Richmond, IN Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Richmond, IN: What You Need to Know

Richmond in east-central Indiana is not as old as its namesake in Virginia, but it boasts of a rich legacy in manufacturing and jazz recording. It’s the seat of Wayne County, which borders Ohio.

Job Opportunities

Richmond and Wayne County enjoy a diverse economy and centralized location that puts local businesses within a day’s drive of 80% of the United States market. Major employers in Richmond and Wayne County include Reid Health, Premium Transportation Staffing, Belden (wire product manufacturer), Catron’s Glass Inc., Primex Plastics Corp., Mosey Manufacturing Co., Wayne County government, and Ivy Tech Community College.

Things to Do in Richmond, IN

The Middlefork Reservoir Park covers 405 acres of terrain, including 177 acres of stream. It offers excellent outdoor recreation, especially fishing, boating, hiking, and eagle watching. The park has indoor and outdoor picnic areas, a playground, hiking trails, and a service center where you can buy snacks. Visit the Gaar House and Farm Museum for a glimpse of the Gilded Age. Abram Gaar built the Victorian mansion in 1876. Gaar was an industrialist who manufactured steam engines and threshing machines. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Richmond, IN Budget-Friendly? 

Richmond (population: 35,342), like Indiana as a whole, is budget-friendly. Richmond’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 13.7%, 26.8%, and 25.2% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent is $679. The Hoosier State collects a flat income tax of 3.23% and county taxes of up to 3.38%. It charges 7% in sales tax.

What is Richmond, IN Known For?

Richmond is known for two things: its industrial roots and musical heritage. An early manufacturing center, Richmond was the country’s Lawnmower Capital from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. In music, Gennett Recording Studio was founded in the city in 1919 as a subsidiary of the Starr Piano Co. The studio helped nurture and released early masterpieces of jazz legends such as Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby, and Jelly Roll Morton. Gennett was a progressive company, the first to commercially release recordings of a white jazz band with a black soloist: Jelly Roll Morton and the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.

Was Richmond, IN Named After the Capital of Virginia?

No. Richmond was founded by three Quakers from North Carolina in 1806. One of them called his settlement Smithville, while the second founder called his property Jericho. Settlers didn’t like either name. The third founder suggested Richmond, supposedly in reference to the rich local soil. The settlers accepted Richmond as a compromise. Richmond was incorporated in September 1818, and it became the seat of Wayne County in 1873.