Riverside County, California

Riverside County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,418,185,[3][4] making it the fourth-most populous county in California and the 10th-most populous in the United States. The name was derived from the city of Riverside, which is the county seat.[5]

Riverside County
County
County of Riverside
Images, from top down, left to right: Riverside's Mission Inn Festival of Lights, North face of the San Jacinto Mountains in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, Palm Springs aerial tramway, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside National Cemetery Medal of Honor memorial
Flag
Seal
Interactive map of Riverside County
Location in the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionInland Empire
IncorporatedMay 9, 1893
Named forThe City of Riverside, and the city's location beside the Santa Ana River
County seatRiverside
Largest city (population)Riverside
Largest city (area)Palm Springs
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CEO
 • ChairJeff Hewitt
 • Vice ChairKevin Jeffries
 • Board of Supervisors
Supervisors[1]
 • Chief executive officerJeff Van Wagenen
Area
 • Total7,303 sq mi (18,910 km2)
 • Land7,206 sq mi (18,660 km2)
 • Water97 sq mi (250 km2)
Highest elevation
[2]
10,843 ft (3,305 m)
Lowest elevation
−234 ft (−71 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total2,418,185
 • Density336/sq mi (130/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
FIPS code06-065
Websitewww.CountyOfRiverside.us

Riverside County is included in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the Inland Empire. The county is also included in the Los Angeles-Long Beach Combined Statistical Area.

Roughly rectangular, Riverside County covers 7,208 square miles (18,670 km2) in Southern California, spanning from the greater Los Angeles area to the Arizona border. Geographically, the county is mostly desert in the central and eastern portions, but has a Mediterranean climate in the western portion. Most of Joshua Tree National Park is located in the county. The resort cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Desert Hot Springs are all located in the Coachella Valley region of central Riverside County.

Between 2007 and 2011, large numbers of Los Angeles-area workers moved to the county to take advantage of more affordable housing.[6] Along with neighboring San Bernardino County, it was one of the fastest-growing regions in the state prior to the recent changes in the regional economy. In addition, smaller, but significant, numbers of people have been moving into southwest Riverside County from the San Diego metropolitan area.[7][8] The cities of Temecula and Murrieta accounted for 20% of the increase in population of the county between 2000 and 2007.

History

Etymology

When Riverside County was formed in 1893 it was named for the city of Riverside, the county seat. The city, founded in 1870, received its name for its location beside the Santa Ana River.[9][10]

Early history

The indigenous peoples of what is now Riverside County are the Luiseño, Cupeño and Cahuilla Indians.[11] The Luiseño territory includes the Aguanga and Temecula Basins, Elsinore Trough and eastern Santa Ana Mountains and southward into San Diego County. The Cahuilla territory is to the east and north of the Luiseño in the inland valleys, in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains and the desert of the Salton Sink.

The first European settlement in the county was a Mission San Luis Rey de Francia estancia or farm at the Luiseño village of Temescal. In 1819, the Mission granted Leandro Serrano permission to occupy the land for the purpose of grazing and farming, and Serrano established Rancho Temescal. Serrano was mayordomo of San Antonio de Pala Asistencia for the Mission of San Luis Rey.

With the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba in 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but the San Gabriel Mission near what is now Los Angeles, California, continued to expand, and established Rancho San Gorgonio in 1824. The ranch was to be one of the Mission's principle rancherias, and the most distant, and it occupied most of today's San Gorgonio Pass area.[12][13]

Following Mexico's confiscation of Mission lands in 1833, a series of rancho land grants were made throughout the state. In the Riverside County this included; Rancho Jurupa in 1838, El Rincon in 1839, Rancho San Jacinto Viejo in 1842, Rancho San Jacinto y San Gorgonio in 1843, Ranchos La Laguna, Pauba, Temecula in 1844, Ranchos Little Temecula, Potreros de San Juan Capistrano in 1845, Ranchos San Jacinto Sobrante, La Sierra (Sepulveda), La Sierra (Yorba), Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero in 1846.

New Mexican colonists founded the town of La Placita on the east side of the Santa Ana River at the northern extremity of what is now the city of Riverside in 1843.

When the initial 27 California counties were established in 1850, the area today known as Riverside County was divided between Los Angeles County and San Diego County. In 1853, the eastern part of Los Angeles County was used to create San Bernardino County. Between 1891 and 1893, several proposals and legislative attempts were put forth to form new counties in Southern California. These proposals included one for a Pomona County and one for a San Jacinto County. None of the proposals were adopted until a measure to create Riverside County was signed by Governor Henry H. Markham on March 11, 1893.[14]

County history

The new county was created from parts of San Bernardino County and San Diego County. On May 2, 1893, seventy percent of voters approved the formation of Riverside County. Voters chose the city of Riverside as the county seat, also by a large margin. Riverside County was officially formed on May 9, 1893, when the Board of Commissioners filed the final canvass of the votes.[14]

The county is also the location of the March Air Reserve Base, one of the oldest airfields continuously operated by the United States military. Established as the Alessandro Flying Training Field in February 1918, it was one of thirty-two U.S. Army Air Service training camps established after the United States entry into World War I in April 1917. The airfield was renamed March Field the following month for 2d Lieutenant Peyton C. March, Jr., the recently deceased son of the then-Army Chief of Staff, General Peyton C. March, who was killed in an air crash in Texas just fifteen days after being commissioned. March Field remained an active Army Air Service, then U.S. Army Air Corps installation throughout the interwar period, later becoming a major installation of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Renamed March Air Force Base in 1947 following the establishment of the U.S. Air Force, it was a major Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation throughout the Cold War. In 1996, it was transferred to the Air Force Reserve Command and gained its current name as a major base for the Air Force Reserve and the California Air National Guard.

Riverside county was a major focal point of the Civil Rights Movements in the US, especially the African-American sections of Riverside and heavily Mexican-American communities of the Coachella Valley visited by Cesar Chavez of the farm labor union struggle.

Riverside county has also been a focus of modern Native American Gaming enterprises. In the early 1980s, the county government attempted to shut down small bingo halls operated by the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians and the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The tribes joined forces and fought the county all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in the tribes' favor on February 25, 1987.[15] In turn, Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 to establish a legal framework for the relationship between Indian gaming and state governments. Naturally, both tribes now operate large casinos in the county: the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa and the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino adjacent to Spotlight 29 Casino.

The county's population surpassed one million people in 1990 (year-round, would be 1980 with seasonal residents) when the current trend of high population growth as a major real estate destination began in the 1970s. Once strictly a place for long-distance commuters to L.A. and later Orange County, the county and city of Riverside started becoming more of a place to establish new or relocated offices, corporations and finance centers in the late 1990s and 2000s. More light industry, manufacturing and truck distribution centers became major regional employers in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 7,303 square miles (18,910 km2), of which 7,206 square miles (18,660 km2) is land and 97 square miles (250 km2) (1.3%) is water.[16] It is the fourth-largest county in California by area. At roughly 180 miles (290 km) wide in the east–west dimension, the area of the county is massive. Riverside County, California is roughly the size of the State of New Jersey in total area. County government documents frequently cite the Colorado River town of Blythe as being a "three-hour drive" from the county seat, Riverside. Some view the areas west of San Gorgonio Pass as the Inland Empire portion of the county and the eastern part as either the Mojave Desert or Colorado Desert portion. There are probably at least three geomorphic provinces: the Inland Empire western portion, the Santa Rosa Mountains communities such as Reinhardt Canyon, and the desert region. Other possible subdivisions include tribal lands, the Colorado River communities, and the Salton Sea.

Flora and fauna
Yucca pines near Ryan Mountain Trail in Joshua Tree National Park

There is a diversity of flora and fauna within Riverside County. Vegetative plant associations feature many desert flora, but there are also forested areas within the county. The California endemic Blue oak, Quercus douglasii is at the southernmost part of its range in Riverside County.[17]

National protected areas
  • Cleveland National Forest (part)
  • Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge
  • Dos Palmas Preserve
  • Joshua Tree National Park (part)
  • San Bernardino National Forest (part)
  • Sand to Snow National Monument (part)
  • Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

There are 19 official wilderness areas in Riverside County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Some are integral parts of the above protected areas, most (11 of the 19) are managed solely by the Bureau of Land Management, and some share management between the BLM and the relevant other agencies. Some extend into neighboring counties:

  • Agua Tibia Wilderness (part)
  • Beauty Mountain Wilderness
  • Big Maria Mountains Wilderness
  • Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness
  • Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness
  • Joshua Tree Wilderness (part)
  • Little Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness (part)
  • Mecca Hills Wilderness
  • Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
  • Palen/McCoy Wilderness
  • Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness (part)
  • Pinto Mountains Wilderness
  • Rice Valley Wilderness
  • Riverside Mountains Wilderness
  • San Gorgonio Wilderness (part)
  • San Jacinto Wilderness
  • San Mateo Canyon Wilderness (part)
  • Santa Rosa Wilderness
  • South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

State parks
  • California Citrus State Historic Park
  • Lake Perris State Recreation Area
  • Mount San Jacinto State Park

County parks and trails
  • Hurkey Creek Park[18]
  • Idyllwild Park[19]
  • Indio Hills Palms
  • Jensen Alvarado Ranch
  • Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area [20]
  • Lake Skinner Recreation Area
  • McCall Memorial Equestrian Park[21]
  • Santa Rosa Plateau

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
190017,897—
191034,69693.9%
192050,29745.0%
193081,02461.1%
1940105,52430.2%
1950170,04661.1%
1960306,19180.1%
1970459,07449.9%
1980663,16644.5%
19901,170,41376.5%
20001,545,38732.0%
20102,189,64141.7%
20202,418,18510.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
1790–1960[23] 1900–1990[24]
1990–2000[25] 2010[26] 2020[27]

2020 census
Riverside County, California - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[26] Pop 2020[27] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 869,068 788,235 39.69% 32.60%
Black or African American alone (NH) 130,823 146,762 5.97% 6.07%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 10,931 11,960 0.50% 0.49%
Asian alone (NH) 125,921 164,889 5.75% 6.82%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5,849 6,767 0.27% 0.28%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 3,682 12,365 0.17% 0.51%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 48,110 84,912 2.20% 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 995,257 1,202,295 45.45% 49.72%
Total 2,189,641 2,418,185 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Riverside County had a population of 2,189,641. The racial makeup of Riverside County was 1,335,147 (61.0%) White (40.7% Non-Hispanic White), 140,543 (6.4%) African American, 23,710 (1.1%) Native American, 130,468 (6.0%) Asian (2.3% Filipino, 0.8% Chinese, 0.7% Vietnamese, 0.6% Korean, 0.5% Indian, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Cambodian, 0.1% Laotian, 0.1% Pakistani), 6,874 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 448,235 (20.5%) from other races, and 104,664 (4.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 995,257 persons (45.5%); 39.5% of Riverside County is Mexican, 0.8% Salvadoran, 0.7% Honduran, 0.6% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, and 0.2% Nicaraguan.[35]

2000

As of the census[36] of 2000, there were 1,545,387 people, 506,218 households, and 372,576 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 inhabitants per square mile (83/km2). There were 584,674 housing units at an average density of 81 per square mile (31/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 18.7% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. 36.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.2% were of German, 6.9% English, 6.1% Irish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.2% spoke English and 27.7% Spanish as their first language.

In 2006 the county had a population of 2,026,803, up 31.2% since 2000. In 2005 45.8% of the population was non-Hispanic whites. The percentages of African Americans, Asians and Native Americans remained relatively similar to their 2000 figures. The percentage of Pacific Islanders had majorly risen to 0.4. Hispanics now constituted 41% of the population.

There were 506,218 households, out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.5.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,887, and the median income for a family was $48,409. Males had a median income of $38,639 versus $28,032 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,689. About 10.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and law enforcement

Government

Riverside County is organized as a General Law County under the provision of the California Government Code. The county has five supervisorial districts, and one supervisor is elected from each district every four years.[37]

Riverside County Historic Courthouse

In 1999, the County Board of Supervisors approved a multimillion-dollar planning effort to create the Riverside County Integrated Plan (RCIP) which was to encompass a completely new General Plan, regional transportation plan (CETAP) and Habitat Conservation Plan. The resultant General Plan adopted in 2003 was considered groundbreaking for its multidisciplinary approach to land use and conservation planning.[38][39]

Courts

The Riverside Superior Court is the state trial court for Riverside County with 14 courthouses: Riverside Historic Courthouse, Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside Family Law Court, Riverside Juvenile Court, Southwest Justice Center – Murrieta, Moreno Valley Court, Banning Court, Hemet Court, Corona Court, Temecula Court, Larson Justice Center – Indio, Indio Juvenile Court, Palm Springs Court and Blythe Court.[40]

The main courthouse is the Riverside Historic Courthouse. This landmark, erected in 1903, was modeled after the Grand and Petit Palais in Paris, France. The courthouse, designed by Los Angeles architects Burnham and Bliesner, has a classical design – including a great hall that connects all the departments (courtrooms).[41] In 1994, the courthouse was closed for seismic retrofits due to the 1992 Landers and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. The courthouse was reopened and rededicated in September 1998.[42]

Riverside County hands down 1 in 6 death sentences in the US, in spite of it having less than 1% of the population.[43]

Sheriff

The Riverside County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for all of Riverside County. It provides patrol, detective, and other police services for the unincorporated areas of the county plus by contract to the cities and towns of Coachella, Eastvale, Indian Wells, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Norco, Palm Desert, Perris, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, Temecula and Wildomar. The Morongo Indian Reservation also contracts with the Sheriff's Office to provide police services to the reservation.[44]

Municipal Police

Municipal departments within the county are Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Calimesa, Cathedral City, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Hemet, Indio, Menifee, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Riverside, Riverside Community College.

Politics

Voter registration

Overview

Prior to 2008, Riverside County was historically a Republican stronghold in presidential and congressional elections. Between its creation in 1893[48] and 2004, it voted for the Democratic presidential nominee only three times:[49] Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 (by a margin of 337 votes, or 0.99%), Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 (by a margin of 19,363 votes, or 13.65%) and Bill Clinton in 1992 (by a margin of 6,784 votes, or 1.58%). In 1932, it was one of only two counties on the entire West Coast to vote for Republican president Herbert Hoover over Roosevelt.[50]

However, in 2008, consistent with a trend in California and nationwide suburbs towards the Democratic Party,[51] Barack Obama narrowly carried the county with 14,976 votes, a 2.32% margin over Republican John McCain. Mitt Romney lost the county in 2012 in a plurality. Hillary Clinton continued the Democratic win streak in the 2016 election, and became the first and only losing Democratic nominee to win the county. Former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden won the county outright in 2020 with a 79,196 lead over President Donald Trump, the largest ever raw vote margin for a Democrat.

Despite the federal trend towards Democrats, Republicans have continued to win Riverside County at the state level. During the 2018 gubernatorial election, Republican John H. Cox (50.2%) narrowly defeated Democrat Gavin Newsom (49.8%) in the county despite losing in a landslide statewide.[52] During the gubernatorial recall against Newsom held three years later, Riverside County narrowly voted in favor of recalling Newsom despite the recall failing in another landslide.[53]

United States presidential election results for Riverside County, California[54]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 449,144 45.04% 528,340 52.98% 19,672 1.97%
2016 333,243 44.35% 373,695 49.73% 44,453 5.92%
2012 318,127 47.97% 329,063 49.62% 15,926 2.40%
2008 310,041 47.90% 325,017 50.21% 12,241 1.89%
2004 322,473 57.83% 228,806 41.04% 6,300 1.13%
2000 231,955 51.42% 202,576 44.90% 16,596 3.68%
1996 178,611 45.61% 168,579 43.05% 44,423 11.34%
1992 159,457 37.06% 166,241 38.64% 104,577 24.30%
1988 199,979 59.46% 133,122 39.58% 3,247 0.97%
1984 182,324 63.48% 102,043 35.53% 2,835 0.99%
1980 145,642 59.87% 76,650 31.51% 20,986 8.63%
1976 97,774 49.24% 96,228 48.46% 4,556 2.29%
1972 108,120 58.00% 71,591 38.41% 6,693 3.59%
1968 83,414 52.90% 61,146 38.78% 13,110 8.31%
1964 61,165 43.14% 80,528 56.79% 95 0.07%
1960 65,855 56.15% 50,877 43.38% 544 0.46%
1956 56,766 62.16% 34,098 37.34% 465 0.51%
1952 51,692 65.08% 26,948 33.93% 788 0.99%
1948 32,209 55.66% 23,305 40.28% 2,350 4.06%
1944 23,168 53.94% 19,439 45.26% 346 0.81%
1940 21,779 51.39% 20,003 47.20% 598 1.41%
1936 16,674 48.89% 17,011 49.88% 422 1.24%
1932 14,112 50.20% 12,755 45.37% 1,245 4.43%
1928 17,600 77.94% 4,769 21.12% 212 0.94%
1924 9,619 61.99% 1,318 8.49% 4,579 29.51%
1920 9,124 69.55% 2,798 21.33% 1,196 9.12%
1916 7,452 54.64% 4,561 33.44% 1,626 11.92%
1912 124 1.23% 2,963 29.33% 7,016 69.44%
1908 3,229 57.24% 1,374 24.36% 1,038 18.40%
1904 2,638 65.23% 678 16.77% 728 18.00%
1900 2,329 61.14% 1,134 29.77% 346 9.08%
1896 2,063 53.06% 1,684 43.31% 141 3.63%


In the United States House of Representatives, Riverside County is split between 4 congressional districts:[55]

  • California's 36th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz
  • California's 41st congressional district, represented by Democrat Mark Takano
  • California's 42nd congressional district, represented by Republican Ken Calvert and
  • California's 50th congressional district, represented by Republican Darrell Issa.

In the California State Senate, the county is split between 3 legislative districts:[56]

  • the 23rd Senate District, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh,
  • the 28th Senate District, represented by Republican Melissa Melendez, and
  • the 31st Senate District, represented by Democrat Richard Roth.

In the California State Assembly, the county is split between 7 legislative districts:[57]

  • the 42nd Assembly District, represented by Independent Chad Mayes,
  • the 56th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Eduardo Garcia,
  • the 60th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Sabrina Cervantes,
  • the 61st Assembly District, represented by Democrat Jose Medina,
  • the 67th Assembly District, represented by Republican Kelly Seyarto,
  • the 71st Assembly District, represented by Republican Randy Voepel, and
  • the 75th Assembly District, represented by Republican Marie Waldron.

Riverside County voted 64.8% in favor of Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Only the city of Palm Springs voted against the measure.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Education

Universities and colleges
The 161-foot, 48-bell carillon tower at the University of California, Riverside, designed by A. Quincy Jones.
  • Azusa Pacific University[60] – Murrieta
  • Brandman University, part of the Chapman University System[61] – Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Riverside and Temecula
  • California Baptist University[62] – Riverside
  • California Southern Law School[63] – Riverside
  • California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus[64] – Palm Desert
  • California State University, San Marcos, Temecula Satellite Campus[65] – Temecula
  • College of the Desert[66] – Palm Desert and Indio
  • La Sierra University[67] – Riverside
  • Mayfield College[68] – Cathedral City
  • Mt. San Jacinto College[69] – Banning, Menifee, San Jacinto, Temecula
  • Olivet University – Anza[70]
  • Palo Verde College[71] – Blythe
  • Riverside Community College District[72]
    • Riverside City College
    • Moreno Valley College
    • Norco College
  • Santa Barbara Business College[73] – Palm Desert
  • University of California, Riverside[74] – Palm Desert and Riverside
  • University of Phoenix[75] – Murrieta and Palm Desert

K-12 schools
Public school districts[76]

K-12 unified:

  • Alvord Unified School District
  • Banning Unified School District
  • Beaumont Unified School District
  • Coachella Valley Unified School District
  • Colton Joint Unified School District
  • Corona-Norco Unified School District
  • Desert Center Unified School District
  • Desert Sands Unified School District
  • Hemet Unified School District
  • Jurupa Unified School District
  • Lake Elsinore Unified School District
  • Moreno Valley Unified School District
  • Murrieta Valley Unified School District
  • Palm Springs Unified School District
  • Palo Verde Unified School District
  • Riverside Unified School District
  • San Jacinto Unified School District
  • Temecula Valley Unified School District
  • Val Verde Unified School District
  • Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District

Secondary:

  • Perris Union High School District

Elementary:

  • Menifee Union School District
  • Nuview Union Elementary School District
  • Perris Elementary School District
  • Romoland Elementary School District
State-operated schools
  • California School for the Deaf, Riverside
Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools
  • Sherman Indian High School

Transportation

Major highways
  • I-10
  • I-10 BL
  • I-15
  • I-215
  • U.S. Route 95
  • Historic U.S. Route 99
  • Historic U.S. Route 395
  • State Route 60
  • State Route 62
  • State Route 71
  • State Route 74
  • State Route 78
  • State Route 79
  • State Route 86
  • State Route 91
  • State Route 111
  • State Route 177
  • State Route 243
  • State Route 371
  • County Route R3

Public transportation
  • Riverside Transit Agency serves the western third of Riverside County, as far east as Banning.
  • SunLine Transit Agency serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.
  • Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency provides service in Blythe, near the Arizona border.
  • Pass Transit serves the San Gorgonio Pass communities.
  • Corona Cruiser serves the city of Corona.
  • Riverside County is also served by Greyhound buses.

Amtrak trains stop in Riverside and Palm Springs, and Amtrak California provides bus connections to the San Joaquins in Riverside, Beaumont, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms, Indio, Moreno Valley, Perris, Sun City, and Hemet.

Metrolink trains serve nine stations in Riverside County: Riverside-Downtown, Riverside-La Sierra, North Main-Corona, West Corona, Jurupa Valley/Pedley, Hunter Park/UCR, March Field-Moreno Valley, Perris-Downtown, and Perris-South.[77] These trains provide service to Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties seven days a week, with a primarily commuter-oriented schedule.

Military air bases
  • March Air Reserve Base (former March Air Force Base)

Commercial airports
  • Palm Springs International Airport

General aviation airports
  • Banning Municipal Airport
  • Bermuda Dunes Airport
  • Blythe Airport
  • Corona Municipal Airport
  • Flabob Airport, Riverside
  • French Valley Airport (Temecula Valley)
  • Hemet-Ryan Airport (San Jacinto Valley)
  • Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, Thermal (Coachella Valley)
  • Perris Valley Airport
  • Riverside Municipal Airport

Military installations
  • Active
    • Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range
    • March Air Reserve Base
    • Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Norco
      • Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division
  • Historical
    • Desert Training Center
      • Blythe Army Airfield
      • Desert Center Army Airfield
      • Palm Springs Army Airfield
      • Rice Army Airfield
      • Shaver's Summit Army Airfield[78]
      • Thermal Army Airfield (Also named Naval Air Facility Thermal (historical)[79])
    • Hemet Army Airfield

Points of interest
  • Empire Polo Club, location of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals
  • Gold Base, international headquarters of the Church of Scientology and Golden Era Productions[80][81]
  • Indian Wells Tennis Garden
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
  • March Field Air Museum
  • Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
  • Orange Empire Railway Museum
  • Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
  • Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mount San Jacinto State Park
  • Palm Springs Desert Museum
  • Ramona Bowl, Home of The Ramona Pageant
  • Riverside County fair grounds, location of the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival
  • Riverside National Cemetery, including the Medal of Honor Memorial
  • Salton Sea State Recreation Area
  • Santa Rosa Plateau
  • Sunnylands Center & Gardens
  • Temecula Valley AVA Wine Region
  • Western Science Center

Communities

Cities
City Year
incorporated		 Population,
2020[82]		 Median household income,
2019[83]
Banning 1913 29,505 $42,274
Beaumont 1912 53,036 $84,105
Blythe 1916 18,317 $45,385
Calimesa 1990 10,026 $56,903
Canyon Lake 1990 11,082 $100,682
Cathedral City 1981 51,493 $46,521
Coachella 1946 41,941 $34,224
Corona 1896 157,136 $86,790
Desert Hot Springs 1963 32,512 $33,046
Eastvale 2010 69,757 $119,213
Hemet 1910 89,833 $39,653
Indian Wells 1967 4,757 $107,500
Indio 1930 89,137 $74,774
Jurupa Valley 2011 105,053 $76,090
Lake Elsinore 1888 70,265 $77,090
La Quinta 1982 37,558 $77,839
Menifee 2008 102,527 $77,033
Moreno Valley 1984 208,634 $65,449
Murrieta 1991 110,949 $100,080
Norco 1964 26,316 $102,817
Palm Desert 1973 51,163 $59,977
Palm Springs 1938 44,575 $53,441
Perris 1911 78,700 $70,714
Rancho Mirage 1973 16,999 $78,682
Riverside 1883 314,998 $71,967
San Jacinto 1888 53,898 $52,009
Temecula 1989 110,003 $95,918
Wildomar 2008 36,875 $74,991

Unincorporated communities
  • Aguanga
  • Alberhill
  • Alessandro
  • Anza
  • Arnold Heights
  • Bermuda Dunes
  • Bonnie Bell
  • Box Springs
  • Cabazon
  • Cactus City
  • Cahuilla
  • Cahuilla Hills
  • Cherry Valley
  • Chiriaco Summit
  • Coronita
  • Desert Beach
  • Desert Center
  • Desert Edge
  • Desert Palms
  • East Hemet
  • Edgemont
  • El Cariso
  • El Cerrito
  • El Sobrante
  • Fern Valley
  • French Valley
  • Garnet
  • Gilman Hot Springs
  • Good Hope
  • Green Acres
  • Highgrove
  • Home Gardens
  • Homeland
  • Idyllwild
  • Indio Hills
  • La Cresta
  • Lake Mathews
  • Lake Riverside
  • Lake Tamarisk
  • Lakeland Village
  • Lakeview
  • March ARB
  • Mead Valley
  • Meadowbrook
  • Mecca
  • Mesa Verde
  • Mountain Center
  • North Palm Springs
  • North Shore
  • Nuevo
  • Oasis
  • Pine Cove
  • Pinyon Pines
  • Radec
  • Rancho Capistrano
  • Ripley
  • Romoland
  • Sage
  • Sky Valley
  • Snow Creek
  • Temescal Valley
  • Thermal
  • Thomas Mountain
  • Thousand Palms
  • Valerie
  • Valle Vista
  • Vista Santa Rosa
  • Warm Springs
  • Whitewater
  • Winchester
  • Woodcrest

Ghost towns
  • Bergman
  • Dos Palmas
  • Eagle Mountain
  • Eden[84]
  • Fertilla
  • Hell
  • La Placita
  • Leon
  • Midland
  • Pinacate
  • Saahatpa
  • Temescal
  • Terra Cotta
  • Willow Springs Station

Indian reservations

Riverside County has 12 federally recognized Indian reservations, which ties it with Sandoval County, New Mexico, for second most of any county in the United States. (Sandoval County, however, has two additional joint-use areas, shared between reservations. San Diego County, California has the most, with 18 reservations.)

  • Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
  • Augustine Indian Reservation
  • Cabazon Indian Reservation
  • Cahuilla Indian Reservation
  • Colorado River Indian Reservation (partly in La Paz County, Arizona and San Bernardino County, California)
  • Morongo Indian Reservation
  • Pechanga Indian Reservation
  • Ramona Village
  • Santa Rosa Indian Reservation
  • Soboba Band of Mission Indians
  • Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation (partly in Imperial County, California)
  • Twenty-Nine Palms Indian Reservation (partly in San Bernardino County, California)

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Riverside County.[85]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Riverside City 314,998
2 Moreno Valley City 208,634
3 Corona City 157,136
4 Murrieta City 110,949
5 Temecula City 110,003
6 Jurupa Valley City 105,053
7 Menifee City 102,527
8 Hemet City 89,833
9 Indio City 89,137
10 Perris City 78,700
11 Lake Elsinore City 70,265
12 Eastvale City 69,757
13 San Jacinto City 53,898
14 Beaumont City 53,036
15 Cathedral City City 51,493
16 Palm Desert City 51,163
17 Palm Springs City 44,575
18 Coachella City 41,941
19 La Quinta City 37,558
20 Wildomar City 36,875
21 French Valley CDP 35,280
22 Desert Hot Springs City 32,512
23 Banning City 29,505
24 Agua Caliente Indian Reservation[86] AIAN 27,090
25 Norco City 26,316
26 Temescal Valley CDP 26,232
27 Mead Valley CDP 19,819
28 East Hemet CDP 19,432
29 Blythe City 18,317
30 Rancho Mirage City 16,999
31 Valle Vista CDP 16,194
32 Woodcrest CDP 15,378
33 El Sobrante CDP 14,039
34 Lakeland Village CDP 12,364
35 Home Gardens CDP 11,203
36 Canyon Lake City 11,082
37 Calimesa City 10,026
38 Good Hope CDP 9,468
39 Bermuda Dunes CDP 8,244
40 Mecca CDP 8,219
41 Thousand Palms CDP 7,967
42 Highgrove CDP 7,515
43 Garnet CDP 7,118
44 Homeland CDP 6,772
45 Nuevo CDP 6,733
46 Desert Palms CDP 6,686
47 Cherry Valley CDP 6,509
48 Lake Mathews CDP 5,972
49 El Cerrito CDP 5,058
50 Indian Wells City 4,757
51 Oasis CDP 4,468
52 Desert Edge CDP 4,180
53 Idyllwild-Pine Cove CDP 4,163
54 North Shore CDP 3,585
55 Torres-Martinez Reservation[87] AIAN 3,454
56 Sage CDP 3,370
57 Meadowbrook CDP 3,142
58 Anza CDP 3,075
59 Winchester CDP 3,068
60 Green Acres CDP 2,918
61 Thermal CDP 2,676
62 Coronita CDP 2,639
63 Cabazon CDP 2,629
64 Vista Santa Rosa CDP 2,607
65 Sky Valley CDP 2,411
66 Romoland CDP 2,005
67 Lakeview CDP 1,977
68 Warm Springs CDP 1,586
69 Colorado River Indian Reservation[88] AIAN 1,395
70 Lake Riverside CDP 1,375
71 Morongo Reservation[89] AIAN 1,243
72 Indio Hills CDP 1,048
73 Aguanga CDP 989
74 Whitewater CDP 984
75 March ARB CDP 809
76 Mesa Verde CDP 766
77 Pechanga Reservation[90] AIAN 582
78 Soboba Reservation[91] AIAN 567
79 Ripley CDP 538
80 Desert Center CDP 256
81 Cahuilla Reservation[92] AIAN 229
82 Cabazon Reservation[93] AIAN 192
83 Santa Rosa Reservation[94] AIAN 131
84 Mountain Center CDP 66
85 Twenty-Nine Reservation[95] AIAN 5
86 Augustine Reservation[96] AIAN 0
87 Ramona Village[97] AIAN 0

Climate
Riverside County
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
8
 
 
20
7
 
 
12
 
 
24
9
 
 
4
 
 
31
13
 
 
3
 
 
37
17
 
 
1
 
 
45
21
 
 
1
 
 
44
27
 
 
16
 
 
46
28
 
 
19
 
 
44
27
 
 
8
 
 
45
25
 
 
2
 
 
36
20
 
 
6
 
 
28
11
 
 
15
 
 
20
6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [98]

See also
  • USS Riverside (APA-102), a World War II attack transport
  • List of cemeteries in Riverside County, California
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Riverside County, California
  • KPRO (California), a radio station that served the county

Notes
  1. Other = Some other race + Two or more races
  2. Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
  3. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
  4. Population for this city obtained by summing the populations of Glen Avon, Mira Loma, Pedley, Rubidoux and Sunnyslope; see Jurupa Valley
  5. Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.

References
  1. "Board of Supervisors". County of Riverside, California. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  2. "San Jacinto Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Riverside County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  4. "Riverside County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. Barragan, Bianca (February 6, 2014). "Why Are People Fleeing Los Angeles For San Bernardino?". La.curbed.com.
  7. Robert E. Lang; Jennifer B. LeFurgy (October 1, 2007). Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities. Brookings Institution Press. pp. 169–. ISBN 978-0-8157-5112-0. OCLC 1005941809.
  8. Downey, Dave (March 8, 2011). "REGION: Riverside County's population jumps by 42 percent in last decade". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
    "2000: Temecula's growth hailed, decried". Press-Enterprise. Riverside. March 8, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  9. Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of California. North American Book Dist LLC. Page 392. ISBN 9780403093182.
  10. Gunther, pgs 427–429.
  11. Native American Indian Resources web site; Federally Recognized California Tribes.
  12. Gunther, Jane Davies (1984). Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories. Riverside, California. pp. 456–461.
  13. Gudde, Erwin G. (1949). California Place Names (1st ed.). Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. p. 305.
  14. Fitch, pages v–viii.
  15. California v. Cabazon Band, 480 U.S. 202 (1987).
  16. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  17. C. Michael Hogan. 2008 Blue Oak: Quercus douglasii, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg Archived February 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Hurkey Creek – Home « Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District". Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  19. "Idyllwild Park – Home « Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District". Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  20. "Lake Cahuilla Brochure" (PDF). Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  21. "McCall Equestrian Campground « Riverside County Regional Park & Open-Space District". Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  22. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  23. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  24. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  25. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  26. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Riverside County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  27. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Riverside County, California". United States Census Bureau.
  28. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  29. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  30. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  31. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  32. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  33. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  34. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  35. "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
  36. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  37. Fitch, page 1.
  38. Riverside County RCIP General Plan (2003), The Planning Center
  39. Riverside County Integrated Project: An innovative model for integrating land use, transportation and conservation planning (2007), Edward J. Blakely Center for Sustainable Suburban Development
  40. "Locations". Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  41. "Rededication of the Historic Riverside County Courthouse". Archived from the original on March 22, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  42. "California Courts Online - The most comprehensive resource on California court information". Courtinfo.ca.gov. August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  43. Barford, Vanessa (December 23, 2015). "Why is one county handing down one in six US death sentences?". BBC News. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  44. Riverside County Sheriff's web site
  45. U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates, July 1, 2019, Table V2019. U.S. Census website. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  46. "February 10, 2021 - Report of Registration" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  47. "February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  48. Lech, Steve (February 7, 2019). "In 1893, Riverside County's first few laws targeted alcohol, infectious bee disease". Press Enterprise. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  49. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Riverside County, Calif". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  50. "Presidential election of 1932 - Map by counties".
  51. Matsumoto, Ryan (January 2, 2021). "Why Democratic gains in the suburbs will outlast Trump". The Hill. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  52. "Governor - Statewide Results PDF" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  53. Weber, Shirley (October 22, 2021). "STATEMENT OF VOTE, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL RECALL ELECTION" (PDF). Office of the California Secretary of State. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  54. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uslelctionatlas.org.
  55. "Counties by County and by District". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  56. "Communities of Interest - Counties". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  57. "Communities of Interest - Counties". California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  58. Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  59. United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  60. "Murrieta Regional Campus". Azusa Pacific University. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  61. "About - Brandman University". Archived from the original on October 13, 2010.
  62. "California Baptist University". Calbaptist.edu.
  63. "California Southern Law School". Cslawschool.com.
  64. "Palm Desert Campus". Pdc.csusb.edu.
  65. "California State University San Marcos at Temecula". Csusm.edu.
  66. "About College of the Desert". Collegeofthedesert.edu. Archived from the original on December 29, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  67. "About La Sierra University". Lasierra.edu.
  68. "Mayfield Colleges". Mayfieldcollege.edu.
  69. "Welcome to Mt. San Jacinto College". Msjc.edu. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  70. "Our Sites". Olivet University. Olivet University. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  71. "Palo Verde College". Paloverde.edu.
  72. "Riverside Community College District". Archived from the original on September 29, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  73. "Why SBBCollege In California?". Sbbcollege.edu. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  74. "About UCR". Ucr.edu. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  75. "Campus Locations". Phoenix.edu.
  76. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Riverside County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2022. - Text list
  77. Pages - Project Details. Compassblueprint.org. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.
  78. "Shaver's Summit Army Air Field (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  79. "Naval Air Facility Thermal (historical)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  80. "Rural Studio is Scientology Headquarters." San Jose Mercury News. August 13, 1991. 6B California News. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.(subscription required)
  81. Kelly, David. "Scientology foes blast new Riverside County law." Los Angeles Times. January 10, 2009. 1. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
  82. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Riverside County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  83. "American Community Survey 1-Year and 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  84. "GNIS Detail - Eden". Geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  85. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  86. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  87. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  88. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  89. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  90. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  91. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  92. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  93. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  94. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  95. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  96. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  97. "US Census Bureau 2010 Census Interactive Population Map". census.gov.
  98. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Retrieved January 30, 2016.

Bibliography

Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Riverside County, California.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Riverside County.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.