exquisite details and showcases of art that map every part of the temple.
Richmond Olympic Oval
The Richmond Olympic Oval was built in time for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, which was originally configured for speed skating. The area has since been repurposed to be a multi-sport facility that adds immense value to Richmond and the surrounding communities.
In total, the Olympic Oval offers approximately 300,000 square feet of area that thousands of people from children to adults all enjoy year-round. The facility offers a wide range of programs and memberships designed for anyone in the area looking to access the extensive equipment and facilities they have.
Whether you’re into lifting weights, ping pong, swimming or rock climbing, the Richmond Olympic Oval has it!
Richmond Night Market
Over the years, the Richmond Night Market has been growing into an internationally recognized event. The organizers do an amazing job every year to provide a safe and fun place where local businesses can serve amazing food or provide a fun game and experience with different rides and attractions for the community.
If you do go to check out this awesome market, you’ll want to be sure to arrive early! The market opens mid-May and will run until about the end of October. Parking is hectic, especially in the summer when it becomes a very popular tourist destination.
Education
Post secondary education
The city of Richmond has several colleges, CDI College, Sprott Shaw College, and Cambria College to name a few, and two universities, Trinity Western University and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Secondary schools
A student population of 20,000 is split between elementary and secondary schools in SD38, Richmond. Overall, there are 10 secondary schools that teach teens in grade 9 to 12.
Elementary schools
For kindergarten to grade 8, there are 38 different elementary schools within the Richmond school district.
Leisure and hobbies
Get active!
There are so many great activities you can do in Richmond to get active.
Begin by gathering some friends and head to the Richmond Oval for some fun. Whether you’re looking to play basketball, badminton, floor hockey, indoor soccer or any other sports, this is the place to be. With so many different sports you can play, you won’t run out of indoor activities.
After you’ve dominated the courts or arena at Richmond Oval, be sure to take advantage of the great biking trails in Richmond. Some even run all through the city and over into Vancouver. You can begin in Steveston and head to Finn Slough for a beautiful scenic bike ride along the water and Richmond Dyke.
Or, bike from the Downtown core out to the Terra Nova Rural Park where you can enjoy views of expansive boardwalks, landscapes with ocean backdrops.
Eat your heart out
If you ever have a hankering for amazing Chinese food, this is the city to visit. Richmond has actually been named one of the best cities in North America for their Chinese food, claimed by famous food critics.
There are so many amazing restaurants to check out, and most of them are located in the central Downtown Richmond area. If you make a pit spot, check out the restaurants and then head down to the Steveston area for more amazing Chinese food eats.
Future of the area
The future of Richmond is one of growth. There is no sign of a slowdown when it comes to building larger homes, more townhouses or higher condo buildings. Richmond plans to grow into a more sustainable community, with more amazing spaces, parks and areas for the community to connect. For perspective, the population of the city grew by 5.9% from 2016 to 2021.
Richmond may also face future problems concerning climate change and rising sea levels, as the city is below sea level. Richmond currently has a budget of $13.4 million devoted to the Drainage and Diking Utility and will be used to increase the City’s drainage pump stations, which has already seen a 29% increase since 2005. The 48 km. of dikes that currently protect Richmond from flooding will see an increase in height to 4.7 metres and all new dikes will be set at a standard of 5.5 metres.
If you’re interested in living close to Vancouver with more affordable housing that condo, townhouse or detached home living, then Richmond can be a great city to consider.
