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The 7 Hills of Richmond
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Supposedly, Richmond, like Rome, was built on seven hills. There has been a good deal of confusion about the "Seven Hills of Richmond" legend since it began in the late 1800's. Years ago, many Richmond citizens were taught lists of seven hills in school, but not all the lists were the same. Now many people have different ideas about what the seven should be. In 1937 Richmond City Council tried to make a decision on the issue, but could come up with no proof that there had ever been an original seven hills.
The following articles should help to clarify the subject. There are more articles on this issue in the clipping files at the literature and history department of the Richmond Public Library at 101 East Franklin St. Come by and take a look.
Our first article is from the Richmond Times Dispatch and dates back to December of 1937.
This ordinance did not pass, and the confusion was still apparent 9 years later in this next article, also from the Richmond Times Dispatch, dated August of 1946.
In 1963 the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee helped to set the record straight.
In a publication entitled The 67 Hills of Richmond, the Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee lists all 67 of the hills currently within Richmond's city limits. They range from the well known Gamble's, Church and Oregon Hills, to other lesser known Clarke's (within Hollywood Cemetary), Stricker (part of Jefferson Park) and even Goat Hill (a name found in early Virginia writings- location not known).
The committee also mentions that Douglas Freeman himself was unable to locate any mention of the seven hills before the legend surfaced in the late 1800's. The committee's conclusion was that there were no original 7 hills.
Other articles on this subject are available at the Literature and History Department. To find out if we have an article on the issue you would like to research, call us at (804) 646-4672, or send us an email. Tell us your area of interest, and we will let you know whether our clipping files can help you.