Roads, Race, and Retail: The Transformation of Short Pump, Virginia

The transformation of once-rural Short Pump, Virginia, into a sprawling suburban shopping destination speaks to the evolution of numerous American edge cities—concentrations of new development on the outskirts of more traditional urban areas. Although such areas likely represent the future of urban growth, many accuse them of lacking history. The story of Short Pump, located west of Richmond, challenges this view. Developing in three main stages, the area began as a prominent local tavern during the early Republic that acted as the focal point for a community shaped by industry and slavery. While this business eventually declined, the early twentieth century brought new changes as residents responded to Richmond’s expansion by altering their environment and redefining what “Short Pump” was. The area’s most dramatic alteration, however, occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s when large-scale development arrived. Following a common pattern, Short Pump exploded because of White flight, the convergence of interstate highways, and the opening of a massive mall complex. Continually shaped by roads, race, and retail, Short Pump’s changing built environment demonstrates the complex interplay between past and present that influenced the development of edge cities across the United States.