804 Area Code: Richmond VA — Location, Cities & Scam Guide (2026)

A City of Two Capitals

Richmond has been the capital of Virginia since 1780 — the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson and modeled after a Roman temple in Nîmes, France, still houses the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere (the Virginia General Assembly, established 1619).

From 1861 to 1865, Richmond also served as the capital of the Confederate States of America. The city's proximity to Washington, D.C. (just 100 miles south) made it a constant military target — the entire last year of the Civil War centered on the siege of Petersburg (within the 804) and the eventual fall of Richmond in April 1865. The city's complex history with slavery, the Confederacy, and subsequent civil rights struggle is now confronted directly through institutions like the American Civil War Museum and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.

"Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!"

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech at St. John's Church in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood — a speech that galvanized the Virginia Convention to arm the colony against Britain. The church still stands and hosts reenactments. Richmond's connection to the American Revolution runs deep: it was here that Virginia ratified the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The Only Urban Whitewater Rapids in America

Richmond is the only city in the United States with Class III and IV whitewater rapids running through its downtown. The James River drops through a series of falls and rapids right in the middle of the city, creating a unique outdoor recreation scene — kayaking, rafting, and tubing within sight of the downtown skyline. The James River Park System spans 600+ acres along the riverbanks.

Craft Beer Capital of the East Coast

Richmond has over 30 breweries within city limits — one of the highest per-capita concentrations in the country. The Scott's Addition neighborhood alone hosts 10+ breweries, cideries, and meaderies within walking distance.

Notable names include The Veil Brewing Co. (nationally renowned for hazy IPAs), Väsen Brewing (farmhouse ales), and Hardywood Park. Richmond also has a historical claim: in 1935, the first commercially available canned beer in America was sold here by Gottfried Krueger Brewing, distributed through Richmond's market as a test city.