Moving to Richmond, Utah

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, USGS, the Utah State Tax Commission, and Richmond City records. In a town this small, prices move in jumps, so ask me for current numbers.

Richmond is a dairy town near the north end of Cache Valley, on US-91. City Hall is in the Park Community Center, at 90 South 100 West. It sits at about 4,620 feet. The town climbs about 550 feet from west to east. The west edge is near 4,510 feet, and the east foothills reach about 5,070 feet. The city covers about 3.5 square miles. It runs about 2 miles east to west and 3 miles north to south.

About 3,130 people live here, by the 2025 Census estimate. The 2020 count was 2,914, and the 2010 count was 2,470. The estimate has gone up every year since 2020. From 2010 to 2020 Richmond grew 18.0 percent, and Cache County grew 18.2 percent.

Logan is due south, about 14 road miles and 21 minutes away. Smithfield is about 10 minutes south. The Idaho line is about 5 miles north. The getting around topic lists the drive times from City Hall.

How the town began

In July 1859, settlers camped by a big spring on the southwest side of today's town. About seventeen families spent the first winter here. In 1860 they moved into a fort on what is now Center Street, to live closer together. The townsite was surveyed in the early 1860s. Richmond became a city on February 26, 1868. W. D. Hendricks was the first mayor.

No one knows for sure where the name came from. The state history gives three stories. Some say it honors Charles C. Rich, an early church leader. Some say it comes from the rich soil on the fan of ground that Cherry Creek and City Creek built. A third story says homesick settlers named it for Richmond, Virginia.

Dairy and Sego Milk

Early Richmond made things. It had a co-op store in 1866, mills, and the Utah Plow Factory in 1896. The state history says Richmond was second to Logan in manufacturing in the county in the 1870s and 1880s. It also says Richmond had the first creamery in the area.

In 1904 the Utah Condensed Milk Company opened Utah's first milk-condensing plant here. It sold its milk as Sego Milk, named for the state flower. The plant later became a Pet Milk plant. A dairy cooperative bought it in 1968 and made cheddar there. The plant has since closed. Dairy is still the town's story. The events topic tells about Black and White Days, the cattle show held each May.

The 1962 earthquake

On August 30, 1962, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit near Richmond. The Utah Geological Survey says "Three-fourths of the houses in Richmond were damaged." It calls the quake the most costly in Utah, at $1 million in 1962 dollars. Rock falls and mudslides closed roads and blocked canals. The before you buy topic says what that means for a buyer today.

The city plan

The city's master plan is in force. An update to the transportation plan was on the City Council agenda for September 15, 2026. Ask the city office where it stands.

Here is the short version for a buyer. Fields, animals and farm smells come with the town. Water for lawns comes as shares in a company, not from a tap. Winter can hold haze over the valley for days. The east side of town climbs into the foothills, and a ski hill sits in its own canyon beyond them. The communities topic walks through the parts of town. Richmond on The Local has six guides to the town. My relocating to Utah guide covers the wider move.

Sources: the Census, USGS, the UGRC city line, the Utah History Encyclopedia, the Cache County history, Utah Rails, the Utah Geological Survey, and Richmond City notices.

Richmond has four true seasons. Winters are cold and snowy. Summers are warm and dry, and the nights cool off. Spring comes slowly, and fall is clear and crisp.

The numbers below come from a NOAA weather station in Richmond. It sits inside the city line, about 1 mile south of City Hall and about 60 to 80 feet higher. It has kept records since 1911.

Month by month

These are the normal highs and lows for each month. Notice how far the temperature falls at night. Even in July, a normal night drops to the mid 50s.

• JanuaryHigh 31°F, low 17°F
• FebruaryHigh 37°F, low 20°F
• MarchHigh 49°F, low 29°F
• AprilHigh 58°F, low 34°F
• MayHigh 68°F, low 42°F
• JuneHigh 79°F, low 49°F
• JulyHigh 89°F, low 56°F
• AugustHigh 87°F, low 55°F
• SeptemberHigh 77°F, low 47°F
• OctoberHigh 61°F, low 36°F
• NovemberHigh 45°F, low 27°F
• DecemberHigh 32°F, low 18°F

Source: NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Richmond station.

The east side is milder at night

Richmond sits on the east side of the valley, and its nights run warmer than on the flat ground to the west. Here is the comparison with two other stations. Trenton is on the flats near Lewiston, about 5 miles west. The Utah State University station is on the hillside in Logan.

Source: NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020. July is about the same at all three: a high near 89°F.

Frost and the growing season

The last spring freeze usually comes around May 11. The first fall freeze usually comes around October 5. That leaves about 143 frost-free days. In about 1 year out of 10, the last freeze lands after June 2. In about 1 year out of 10, the first fall freeze comes before September 21. If you plan a garden, count on frost into late spring.

About 155 nights a year drop to freezing or lower. About 39 days a year never get above freezing. A normal year brings about 20 inches of rain and melted snow. May is the wettest month, with about 2.55 inches. July is the driest.

For the day to day side of it, read Living in Richmond on The Local.

Richmond gets about 62 inches of snow in a normal year. NOAA marks that total as provisional. It is a little more than Logan and well above Salt Lake City. The snow comes one storm at a time.

December is the snowiest month, with about 15.4 inches. January brings about 12.9 inches and February about 12.7. March adds 8.9, November 6.6 and April 4.0. December through February add up to about 41 inches. Almost no snow falls from May through September.

Snow does not stay all winter. In a normal year, about 76 days have at least 1 inch on the ground. A small ski hill sits in its own canyon east of town. The ski topic has the details.

The drive over Sardine Canyon is the winter road to watch if you head to Salt Lake City. The traffic topic has the details. For the bigger picture on snow and water in Utah, read my guide on Utah water and snowpack.

Summers are warm and dry. A normal July afternoon reaches about 89°F. That is cooler than Ogden or Salt Lake City. A July night drops to about 56°F, so most homes cool off by morning.

Hot days do happen. A normal year has about 44 days at 90°F or hotter. The record at the station is 105°F. It was reached three times, on July 30, 2000, July 13, 2002 and July 22, 2003.

Late summer can bring smoky days too. The air quality topic below shows where to check the air each day.

Cache Valley is a calm valley. The wind at Logan-Cache Airport averages 4.4 miles an hour over the year. The airport is the nearest place with a long record. In fall and winter, the wind is calm for about 4 hours out of every 10.

Wind is not the story here. Still winter air matters more.

The still winter air is what to watch. See the air quality topic.

An inversion is when cold air gets trapped in a valley under a lid of warmer air. Cache Valley is a bowl with mountains on every side. On calm winter days, cold air sinks to the bottom and stays there. Fine particles, which the state calls PM2.5, build up in that trapped air, and the valley turns gray. A storm usually clears it out.

The record shows the air has improved. Here is the history, step by step.

1. 2009EPA said the Logan area did not meet the federal standard for fine particles. The area takes in parts of Cache County and part of Franklin County in Idaho.
2. June 2021EPA moved the area to "maintenance" status, which means it has a plan to keep meeting the standard. The change took effect June 18 on the Utah side.
3. TodayThe area is still on EPA's list as a maintenance area. Improved is not the same as over.

Winter days with an air quality index above 50 numbered 43, 22 and 21 in the last three winters. The index starts at 0, and above 50 is moderate. No winter day went above 100 in those three winters. Above 100 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. These counts are for Cache County as a whole.

Here is what I would do. See the valley in January, before you fall for the June version. Check the air each day on the state's air quality site, the way you check the weather. If winter air matters to you, visit during a gray stretch before you buy.

The state can call a no-burn day when the air is bad. On a mandatory day, wood fires may not be used. The Utah DEQ no-burn page lists the rules and the days.

Sources: EPA Green Book, the Federal Register (May 2021), EPA AirData, and the Utah Division of Air Quality.

Housing is the biggest cost in Richmond. The glance box at the top of this page shows the Census typical home value. That number is what owners say their homes are worth, averaged over five years. It is not a sale price. Only a handful of homes sell in a month. In a town this small, a few sales swing every average. Judge a price by recent sales of similar homes nearby, and trust what homes sold for over what sellers ask.

Compare Richmond with Smithfield or Logan and you trade drive time and stores for farm ground, a pioneer grid and the hills close by. Logan is about 21 minutes south. The farm setting and the winter air come with the trade.

The rest of the cost picture is simple. The city sends one bill for water, sewer and garbage. The table lists each line from the city's 2026 rates, one by one. Power and gas are billed apart. The taxes topic has every tax rate.

Source: Richmond City utilities page and the June 16, 2026 council minutes. I am not adding the lines into a total, because use over the base amounts changes the bill. Rates change, so ask the city office for today's numbers.

The bill mails at the start of each month and is due by the 20th. You can pay at the city office, at the drop box outside it, by phone or online. The city raised these rates in 2026 and held its property tax rate instead. The taxes topic has that story.

Ask me for a side by side of the towns you are weighing, and I will run the numbers with you.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024; Utah State Tax Commission; Richmond City.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Three taxes matter most when you move here: sales tax, state income tax, and property tax. Here is each one, with the rates in effect in October 2026.

The primary home exemption

Utah gives a tax break to the home you live in. A primary home is taxed on 55% of its market value. Second homes and nightly rentals do not qualify, so they are taxed on the full value. Questions about your own bill go to the Cache County Assessor.

Your rate depends on the address

Richmond's city levy was 0.001075 in 2025. A levy is the rate a city sets to pay for its services. The whole city sits in one tax area. That area adds the Richmond Cemetery district, the county mosquito district and the Cache Water District to the bill.

What changed in 2026

The city held its property tax rate in 2026. At the June 16 budget hearing, staff said no property tax increase was being proposed because the utility rates went up. The Cache County School District board voted on August 6, 2026 to raise its 2026 rate. The state has not posted the final 2026 rates, so I do not print a total. The 0.40% figure is the county average for 2025, so a 2026 bill may run higher. Check your November notice for your own rate. The schools topic covers the district.

The county was also working out a plan for a fire district in 2026. Richmond buys fire and ambulance service from Smithfield. That plan could change how the county levy is split. It was still being worked out in August 2026, so no levy is set.

Sources: Utah State Tax Commission, for the October 2026 sales tax rates and the 2025 property tax reports. Cache County School District board vote, August 2026. Richmond City Council minutes, April, June and August 2026. The Cache County Assessor.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

The glance box at the top of this page shows the Census typical home value. Richmond is a small market. One sale can move an average, so look at a full year, not one month, and ask me for current numbers.

About 88% of lived-in homes are owned by the people in them. About 90% are single-family houses on their own lot. Small apartment buildings are few. Mobile homes make up about 6% of homes. That is a small but real share, so check how any manufactured home is titled. These are estimates for 2020 to 2024 on a small count, so they carry a wide margin.

Richmond is an old town with a new edge. The median home was built in 1982. About one home in five dates from before 1940, and most of those sit within three-quarters of a mile of City Hall. About two in five date from 2000 or later. County assessor records show about 8 in 10 homes have one floor.

Lots are mid-sized to large. The median residential lot is about 0.45 acre. Most lots run from a quarter acre to an acre. About a quarter of residential lots are an acre or more.

Building picked up lately. The assessor shows 47 homes built in 2023, 78 in 2024 and 52 in 2025. That is 177 in three years, against 9 to 33 a year from 2014 to 2022. The Census numbers above do not show that jump yet. The communities topic shows where the new homes sit, and the new construction topic covers what is being built.

Water comes first

Lawn and field water in Richmond does not come from the city tap. It comes from the Richmond Irrigation and Power Company. The company calls itself a nonprofit, mutual irrigation company, and it is not run by the city. A board guides it. Shares carry the right to use the company's water. Questions about watering schedules or buying a share go to the company, not the city. Assessments, which are the yearly fees on shares, are due by August 1.

Dry years bite. In a dry summer, the company cut watering to one 12-hour set a week. It asked shareholders to let lawns go dormant. A lawn that has been green for decades can sell with no water at all if the shares were left out of the deal. On any home where outdoor water matters, get it in writing: which shares come with it, how many, and what the yearly fee is. Here, water belongs in the contract.

City tap water stops at the city line. A parcel outside the line runs on a well or a private system. The Utah water rights guide explains the rules.

Farm life is part of the setting. Farm smells, animals and field work next door come with a farm town. Weigh the field next door as part of the deal.

Nightly rentals and accessory units

Richmond has short-term rental rules, and an accessory unit cannot be a nightly rental. Ask the city before you plan one. Detached accessory units, like a small house behind the main home, became legal on August 19, 2026. They are allowed in the agriculture and estate zones and in the RLD and RMD residential zones. The owner must live on the property, and the fire department must sign off.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 (small-town estimates with a wide margin). Cache County parcel and assessor records, 2026. The Richmond Irrigation and Power Company page on the city site. Richmond City minutes and notices, 2026. Ask the company about any specific share.

Richmond is a small town on a pioneer grid, with farm ground around it. The county parcel records name no subdivisions, so this list walks through the parts of town instead. It starts at City Hall and moves outward. Times are from City Hall.

• Town centerMain Street and the old gridAround City Hall at 90 South 100 WestThis is where the 1860 fort stood, on Center Street. City Hall, White Pine Elementary, the library and most of the homes built before 1940 sit here. White Pine is about 3 minutes away. US-91 runs through town on 200 West, and the highway businesses line it, including Lee's Marketplace and the pharmacy. Main Street is SR-142 and heads west toward Lewiston.
• Northeast sideCherry Creek Parkway, Cherry Ridge and Cherry ViewNorth and east of City HallMost of the homes built since 2019 sit here. About 93 townhome-style units, nearly all two-story, went up from 2023 to 2025 around 500 to 550 North. Cherry Creek runs along the north edge, and it has a mapped flood strip. The before you buy topic has the flood and fault details.
• East foothillsToward Cherry PeakEast edge of townThe ground rises to about 5,070 feet at the city line. Canals run along the hillside. The road to Cherry Peak leaves town to the east, and the ski hill is about 13 minutes away. A state fault study zone covers the northeast corner. A lot there may need a study before anyone builds.
• Southeast sideAround 200 to 300 South and 200 to 300 EastSouth and east of the old gridNewer homes sit here. City Creek comes in from the southeast. It has a mapped flood strip, and it runs west through town about a quarter mile south of City Hall.
• West fieldsWest of US-91West edge, down to about 4,510 feetWest of the highway, the land drops toward the west city line. This side is mostly fields. North Cache Middle sits on the south end of this side, about 3 minutes from City Hall. In 2026 a petition asked the city to annex about 13 acres on this side. Annexing adds land to the city, so ask the city office where it stands. The Bear River bottoms and Cutler Marsh lie about 5 miles west, outside the city.

City records name zones for agriculture, estate lots, other homes, highway business and light industry. What a lot allows depends on its zone, so ask the city for a lot you like. The water source, the flood strip and the irrigation shares change lot by lot. The partner agent walks the parcel with you. Because the market is small, what is for sale changes fast. Tell me what you are looking for, and I will pass it to the partner agent on the ground. You can also browse every Richmond home for sale.

Places come from the UGRC city line, Richmond City records, FEMA maps and Cache County parcel records. Times are measured from the City Office at 90 South 100 West. Distances are by car.

Richmond built much faster in 2023 to 2025. The assessor shows 47 homes built in 2023, 78 in 2024 and 52 in 2025. About 93 of them are two-story townhome-style units around 500 to 550 North. No builder or project name shows on any city record.

No new residential subdivision plat appeared on the city's 2026 planning or council agendas. Homes now go up on single lots. In Richmond, a single lot split counts as a subdivision, the mayor said in August 2026. In 2026 a petition asked the city to annex about 13 acres on the west side. Annexing adds land to the city. No lot plan was published, so ask the city office where it stands.

Sewer room is the limit

The city's sewer plant has limited room for new homes in 2026. In June the city said fewer than 100 connections were left, with homes already approved counted. The utilities topic tells the full story. Ask the city about sewer room before you count on a hookup.

What a new home costs the city

A new home on city sewer pays an impact fee. An impact fee is a one-time charge for the new load the home puts on city services. The sewer fee depends on where the lot sits. A new water impact fee took effect in June 2026, and I do not print its amount. Ask the city office for today's fees.

Source: Richmond City Council minutes, June 16, 2026. Fees change, so ask the city office for today's numbers.

In July 2026 the council took up a change to the city's irrigation rule. In its words, a developer “may install an irrigation system, but it will not be mandatory”. Ask what water a new lot gets for the yard.

The build-here checklist

Before you fall in love with a lot, line up these answers in order. They decide whether building on a Richmond lot makes sense.

1. Sewer roomAsk the city whether a new hookup is possible now. Room is limited in 2026.
2. City water or a wellInside the city line, confirm the water hookup. Outside it, the parcel runs on a well or a private system.
3. Irrigation sharesShares are a separate purchase if they are not in the deal. Get it in writing.
4. Septic feasibilityAway from the city sewer, ask whether the lot can take a septic system.
5. Flood mapsNear Cherry Creek or City Creek, check the FEMA panel for the lot.
6. Farm neighborsFarm smells, animals and field work next door are part of the setting.

Sources: Cache County parcel and assessor records, 2026. Richmond City Council and Planning Commission agendas and minutes, 2026, on the Utah Public Notice site. Agendas change, so ask the city office for today's picture.

Every town has its own list of things to check. Richmond has a few, and the creeks, the old brick and the irrigation water lead the list. None of them should scare you off. They are the questions I would ask about any home here, and most have a free map you can look up for a single address.

Earthquakes and old brick

The 1962 earthquake damaged most of the houses in town. The overview topic tells that story. For a buyer, the lesson is plain. Brick homes from before the 1960s deserve a structural look from an inspector or an engineer.

Faults and the ground

The East Cache fault zone passes about 1 mile east-southeast of City Hall. A state study zone for surface fault rupture covers the northeast corner of the city. That is the Cherry Creek foothill area, at least 1.3 miles from City Hall. A lot inside the zone may need a fault study before anyone builds on it. Utah state law does not require realtors to verify or disclose geologic hazards, so you look them up.

The state does not map liquefaction, shallow groundwater, landslides, debris flows or problem soils inside Richmond. Not mapped does not mean low risk. It means no one has drawn the map. The town sits on the fan of ground that Cherry Creek and City Creek built, so on the east side ask about drainage and slope. A lot-level answer needs a geotechnical report. That is an engineer's study of the ground.

Two creeks and flood maps

Richmond is its own flood community in the FEMA program. The panels took effect in May 2023. City Creek has a regulatory floodway, which is the channel FEMA keeps clear. It runs west through town about a quarter mile south of City Hall. A wider band of lower risk sits beside it, and a rough flood strip runs in from the southeast. Cherry Creek has a floodway across the north side, about 1.2 to 1.4 miles north of City Hall. City Hall itself is outside the mapped zones. Check every lot by address.

Radon

Radon is a gas from the ground that you cannot see or smell. In Richmond's ZIP code, 84333, 46% of 65 state short-term tests ran at or above 4 pCi/L. That is the level where the EPA says to fix a home. The county figure was 52%. The sample is small. Test every home in the inspection.

Wells, septic and farm neighbors

City water stops at the city line, and about a quarter of residential lots are an acre or more. Ask the city per lot whether it runs on city services or on a well and septic. The housing market topic covers the water shares. Get them in writing before you sign. On the east edge, the city line meets the foothills, so ask about the slope and the access road.

Some lots carry recorded rules called CC&Rs. If a lot has them, read them before your deadline. Ask me about any of these on a home you like, and I will tell you what the record shows.

This is general information, not legal, engineering, or insurance advice. Sources: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, panels effective May 2023. The Utah Geological Survey, including its Public Information 48. USGS fault maps. Utah Department of Environmental Quality, radon results to June 2019. Have a licensed inspector look at any home before you buy.

The best thing you can do before you shop for a home is get pre-approved. That means a lender checks your finances and tells you how much you can borrow. It shows you what you can spend, and it makes your offer stronger when the right home comes up. In a small market like Richmond, being ready the day the right home appears matters.

Not every home for sale here is a plain subdivision home. Some are pioneer brick. Some are farm parcels on a well and septic. Any manufactured home gets its own review, and so does acreage where water shares carry real value. With few sales nearby, the appraisal matters even more. An appraisal is the lender's check on what the home is worth.

Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans can all work here. USDA has a map of eligible areas. On that map, City Hall and four other points across the city all sit outside the ineligible area. That is a map result only. Check the exact address on the map, because income limits and other rules decide the rest, and the map changes. The loan guides on this site explain each loan type in plain English. Utah Housing Corporation also runs statewide programs, so ask a lender about the current ones.

If I am your lender, I can tell you early if a home could be hard to get a loan on. In Richmond, a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground. First-time buyers can start with my first-time buyer guide.

How my dual role works. I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. Every role is disclosed, and you are always free to choose your own agent and your own lender. In Richmond, a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground. The full explanation is on How I Work. This section is general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.

Richmond is a food town. Two big food makers sit just outside the city line, and dairy and crop farms fill the land around town. The Census counts about 1 in 5 Richmond workers as holding a job inside the city. The rest drive to other towns, most of them in Cache County.

The Pepperidge Farm bakery is just north of the city line. Its owner, Campbell’s, says the Richmond bakery opened in 1974. It makes Goldfish crackers. In 2023 the company announced a $160 million expansion that was set to add about 80 jobs. At the time it said it employed more than 400 people in the Cache Valley region. Campbell’s was a major sponsor of the city party in September 2026, so the bakery is still running.

Lower Family Foods, a deli meat maker, is in Richmond. The company says it started in Smithfield in 1927. Casper’s Ice Cream is next door in Lewiston, and the restaurants topic tells where.

Most people who live here work somewhere else. The average trip to work takes about 22 minutes. About 76 out of 100 workers drive alone, and about 14 out of 100 carpool. About 7 out of 100 work from home. About 3 out of 100 work out of state. About 1 out of 100 takes transit. These are Census estimates for 2020 to 2024, and they carry a margin.

Logan is the main job center, about 21 minutes south. Utah State University and the Cache County School District are the county’s two largest employers. Gossner Foods, a big food maker, is in Logan. The county had about 63,800 jobs in 2025, up from about 58,300 in 2020. Making things is the largest private group, with about 12,100 jobs, and food making is about 5,100 of them. The county jobless rate was 3.6% in August 2026, a preliminary number.

If your job is not in the valley, my guide for remote workers in Utah covers what to check before you move. The internet topic shows what reaches Richmond.

Sources: the Census (2020 to 2024), the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state jobs office, Campbell’s, the Herald Journal (2023), and Richmond City council minutes (2026).

Richmond has no hospital. In town, High Creek Pharmacy, at 609 South Highway 91, is a locally owned pharmacy. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The Lee’s Marketplace pharmacy is also in town.

Cache Valley Hospital in North Logan is about 18 minutes south. It is run by MountainStar and has an emergency room open at all hours. It is a Level IV trauma center. Trauma levels run from I, the most complete, to V. Logan Regional Hospital is about 19 minutes south. It is run by Intermountain Health, has 148 beds and an emergency room open at all hours, and is a Level III trauma center. Franklin County Medical Center in Preston, Idaho, is also about 19 minutes away, to the north.

The Logan VA Clinic is part of the VA Salt Lake City system. On military orders? My military PCS guide covers VA loans and timing the move.

Sources: the pharmacy’s own site, Intermountain Health, MountainStar, the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services trauma list, and the VA. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Richmond is in the Cache County School District, not the Logan City district. White Pine Elementary is in town, at 184 West 100 North. The state lists it as White Pine School. It had 387 students in grades K-6 in 2025 to 2026. The district moved sixth grade into the middle schools for 2026 to 2027, so White Pine likely teaches kindergarten through fifth grade now. Confirm that with the district. It is about 3 minutes from City Hall.

North Cache Middle School is also in town, at 157 West 600 South, about 3 minutes away. It had 1,173 students in grades 7 and 8 in 2025 to 2026. From 2026 to 2027 it teaches grades 6 to 8. Sky View High School is in Smithfield, at 520 South 250 East, about 7 miles and 13 minutes away. It had 1,609 students in grades 9 to 12.

The district also added full-day kindergarten at every elementary school for 2026 to 2027. Confirm the school for any address with the district before you make an offer.

I do not rate schools, and I would be wary of anyone who says which one is best. The links below go to the district and to independent sites. The school district’s 2026 tax rate vote is in the taxes topic.

Counts, addresses and grades come from the state school list for 2025 to 2026 and the district. Ratings and boundaries come from independent third parties and the district, not from me.

Richmond is a small town near a big campus. Utah State University, the state’s land-grant school, is in Logan, about 23 minutes from City Hall. The state chartered it in 1888. In fall 2025, about 29,800 students were enrolled across the whole system, and about 20,600 of them study on the Logan campus.

Bridgerland Technical College is the public technical college. Its main campus is at 1301 North 600 West in Logan. It had 1,682 students in fall 2024.

Utah State joined the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, in all sports.

Sources: Utah State University Fast Facts and its fall 2025 enrollment report, and the technical college. Drive times are map estimates.

Two state roads run through Richmond. US-91 is 200 West. It is the main road, and it runs south to Smithfield and Logan and north to the Idaho line. SR-142 is Main Street. It runs west toward Lewiston and Clarkston. State Street is a separate city street.

Most workers drive to their jobs. The jobs topic has the commute numbers from the Census.

From City Hall

• Lee’s Marketplace~3 min
• White Pine Elementary~3 min
• North Cache Middle~3 min
• Cherry Peak~13 min
• Sky View High~13 min
• Cache Valley Hospital~18 min

Slow farm machines share the two-lane roads at planting and harvest. Drive the road to Logan at the hour you would really commute before you decide. Cache Valley has no interstate and no commuter rail. To reach I-15, you drive over Sardine Canyon to Brigham City. The state counted about 22,000 vehicles a day on the canyon road in 2024. The city had an update to its Transportation Master Plan on the council agenda for September 15, 2026.

Sources: the Census (2020 to 2024), the state road file, UDOT, the state’s 2024 traffic counts, and Richmond City council agendas. Drive times are map estimates.

Richmond has a real bus, and it is free. Connect Public Transit, which people also know by its old name, the Cache Valley Transit District, runs Route 15. It links Utah State University, Smithfield and Richmond. Every ride costs nothing.

Richmond’s stop is the Post Office, at 39 South State, and it is the end of the line. On weekdays a bus comes about every 30 minutes. The first bus reaches Richmond at 5:40 a.m., and the last at 7:40 p.m. The ride to or from the Logan Transit Center takes about 40 to 45 minutes. On Saturdays a bus comes about every 90 minutes, from 10:10 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. There is no Sunday service.

Stops along the way include Sky View High, North Cache Middle and the Lee’s in Smithfield. Cache Valley has no commuter rail. Salt Lake Express runs a shuttle van from Logan to Salt Lake City. For many errands, plan on a vehicle. Schedules change, so check the current one before you plan around the bus.

Details come from the Connect Public Transit Route 15 page and its August 2026 schedule. Routes and hours can change, so check before you ride.

There are no airline flights in Cache Valley. Logan-Cache Airport (LGU) is about 16 minutes from City Hall. It has no airline flights. For most flights, you drive to Salt Lake City International (SLC), about 95 miles south. The drive takes about 1 hour 46 minutes.

• Logan-Cache (LGU)~10 mi · no airline flights
• Ogden-Hinckley (OGD)~62 mi · ~1 hr 11 min
• Salt Lake City (SLC)~95 mi · ~1 hr 46 min

Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) is about 1 hour 11 minutes away. In 2026, Breeze Airways flies from there to Orange County, California, about twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. Check the current schedule before you count on it. A shuttle van can take you to Salt Lake City without a car. Salt Lake Express runs from Logan to the airport in about 2 hours. Its Logan stops include the Connect transit center and Utah State. Times and fares change, so check the schedule before you book.

Sources: the Logan-Cache Airport master plan, Breeze Airways, and Salt Lake Express. Drive times are map estimates.

Richmond sits near the north end of Cache Valley, and the Idaho line is about 5 miles north. US-91 runs south through Smithfield to Logan and north into Idaho. SR-142 runs west toward Lewiston. The valley towns are close, as the list below shows.

Lewiston

~6 mi · ~10 min

Smithfield

~6 mi · ~10 min

Franklin, Idaho

~7 mi · ~10 min

Hyde Park

~10 mi · ~15 min

Preston, Idaho

~14 mi · ~19 min

Logan

~14 mi · ~21 min

Ogden

~62 mi · ~1 hr 11 min

Salt Lake City

~97 mi · ~1 hr 44 min

Here are a few more drives people ask about. Mountain roads can add time in snow.

These are map estimates from City Hall, 90 South 100 West, in normal conditions, not official figures. Add time for snow, and check your own route.

Going somewhere else? Look up any Utah drive between 138 towns.

The City of Richmond runs your water and sewer and bills for them. Garbage comes through the city too, by a contract hauler. Power and gas come from other companies. Yard and field water comes from a separate irrigation company. Here is who to call.

The City Office is in the Park Community Center, the old Park School building. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed on holidays. Sign up with the utility agreement form on the city site and bring it in. There is a curbside drop box for payments. Call 811 two days before you dig. The rates and bill dates are in the cost of living topic.

Water

The city supplies the drinking water, and it plans a new culinary well. A test well by the Park Community Center was planned for fall 2026. City water stops at the city line. A home outside it uses a well or a private system, so ask which one before you make an offer.

Sewer

The sewer has limits. The city treats its sewage in a membrane plant built in 2009. In June 2026 the mayor told the council that about 88 sewer connections were left, with homes already approved counted. The plant serves more than 1,049 connections. Sump pumps may not drain into the sewer, because they add water in spring.

The city plans a plant upgrade that it estimates at about $9 million. It would start after the old bond is paid, which the city expects in about three years. No finish date is set. What this means for a buyer: ask the city about sewer room before you plan an addition, an accessory apartment or a lot split. The new construction topic tells how it limits new homes.

Sources: Richmond City’s utility page and council minutes (2026), and the irrigation company’s page on the city site. Rates and rules change, so confirm them with the city.

Richmond has few choices for home internet, and no fiber. The state map shows no fiber at City Hall or at four points across the city. Xfinity cable and CenturyLink phone-line internet, called DSL, show at every point. Wireless and satellite fill in the rest. What you can get depends on the street, so check the exact address before you buy.

Source: the state’s broadband map, checked at City Hall and four points across Richmond in October 2026. It lists who reports service, not speeds or prices.

The city renewed Comcast’s franchise for 10 years in July 2026. If you work from home, check the exact address on the state map before you make an offer.

Moving day is only the start. Here is the short list for your first 90 days in Richmond, in the order most people do it.

1. Open the city accountGo to the City Office at 90 South 100 West, or call (435) 258-2092, for water, sewer and garbage. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The utility form is on the city site. Do this a week before you move in.
2. Call the other companiesCall Rocky Mountain Power for power. Call Enbridge Gas, or a propane company if the line does not reach you. Ask the Richmond Irrigation and Power Company about shares if the home has any.
3. Get your Utah driver licenseThe Driver License Division office is in Logan, at 110 East 700 South. A new resident with an out-of-state license needs an appointment. Bring proof of who you are, your Social Security number, proof of your Utah address, and your current license.
4. Register your carUtah gives you 60 days after you set up a permanent home. The Cache County motor vehicle office is in the courthouse at 179 North Main in Logan. A car that is new to Utah needs a quick VIN check.
5. Get an emissions testCache County requires one for many cars. See the box below.
6. Register to voteDo it online at vote.utah.gov once you have your Utah license or state ID.
7. Claim the primary home tax breakThe county may mail you a form after you close. The taxes topic has the rule.
8. Test for radonRadon is a gas that seeps up from the ground. Test every house. The home checks topic has the local numbers.
9. Get a library cardThe Richmond Public Library is at 38 West Main and is open six days a week.
10. Know the city formsThe city site has forms for a burn permit, an accessory dwelling unit and a business license. The sheriff’s contract also covers dog catching, so ask the City Office about dog rules.
11. Register for schoolCheck with the Cache County School District for the school that serves your address, then register.

The emissions test

Cache County is on the state’s emissions list for 2026. The Bear River Health Department runs the program. A car is exempt when it is less than six years old. Cars from model years 2020 back to 1996 test every two years. Cars with an odd model year test in odd years, and cars with an even model year test in even years.

Gas cars from 1995 and older are exempt. So are diesels from 1997 and older, electric cars and motorcycles. You need the test certificate, or proof of an exemption, before you register or renew. Private stations do the tests and set their own prices.

Rules and office hours change. Check each office before you go.

Richmond has one full grocery store, a pharmacy and gas, all on US-91. Lee’s Marketplace is at 185 North 200 West, about 3 minutes from City Hall. For hardware, a second grocery or the big stores, you drive. For places to eat, see the restaurants topic.

Lee’s opened in 2023. It is open Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Its pharmacy is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed Sunday. High Creek Pharmacy is on US-91 too, and the healthcare topic has its hours. The Maverik at 10 South 200 West sells gas and convenience items.

Richmond has no hardware store. Smithfield Implement, a hardware and farm store open since 1914, is in Smithfield, about 9 minutes south. Lee’s in Smithfield has an Ace Hardware next to it. The big stores are in North Logan and Logan. Walmart is in North Logan, about 17 minutes away. Target, which opened on July 26, 2026, and WinCo are in Logan, about 18 minutes away. Costco is in Logan too, about 20 minutes away.

What Richmond does not have

This is the plain list. Here is the nearest one of each.

Store lists change. These were checked against store pages, a state market list, and map drive times in October 2026.

Richmond sits between the mountains and the marsh. The Bear River Range rises right behind town to the east. High Creek Canyon runs up into it. A big reservoir and marsh lie to the southwest. A small ski area is about 13 minutes east.

High Creek Canyon

High Creek Campground is run by the Forest Service. It is free, with no water. The Forest Service lists a 7 day stay limit and usual dates of about May 15 to December 1. It is about 18 minutes from City Hall, and the last stretch is dirt. The canyon road opens in stages, with gates from mid April to June 1, so check the road status first.

The Mt. Naomi Peak National Recreation Trail starts in this canyon. It runs 23 miles from High Creek to Green Canyon by way of Tony Grove. Hikers and horses use it, and skiers and snowshoers use it in winter. The High Creek Lake hike is a long, hard day hike to a lake near 8,800 feet in the Mount Naomi Wilderness. Plan it as a full day, and carry water.

Cutler Reservoir and Marsh

Cutler Reservoir and Marsh was recognized as an Important Bird Area in 2010, in the words of its sponsors, "because of its large population of nesting white-faced ibis." PacifiCorp owns the land and water. The north zone has motorboat launches. The south marsh zone caps motors at 25 horsepower.

The nearest Cutler boat ramps are about 23 to 27 minutes southwest of City Hall. Treat Cutler as a valley outing, not an in-town one. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge visitor center in Brigham City is about 56 minutes away.

Logan Canyon and the high country

Logan Canyon runs east from Logan to Bear Lake, about 1 hour 11 minutes from Richmond. Tony Grove Lake is about 1 hour 13 minutes away. Hardware Ranch, where elk gather in winter, is about 57 minutes away. Its sleigh rides usually run from early December to mid February, Friday to Sunday.

Ball fields and parks in town

The city ball field has a 1930s wooden grandstand, and the things to do topic tells its story. Youth baseball runs each spring: T-ball for ages 5 and 6, coach pitch for ages 7 and 8, then minors and majors. The Richmond Sports Committee no longer runs soccer. The Cub River Sports Complex has ball fields that Richmond shares with Lewiston, and you schedule them through the Richmond City Office at (435) 258-2092.

Richmond has no public pool, recreation center or golf course. The Smithfield Recreation Center and Sky View pool are about 12 minutes south.

Also close by

Canyon details come from the Forest Service. Cutler details come from the Wild About Utah bird area page and PacifiCorp’s recreation policy as Bridgerland Audubon prints it. Seasonal closures, road gates and access rules change. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

No national park sits close to Richmond. The nearest national park site is Golden Spike, west of Brigham City, where the first railroad across the country was joined in 1869. The two big parks in Wyoming are closer than any of Utah’s five national parks. Plan a park trip as a long day or an overnight.

Closer to home, the canyons east of Logan are national forest. The outdoor recreation topic covers them.

Times are map estimates from City Hall for a drive with no snow or road work. Use each park’s own directions and check road and weather alerts.

Cherry Peak is the ski area next door. It is in its own canyon, about 13 minutes east of City Hall and about 4 miles by road. Beaver Mountain is up Logan Canyon, about 1 hour 1 minute away. Powder Mountain and Snowbasin are over the mountains toward Ogden, each about 1 hour 35 minutes.

Ski areas here usually open from late November into December, depending on snow. Check each resort’s site for this year’s dates. Cherry Peak also ran a summer concert series in 2026.

Sources: each resort, the Cherry Peak sale listing as Town Lift reported it in July 2026, Ski Utah, and the site drive tables. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Richmond has no golf course. The nearest courses are in Smithfield and Preston, Idaho. Logan has more, about 24 minutes south.

Course details come from the courses and golf directories. Call a course for current rates and hours. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Richmond’s food list is short. In town you will find burgers and pizza on US-91. For ice cream, go just north over the Lewiston line. Smithfield, about 10 minutes south, has the nearest sit-down dinner with a 2026 listing. Logan, about 21 minutes south, has most of the valley’s sit-down places and coffee houses.

The groceries and stores are in the shopping topic. This is a list of facts, not a ranking, and no one paid to be listed. Hours change, so check before you drive.

In Richmond

• Burgers and pizzaBig J Burgers and Pizza Villa190 S 200 WBurgers, pizza, tacos and burritos, in business since 1987. Open Monday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Closed Sunday. About 2 minutes from City Hall.
• Gas stopMaverik10 S 200 WA gas and convenience stop on US-91.

Just north of town, over the Lewiston line

• Ice creamCasper's Malt Shoppe11805 N 200 ECones, shakes and the FatBoy ice cream bar, sold at the ice cream plant. Open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Closed Sunday. About 8 minutes from City Hall.

Casper’s mails as Richmond, Utah, but the plant sits inside Lewiston’s city line. By the company’s own account, Casper Merrill made his first frozen bars in 1925 from the family milk cows and sold them at a Fourth of July celebration.

In Smithfield, about 10 minutes south

• Italian and steaksCallaway's Bistro54 N MainA sit-down dinner place with pasta, pizza, steaks and seafood, open since 1998 by its own account. Dinner only.
• PizzaStonefire Pizzeria33 E 600 SPizza for pickup and delivery. It takes orders on its own site.

In Logan

Most sit-down dining, coffee houses and specialty food are in Logan. Where Logan eats has the names.

Each place was checked on its own page in October 2026, but small places come and go. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

The fun in Richmond is small and close to home. The town has a 1914 library, a pioneer relic hall and a 1930s grandstand, and one big week each May. For a bigger night out, Logan and North Logan are a drive south.

In Richmond

• Week-long eventBlack and White DaysMid MayA week of Holstein cattle shows, a parade and horse pulls. The events topic has the schedule.
• LibraryRichmond Public Library38 W MainCity run, with “EST. 1914” on its logo. Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesday evenings until 8, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weekly story times and monthly kids’ clubs run through the year.
• HistoryDaughters of Utah Pioneers relic hall25 S StateA pioneer relic hall, open the second Saturday of each month from noon to 2 p.m.
• LandmarkCity grandstand and ball fieldNear 50 S StateA 1930s wooden grandstand and ball field on the National Register of Historic Places, listed in 2005. It sits in the city park. Spring youth baseball is in the outdoors topic.

Next door

• Ice creamCasper's Malt ShoppeLewistonJust north of town over the Lewiston line, about 8 minutes away. The restaurants topic has the details.
• MoviesLewiston TheatreLewistonMovies for $2, on Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 7 p.m. About 10 minutes north.
• ConcertsCherry PeakEast of townThe ski area ran a summer concert series in 2026, about 13 minutes east.

Across the line in Franklin, Idaho

Franklin is about 10 minutes north. The state marker calls it “Idaho’s oldest town,” settled April 14, 1860. A pioneer relic museum there is free. Its hours are not certain, so check before you go.

Short drives south

The Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan seats about 1,100. Utah State arts and Aggie sports are in Logan too. Logan and North Logan also have bowling, a rink and family venues. Logan things to do lists them.

Details come from the city’s library page, its newsletter, and the National Register record. Hours change, so check before you go. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

The arts scene in Richmond is thin. The library, the relic hall and the grandstand are the town’s own. The stage and the galleries are in Logan, about 21 minutes south.

Bigger stages in Logan

Logan has the valley’s theaters. The Ellen Eccles Theatre seats about 1,100. The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art on the Utah State campus is free. The Utah Festival Opera usually plays from June into July.

Library details come from the city. Logan details come from each venue. Hours and shows change, so check each site before you go.

Black and White Days is the week Richmond is known for. The city says the first Holstein show here was held in 1912. A short break came in 1913 and 1914, during a hoof-and-mouth outbreak, and the city says the show has run without a break since. The 111th ran May 11 to 16, 2026. The city has posted May 10 to 15 for the 112th, in 2027.

Here is how the 2026 week went. Pageants came early in the week, and a Western Heritage Sale ran Tuesday night. A junior Holstein show ran midweek. The Western Spring National heifer and cow shows were Thursday and Friday. Friday night had mechanical bull rides and a free family dinner and movie in the city park. Saturday had a pancake breakfast, a bike race, an open horse show at 9 a.m., kids’ games in the park, an art show, and the relic hall open. The parade stepped off at 5 p.m., and horse pulls ran at 7 p.m.

The parade starts at 600 South State, runs north, turns west on Main Street, and turns north on 100 West. It ends at 100 West 100 North. The 2026 schedule had no carnival, though the city says carnival rides were part of the week in some years. The organizers bill it as the longest-running dairy cattle show in the country. Dates move each year, so check the city’s page.

The year around it

• JanuarySki season at Cherry Peak and Beaver Mountain. Hardware Ranch sleigh rides usually run Friday to Sunday.
• FebruarySleigh rides at Hardware Ranch usually end in mid February.
• MarchThe Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous in Logan.
• AprilYouth baseball sign-ups. The county gate on the High Creek canyon road opens about April 15.
• MayBlack and White Days. High Creek Campground usually opens about May 15.
• JuneThe upper High Creek road gate opens about June 1. Cherry Peak summer concerts and youth baseball begin.
• JulyLewiston's Fourth of July next door, with rodeo nights just before the Fourth. Pioneer Day events in Logan.
• AugustThe Cache County Fair and Rodeo in Logan.
• SeptemberThe canyons are at their driest. The city held its city party on September 11 in 2026.
• OctoberFall programs at the library. The North Logan Pumpkin Walk.
• NovemberThe library runs all year. Ski areas begin to announce opening days.
• DecemberA Holiday Festival, usually. High Creek Campground closes about December 1. Hardware Ranch sleigh rides begin.

These are the usual months. Dates move each year, so check the city before you plan a trip. The 2026 schedule comes from the city’s flyer, and the history comes from the city’s Black and White Days page.

Richmond holds the north end of Cache Valley, with the Idaho line about 5 miles north. Lewiston and Smithfield are just down the road. Logan, the main city of the county, is about 21 minutes south. The county offices are in Logan.

Day trips

Ogden is about 1 hour 11 minutes south. Salt Lake City is about 1 hour 44 minutes. The traffic topic tells how winter affects the Sardine Canyon road. Out the other way, Cherry Peak is about 13 minutes. Hardware Ranch is about 57 minutes, and Bear Lake is about 1 hour 11 minutes. Golden Spike is about 1 hour 24 minutes.

Weighing the wider state before you commit to a town? Start with the Relocating to Utah guide.

Town times come from the site drive table. Others are map estimates from City Hall.