Hickory Hill - Richmond, VA

Hickory Hill lies within the area of Richmond commonly known as south side. Richmond's history began in 1607, when Captain Christopher Newport placed a cross in the James River. Once settled, the area was separated into northern and southern sections. It remained split for hundreds of years, until its consolidation into Richmond City in 1910.

During the 1960s, the south side area grew significantly with the addition of retail centers and housing. As part of this growth, Hickory Hill developed into a thriving residential community. The 2000s brought increased neighborhood growth, as the city renovated older buildings into modern condominiums and business hubs.

The Art Works Studio gallery displays the work of area artists. Organizers present a new exhibition each 4th Friday of the month, which is free to public. The Richmond Museum also maintains exhibits about the area's history. Each year, the facility hosts annual breakfasts aboard a historic battleship.

As with most areas of Richmond, the Hickory Hill community overflows with restaurant options.

One of the area's most popular dining establishments can be found about 3 miles from neighborhood of Hickory Hill. Croaker's Spot on Hull Street is fast becoming a Richmond landmark with its mixture of seafood and southern cooking. The portions nearly fall off the plate to ensure that diners leave full and happy. Soul music sets the tone as the wait staff happily greets each customer. The establishment won two Steve Harvey Neighborhood awards for its food and service.

When craving an evening drink, head over to the Sedona Taphouse for a mind-blowing selection of draft beers. Once there, choose from dozens of draft and bottle options. If you can't make up your mind, ask the helpful servers to guide you through the process of picking the perfect beer.

Nightlife abounds in the city of Richmond and Club Infuzion aims to please. With a world class dance floor and state of the art sound system, the club proffers guests an unforgettable nightclub experience. Five VIP areas let special patrons take in a birds-eye view of the festivities.

Depending on your exact housing location, some errands are doable on foot, but Hickory Hill living generally requires a vehicle. The Greater Richmond Transit Authority maintains the city's public bus system. Various bus stops make the transit system a convenient option, but you may also want to take advantage of Uber, which provides service throughout Richmond. Hailing a cab can prove challenging in Hickory Hill, so consider calling ahead to schedule a ride. This area of Richmond is not convenient to the area interstates, so reaching the highway often takes at least 10 minutes.

While some areas of the Hickory Hill community maintain sidewalks for pedestrians, most residential areas are directly located on major roadways. No biking lanes exist, so bikers should exercise caution when traveling in the area. You'll find plenty of free parking in Hickory Hill on side streets and in lots maintained by private businesses.

The Broad Rock playground gives the children of Hickory Hill an opportunity for fun and physical activity. Aside from the extensive playground equipment, the park maintains two baseball fields, along with tennis and basketball courts. Only four local parks allow dogs to visit. Forest Hill Park proffers the dog-friendly location closest to the Hickory Hill community. This picturesque lakeside property includes vast wetlands for wildlife viewing. Tennis courts and playgrounds sit in the midst of walking trails.

Richmond area parks welcome residents and visitors free of charge from sunrise through sunset. Though none specifically cater to exercise, several locations maintain hiking trails.

Broad Rock Park hosts the annual Imagine Festival every October. With performances, food and crafts, this free event celebrates diversity within the community. During the summer months, Forest Hill park invites locals to enjoy live music under the stars on Sunday nights.

Living in Hickory Hill saves money compared to the cost of residing in other areas of Richmond. One-bedroom rental rates in this south side community average $709 per month, while the citywide rental rate averages $844 per month.

You also save money when filling up your car because gas in the Hickory Hill community generally costs 6 percent less than average national gas prices. Catching a bus downtown sets you back $7 for a round trip, and save up about $6 if you want to buy a beer at one of the local pubs.

The Chesterfield Town Center provides the closest major shopping area to Hickory Hill. Located in one of the region's most affluent areas, the mall provides shoppers with high-end shops, as well as high-value options. Macy's and Sears help anchor the shopping center, which maintains more than 100 national and local stores.

Shoppers love The Red Skirt Consignment Boutique, a locally owned shop offering new and nearly new clothing at consignment prices. Established in 2011, this family collaboration prides itself on bringing high-end clothing to the masses. For patrons wishing to sell clothes, the owners declare that their consignment commissions exceed those offered by the competition. The owners even share fashion expertise and assist customers with their clothing selections.

Strange's Florists remains a staple of Richmond's south side. A postal worker started the business out of a love for flowers, and the Strange family provides customers with high-quality flowers and floral arrangements. Strange's Florists rank among the top 25 Florist Transworld Delivery (FTD) companies in the world.

Food Lion grocery store serves the community of Hickory Hill, but shoppers can also visit South Side Plaza's Community Supermarket. The South of the James Farmers Market gives residents a selection of locally grown produce from May through December.