The Iron Triangle, sometimes known as Central Richmond, is a neighborhood in Richmond, California. It is a largely residential area but includes the downtown Richmond business district along Macdonald Avenue. Commercial areas on Cutting Boulevard and near Interstate 580 are also in the neighborhood if the more extensive of two possible definitions of its area is used.
The neighborhood gets its name from three major railroad tracks which form a rough triangle and define its boundaries. The northeastern side of the Iron Triangle is the Union Pacific Railroad/BART tracks that run beside Carlson Boulevard, Espee Avenue, Portola Avenue, and 13th Street. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks that parallel Richmond Parkway/Garrard Boulevard form the northwest side of the triangle. Normally, the southern side of the triangle is considered to be the now abandoned Santa Fe tracks that ran between Ohio and Chanslor Avenues and are currently being developed as the Richmond Greenway.[1] Because those tracks have been removed, the southern boundary of the neighborhood is now occasionally considered to be the BNSF tracks that run just south of Interstate 580.
The area is well-known as the heart of Richmond's African-American community. The neighborhood has a population of 19,807 and is roughly 66% African-American.[2]
The Iron Triangle is also known as a high crime area and has become known as a 'warzone' in neighboring cities. (Ironically, its name reflects that of the Iron Triangle of the Vietnam war era.) Residents are attempting to reverse this image in a number of ways.[3] One of these is the new East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (completed in 2011) at MacDonald and 11th St, which contains the aptly-named Iron Triangle Theater[4].
In November 2007 CQ Press rated Richmond the 9th most dangerous city in the United States.[5]
On November 13, 2008, three homes in the Iron Triangle were subject to an FBI raid, involving illegal drug trafficking and prostitution.[6]