Greater Richmond Area Ranked No. 5

Greater Richmond was ranked No. 5 among the “Best Places to Live and Work in America” by Employment Review magazine and BestJobsUSA.com for 2002.

The city came in at No. 12 in 2001 and No. 16 in 2000. In all, 300 communities were assessed by the magazine for the eighth annual ranking.

Greater Richmond’s “close ties to the past and keen eye on the future have helped the city gain recognition as a great place to live and work,” reads the commentary on the Web site.

“Individuals would be hard-pressed to find a place as inviting as this friendly, progressive metropolis,” the commentary says.

The city has depended upon a manufacturing base, the commentary says. It has embraced new ventures, such as semiconductors, biotechnology, high-tech fibers, energy and pharmaceuticals. Insurance, finance and research and development also make a strong showing.