Agrippa Cooper was the first settler in Richmond in the mid-1850s. In 1859, surveyors visited the Richmond area and determined it to be a suitable area for living, with abundant water that could be used for farming and milling, and land that was fertile for growing crops.[5] Within a few years log cabins, dugouts, and a log fort had been built. In 1860, a sawmill and a schoolhouse were erected.[6][7] The city was settled mainly by Mormon pioneers, such as Thomas Levi Whittle, John Bair, Stillman Pond, Goudy E. Hogan, and Marriner W. Merrill.[8]
The city was likely named in honor of LDS apostleCharles C. Rich, who had been the Apostle who traveled to the American Falls area of California in 1850 to call the first ten Latter-day Saint missionaries (including Whittle) to serve in Hawaii.[9] Other factors involved in selecting the name may also have been the rich local soil or that Richmond, London was the hometown of some of its English settlers.[7]
In 1860, LDS Church President Brigham Young visited the settlement of Richmond to council and direct the settlement. The Native Americans in the Cache Valley were becoming hostile to many of the Mormon pioneers, and many violent battles had already been fought. Young counseled the settlers to "Move your families and wagons close together, then, if you are disturbed, you are like a hive of bees, and everyone is ready and knows at once what to do."[5] This led the settlers to build a fort named "Fort Richmond".
The 1962 Cache Valley earthquake, which occurred east of Richmond in the Bear River Range, destroyed many pioneer buildings in Richmond, including the original home of Marriner W. Merrill, and the two-story LDS brick Stake Tabernacle.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,051 people, 619 households, and 526 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.1 inhabitants per square mile (268.8/km2). There were 654 housing units at an average density of 222.0 per square mile (85.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.32% White, 0.20% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.56% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 619 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.68.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 37.3% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,138, and the median income for a family was $45,500. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $21,778 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,312. About 5.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Cache Valley's first two creameries—Cache Valley Dairy and Union Creamery—were located in Richmond, each produced up to 40,000lb (18,000kg) of milk per day in 1902. The creameries were absorbed by Utah Condensed Milk Company in 1904, and then reorganized as Sego Milk Products in 1920.[6] For many years, the plant was the largest operation west of the Mississippi. The factory remained in operations under different names and owners until 1984, closing due primarily to environmental issues.[16]
Before the 2008 Financial Crises, Richmond had a decent downtown business lifestyle, with a grocery store, Wells Fargo bank, café, liquor store, Maverik gas station, and a fast-food chain.[17] During the crises, the grocery store and bank closed, with other small businesses following suet.
Between 2008-2022, Richmond struggled to gain any substantial businesses in the city, especial in its downtown. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Richmond City opened a corner of the city park for food trucks, but it was not used until 2023.[18]
In 2016, supermarket chain Lee's Marketplace announced the construction of a grocery store in Richmond, but construction did not start until 2022 and completed the following year.[19] After its construction, many businesses started opening, such as a Dollar Tree, a pharmacy, two Hispanic food businesses, and a soda shop. There is still no bank in Richmond.
Pepperidge Farm, which opened a plant in Richmond in 1974, and produced over one million cases of Goldfish in 2011.[23] In 2023, Pepperidge Farm said they would be initiating a $160 million upgrade.[24]
Arts and culture
Richmond Utah Carnegie Library is included on the National Register of Historic Places
Holstein Friesian cattle were brought to Richmond in 1904, and thrived so well that the town was recognized as Utah's Holstein center. In 1912, a Holstein Cow Show was organized.[26] After a nationwide hoof-and-mouth disease outbreak in 1913 and 1914, the cattle show has been an annual event since 1915. Now called Richmond's "Black and White Days", the show features carnival rides, food vendors, a horse pull, and a parade,[6] and is the United States' longest running cattle show.[27]
Civil Organizations
In 1907, Susa Young Gates, the 4th President of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP), organized a camp in Richmond. The Richmond DUP is the longest running Camp and the longest running non-profit historical preservation group in Cache Valley. It was renamed the James and Drusilla Hendricks Camp in 2006.[28]
In 1929, the Richmond Lions Club was organized, and continues to participate in civic events.[29]
Parks and recreation
Parks and recreational sites include Richmond City Grandstand and Baseball Field, a public horse arena with benches, an outdoor shooting range, and the Richmond Community Building.[30]
In 1971, Richmond resident Arthur Morin and 11 of his children drove 2,700 miles (4,300 km) in a camper to Lehigh Acres, Florida, to compete as finalists in the All American Family competition.[33]
In 2003, part of the film Napoleon Dynamite was filmed in Richmond's Big J's fast-food restaurant.[34]
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