 Richmond was included in the Waimea County boundaries, and served as the administrative headquarters of the county.In 1891, the administrative authority for the urban area of Richmond was transferred from Waimea County to the Richmond Borough Council.Richmond Borough existed until the 1989 local government reforms, when the Tasman District was formed through the amalgamation of the Richmond Borough, Golden Bay County, Murchison County and Waimea County administrative areas.