 |
Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (April 2007) |
| North Richmond | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
  North Richmond
|
|
| Coordinates: 37°57′32″N 122°22′03″W / 37.95889°N 122.3675°WCoordinates: 37°57′32″N 122°22′03″W / 37.95889°N 122.3675°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Contra Costa |
| Government | |
| - County Board | District 1: John Gioia |
| - Senate | Tom Torlakson (D) |
| - Assembly | Loni Hancock (D) |
| - U. S. Congress | George Miller (D) |
| Elevation [1] | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 2,313 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 94801 |
| Area code(s) | 510 |
| FIPS code | |
| GNIS feature ID | |
North Richmond is an unincorporated area of 2,310 people,[2] adjacent to and nearly surrounded by Richmond, California in Contra Costa County. The ZIP Code is 94801. The community is inside area code 510.
Contents |
History
In the early part of the 20th century, North Richmond was populated by Italian-Americans.[3] During World War II, many African-Americans moved from the South and Midwest and came to the Western United States in order to find jobs helping the war effort. Many came to work in Richmond's shipyards and consequently, moved into North Richmond. To this day, most of the residents are African American. Today, the area retains the label of "The Ghetto" due to its high rates of crime, unemployment, and poverty. Since the 1970s, many Latinos, especially Mexicans, have moved into the area. More recently, there has been an influx of Asian immigrants.
Government
The West Contra Costa Housing Authority of Contra Costa County is located in North Richmond. The area is policed by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's department.
Recreation
Sports such as baseball and basketball are important activities in the neighborhood, especially for young men. Baseball is played at the North Richmond Ballfield Complex and at Shields-Reid Park. Baseball has been a long tradition here and has been played by residents for decades. The Bay Area's Hyphy movement also resonates in this community, especially among many young people who aspire to be rappers and singers. Hip hop, Rap, and R&B music, as with many areas densely populated by African American, is prominent among the area's youth.
Transportation
This area is served by AC Transit bus lines 76, 71, and 376, that connect the community with Richmond BART & Amtrak station, Contra Costa College in San Pablo, and Hilltop Mall in addition to other areas of west county.[4] The line 376 is an owl service.[4] Richmond Parkway, a connector between I-580 at Point Richmond and I-80 at the Hilltop area, runs through the west of North Richmond.[4]
Crime
North Richmond has a reputation for being extremely dangerous. It is often vilified in the media, as its citizens are often the victims or perpetrators of gang violence, shoot-outs and drive-by shootings. Drug dealing and drug possession are common. The town is also worked by crack dealers and prostitutes. The community has been described by county officials as a "magnet" for illegal dumping.[5][6]
Environment
North Richmond is next to Chevron Richmond Refinery in Richmond's Point Richmond District. The public health risks associated with emissions and chemical spills, especially of sulfur trioxide, are major concerns for the entire area. A community warning system of loud sirens is in place to warn residents of chemical spills. This warning is tested on the first Wednesday of every month, and can be heard from miles away. The Richmond dump is also in a tiny strip of Richmond that runs through North Richmond.
Economy
North Richmond has an extensive industrial history. Today, an important industry in this town is Action Recycling, which collects bottles and cans from residents in exchange for money. The community is home to many farms and greenhouses; thousands of flowers both within and surrounding these greenhouses can be seen from the Richmond Parkway.
A Native American tribe, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of Lake County, has proposed a casino on a 28 acre (≈11 hectare) site that they have purchased. Although some local clergy have allegedly expressed feelings of disapproval, the impoverished community has generally welcomed the project as a potentially good source of revenue. The tribe's proposal includes an outreach program that focuses on the similarity between the struggles of their own people and that of African Americans.
The county government has plans to improve the community with new mixed used residential developments on brownfields, new businesses, parks and open spaces.[5]
See also
References
- ^ USGS GNIS: North Richmond, California
- ^ Contra Costa County Redevelopment Agency
- ^ Images of America: Richmond, by Donald Bastin, Arcadia Publishing (SC), November 2003
- ^ a b c AC Transit System Map, AC Transit website, access date October 12, 2008
- ^ a b Changing North Richmond, by Katherine Tam, West County Times, 30-01-2009
- ^ History of the North Richmond Shorelinem The Shoreline’s Tarnished History, North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance website, access date 02-03-2009
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
