On 30 July 1859 the division of Richmond was subdivided into six districts for Divisional Council purposes under Act No 5 if 1855 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3060 dated 5 August 1859, Proclamation No 73 dated 30 July 1859). The first meeting of the council was held on 6 December 1859 (Cape of Good Hope Government Gazette No 3088 dated 11 November 1859, Notice dated 5 November 1859).

On 1 January 1980 the Divisional Council of Richmond was reconstituted together with the Divisional Councils of Victoria West and Loxton to form the amalgamated Divisional Council of Central Karoo (The Province of the Cape of Good Hope Official Gazette No 4061 dated 20 July 1979, Proclamation No 174 dated 18 July 1979).

The Municipality of Richmond was constituted on 27 June 1854 under provision of Ordinance No 9, 1836.

In 1994 Richmond became part of the Northern Cape Province. It forms part of the Ubuntu Local Municipality, one of eight local municipalities that falls under the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality.