Richmond, Virginia's capital, sits at the fall line of the James River in the central part of the state, anchoring a metro area that extends from Ashland and Mechanicsville in the north to Chester and Midlothian in the south, and from Short Pump and Glen Allen in the west to Varina in the east. The city's economy centers on state government, finance, law, and healthcare systems like VCU Health, while Virginia Commonwealth University shapes much of the urban core and brings a significant student population to neighborhoods like the Fan, Oregon Hill, and Monroe Ward. Historic districts like Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, and Jackson Ward sit alongside newer development in Scott's Addition and Manchester, with the Boulevard, Broad Street, and Hull Street corridors connecting residential areas from Lakeside to Forest Hill.