Driven by gold fever and named for Richmond, Virginia, by Orlando Streshly in 1859, the town of Richmond grew rapidly until 1861 and became the county's most important and populous settlement, overshadowing Susanville. With hotels, a tavern and bowling alley, blacksmith and wagon shops, a large warehouse, and the local Masonic lodge, the town held dances whenever possible as schools were built, goods and services were sold, many dwelling houses were constructed, and one hotel became the largest structure in the Honey Lake Valley. In 1861 the mines gave out, and by 1862 commerce had ceased, the miners had left, and Richmond died. All that remain are the remnants of a school and water works, and Emerson Lake Golf Course now stands where Richmond rose like a rocket and fell like a stick.