The Fan District is a beautiful and lively neighborhood in the West End of Richmond, Virginia. As one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods, Fan District, also locally referred to as “The Fan”, is best known for its outstanding music scene, unique local businesses, and charming historical architecture in residential areas. This safe and walkable neighborhood boasts fascinating monuments, museums, diverse restaurants, the iconic Monument AVE, and is partially home to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Moreover, Fan District is ideal for those who crave a mix of college town environment and family-friendly lifestyle, treasured homes, and everything you need just a quick stroll away– parks, shops, you name it!
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Where is The Fan District, Richmond?
The largely residential Fan District is situated toward the west of downtown Richmond, just over two miles from the beloved James River. As a part of Richmond City County, the Fan District is bordered by the Museum District to the northwest, Newtowne West to the north, and Randolf to the south.
Centered on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus, the neighborhood of Fan District runs westward from Belvedere Street, south of W Broad St., and north of Downtown Expressway connecting to I-95. I-64 is also just a short drive away. The distance from Fan District to downtown Richmond’s city center is 2 miles southeast.
While driving by car is the most convenient form of transportation for longer distances, it’s certainly not required to own a car while living in Richmond’s Fan District. Residents living in Fan District can appreciate the area’s walkable and bike-friendly layout. When you’re not up to traveling by foot or bike, Fan District Richmond provides excellent public transportation that is served by the Greater Richmond Transit Company. There are 10 bus stops in Fan District, Richmond.
Map of Fan District, Richmond
The Fan District History & Overview
Originally plotted as the village of Sydney, the land encompassing The Fan was originally owned by William Bryd II. During the Civil War, this land was crucial for the Powhatan Confederacy. Between 1880 and the 1920s, the land went from being a tobacco field to becoming fully developed as a result of the City Beautiful Movement.
#RVA Drew St John Carneal, Author of "Richmond's Fan District" Has Left the Fan http://t.co/SVyq4O46fU @RealtorRVA pic.twitter.com/xiDMxQU78Z
— Sean L Craft (@RealtorRVA) October 5, 2015
As a new and upcoming area, Richmond’s The Fan is named for its street’s fan-like layout. Today, Fan District has a population of 13,442 and is in fact the largest neighborhood in Richmond by population. The median household income in the Fan is $62,635. Likewise, residents here have a median age of 25 to 44 whereas around 1.9% of them are foreign-born.
What’s it Like Living in Fan District, Richmond?
From the unique lifestyle to the incredibly convenient location, Fan District is arguably one of the best neighborhoods in Richmond. Due to the community’s walkability and close proximity to the university, Fan District proves to be ideal for young college students. But being a bustling student hub isn’t the only beneficial characteristic this picturesque neighborhood has to offer. While the noise levels aren’t completely turned off, the Fan Richmond is also a great spot for young families and working professionals due to the safe environment, quaint appearance, and diverse business opportunities, both small and large.
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If you’re an old soul who loves being outdoors and commuting in the most environment-friendly way possible, this is the community for you. The dog-friendly neighborhood of Fan District allows you to stroll along tree-lined streets while enjoying views of old-time barber shops, Cuban restaurants, and incredible Victorian architecture. Residents here can enjoy the community’s exceptional dining scene and a long list of bars, festivals, and concerts with many genres of live music. You can also participate in fun community events in Fan District like Easter on Parade, Halloween on Hanover, and the Monument Avenue 10k.
You’ll find pretty much everything you need within arm’s reach while living in The Fan– small markets, eateries, parks, coffee shops, it has it all! On top of that, you’ll be just a few minute’s drive from the Children’s Museum of Richmond, the Science Museum of Virginia, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Monument AVE
The notable Monument Avenue in Fan District Richmond is one of the most iconic attractions in Richmond. This charismatic and park-like boulevard features spectacular homes, local shops, and historical monuments of the confederate president and generals of the Civil War. This avenue is further home to the Monument Avenue Historic District and The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design.
Things to Do in Fan District – Best Restaurants, Attractions & Shopping
Fan District Shopping
Apart from the numerous small local shops that Fan District has to offer, there are several large shopping malls just right outside from the neighborhood’s borders. A few of these are the International Shopping Center and Carytown Place, an award-winning commercial redevelopment.
Fan District Restaurants
The Fan District Richmond houses around 80 restaurants and bars– a big portion of these are locally owned. One of which is Kuba Kuba. This delicious Cuban restaurant serves Homestyle Cuban dishes that are great for dinner with the family. Another excellent food option in Richmond’s Fan District is Joe’s Inn the Fan. It features tasty American fare served in a vintage atmosphere.
Fan District Things to Do
When you’re not out shopping or getting a bite to eat, there is a wide variety of things to do while living in Fan District. For a fun night out with friends you can visit the well-known Altria Theater on the VCU campus. It hosts concerts, plays, and many other exciting events. Right next to it is the landscaped Monroe Park. As the oldest park in Richmond, Monroe Park is the perfect place to relax and appreciate the historical statues. When you’re in a learning mood, you can visit the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU and explore the artwork of renowned designers and artists from all over the globe.
- International Shopping Center
- Carytown Place
- Kuba Kuba
- 1601 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23220, (804)-355-8817
- Joe’s Inn the Fan
- 205 N Shields Ave, Richmond, VA 23220, (804)-355-2282
- Altria Theater
- 6 N Laurel St, Richmond, VA 23220, (804)-592-3384
- Monroe Park
- 620 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23220, (804)-646-0761
- Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU
- 601 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220, (804)-828-2823
Schools in Fan District Richmond
Richmond’s The Fan is served by the Richmond Public Schools district of 28,225 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. The Fan District is home to several top-rated schools including private schools, local schools, and charter schools. Two of which are William Fox Elementary and Binford Middle School. You can visit this school locator map to learn more about schools in and around Fan District Richmond.
The Monroe Park Campus of VCU is on the eastern end of the neighborhood. This makes Fan District one of the best neighborhoods in Richmond for college students.
Is the Fan District Safe?
You can have peace of mind knowing that Fan District is one of the safest neighborhoods in Richmond with a total crime rate that’s 32% lower than the national average. Additionally, violent crimes here come in at 41% below the national average. It’s no secret that Fan District is a very safe place to live and raise a family.
The Fan District neighborhood is served by the Richmond Police Department with its 846 sworn officers. You can learn more about crime in Fan District and surrounding areas with this interactive community crime map.
The Fan District, Richmond Real Estate
Curious about the homes in Fan District? The real estate scene is where the Fan District neighborhood really shows off its elegant and historic artistry. You’ll find everything from brick row houses to townhomes to large single-family houses. Many styles of architecture from the mid-late 19th century are sprinkled throughout The Fan. These home styles include Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Tudor Revival, Beaux Arts, and Richardsonian Romanesque. In fact, Fan District Richmond has one of the longest stretches of Victorian architecture in the nation.
Wealthy Mansions, Middle Class Townhomes, & Working Class Apartments all share the same blocks & Avenues in Richmond’s Fan District.
America would be a much happier place if the Fan was the standard for neighborhood construction & architecture. pic.twitter.com/KgqkiARd5F
— NewTraditional Arch Memes (@VicctorianChad) January 2, 2021
According to Redfin, Fan District has a median house price of $650,000 which is $254,900 above the state median. The average sale price per square foot in Fan District is $263 which has decreased by 5.1% in the last year. If you’d like to browse properties, try searching for The Fan Richmond homes for sale online. Meanwhile, RentCafe has the average monthly rent in Fan District Richmond at $1,606– very similar to the national average.
If moving to Fan District sounds great to you, allow On The Fly Moving to provide you with quality Fan District moving services! To get started with your stress-free move, reach out to us by calling 804-836-4954 or by completing our “Request a Quote” form!
