Richview was first formed in 1839. It gradually grew into a business center. It had five stores, two blacksmiths, one wagon shop, 3 physicians, and had a population around 600 people. It had also turned into a railroad town. It was one of 4 towns along the Illinois Central Railway. Eventually two towns would form, Old and New Richview, and together they had a population of around 1000. The two towns did congeal into one. Today Richview is a small village with only a population of about 250.