Richmond High School, the first public high school in the City of Richmond, opened in the fall of 1872 in rented rooms on Broad St. between 9th and 10th streets. In 1873, the school moved to a new structure at 803 Marshall St., and in 1875 the first class was graduated from the school. Richmond High School closed in 1909. It was replaced by John Marshall High School, which opened that fall in a new building across the street from the old Richmond High School. John Marshall High School was located at Marshall and Clay Streets between 8th and 9th streets adjacent to the John Marshall house. Both Richmond High School and John Marshall High School were segregated by race and open to white students only when they were founded.
Richmond, located between Henrico and Chesterfield Counties, was named by William Byrd II. The name probably came from the English borough of Richmond upon Thames, which Byrd visited on several occasions. Richmond was enlarged by the annexation of Manchester (or South Richmond) in 1910, and by the addition of Barton Heights, Fairmount, and Highland Park in 1914.
From the guide to the John Marshall High School Examination Returns, 1891-1913, (The Library of Virginia)
