The city of Richmond formed 180 years ago

Richmond was the site of a violent feud when a politically motivated gun fight—between rival political factions the Woodpeckers and the Jaybirds—broke out along the streets in 1899.

“It just blows up until one day one faction is coming out of the courthouse and another faction is coming down the street, and sees them and says, ‘Let’s get our guns and have a fight here,’” Rogers said.

The city is the final resting place of some notable figures in Texas history. Rogers said Walter Moses Burton—a former slave turned senator—is buried in Morton Cemetery—along with Erstus “Deaf” Smith, who was entrusted to confirm the fall of the Alamo and has a grave marker located at the corner of Houston Street and Sixth Street.

As the city ages, it has also grown, and Richmond has made an effort to preserve some of its buildings, hoping to retain the historic feel and to attract visitors.

“Richmond is a very historical area. We are trying to preserve our history, to preserve older buildings that are important and also that can be refurbished to have more uses,” Rogers said. “Even now as change is coming to the city and growth is coming, we are trying to grow the right way.”