Situated in the Contra Costa County, Richmond is near the San Francisco Bay Area. Incorporated on the 7th of August, 1905, the city of Richmond has been slowly moving from a heavy industry based economy towards one which focuses on commercial and service industries. San Pablo, together with the unincorporated sections of North Richmond, Rich Eastmond Heights and El Sobrante, are surrounded by the Richmond's city limits. The city is now the 56th biggest in the state with a population which was around 103,468 in 2006. Richmond is the biggest city within the country who has a green party mayor.
The city was ranked the 6th most dangerous city within the United States in the year 2010. Thankfully, most of the crime problem is located in the cities core with the rest of the city being relatively safe. The police department admits that the city has had a chronic violent crime rate for many years.
There are a variety of unique businesses which have been situated within Richmond. The Giant Powder Company, which produced gunpowder and dynamite, closed down during the year 1960. Point Molate was the site of the last active whaling station in the county, which was closed in the year 1971. The Prohibition during 1919 caused Winehaven, among the world's largest wineries, to close down.
Throughout World War II, the economy was mostly supported by industrial businesses, in particular shipbuilding. Nevertheless, as time has passed, it has become a major seaport and ships over 26 million tons of merchandise per year, with the bulk of cargo being oil and petroleum. A major oil refinery, run by Chevron USA, is situated within the city and has a capacity of fifteen million barrels.
The Social Security Administration, which hires more than one thousand people, and the Kaiser Pemanente's Richmond Medical Center Hospital, situated within the downtown area are two of the biggest companies within the city. Treeskunk Production, a video game animation studio, and the Bay View recording studio are likewise situated within the downtown. Galaxy Desserts is also run and operated within Richmond.
Vetrazzo is a business which has won numerous awards for its green initiatives, is located in the previous Ford Assembly Plant. They take recycled beer bottles and old traffic lights and makes wonderful glass countertops.