Central Virginia
| Richmond-Petersburg | |
|---|---|
| Greater Richmond Region | |
 Counties of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area |
|
| Country | United States |
| Largest city | Richmond |
| Other cities | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 62.51 sq mi (161.9 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,263,617 |
| • Rank | 45th in the U.S. |
The Greater Richmond Region, the Richmond metropolitan area or Central Virginia, is a region and metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Virginia, centered on Richmond. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines the area as the Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) used by the U.S. Census Bureau and other entities. The OMB defines the area as comprising thirteen counties, including the principal cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights. As of 2016, it had a population of 1,263,617, making it the 44th largest MSA in the country.
The Greater Richmond Region is located in the central part of Virginia. It straddles the fall line, where the coastal plain and the Piedmont come together on the James River at Richmond and the Appomattox River at Petersburg. The English established each as colonial ports in the 17th century.
Since a state constitutional change in 1871, all cities in Virginia are independent cities and they are not legally located in any county. The OMB considers these independent cities to be county-equivalents for the purpose of defining MSAs in Virginia. Each MSA is listed by its counties, then cities, each in alphabetical order, and not by size.
The area includes four independent cities (listed in order of population):
The three smaller cities (Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights) are located near each other in an area south of Richmond and are known collectively as the "Tri-cities".
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