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Riverside, California

Coordinates: 33°56′53″N 117°23′46″W / 33.94806°N 117.39611°W / 33.94806; -117.39611
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Riverside
City
Mission Inn
Mission Inn
First Church of Christ
First Church of Christ
Riverside County Superior Court
Riverside County Superior Court
Riverside Art Museum
Riverside Art Museum
Flag of Riverside
Flag
Official seal of Riverside
Seal
Motto: 
City of Arts & Innovation
Map
Map
Map
Map
Riverside is located in California
Riverside
Riverside
Riverside is located in the United States
Riverside
Riverside
Coordinates: 33°56′53″N 117°23′46″W / 33.94806°N 117.39611°W / 33.94806; -117.39611
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyRiverside
IncorporatedOctober 11, 1883; 141 years ago (1883-10-11)[1]
CharteredMarch 5, 1907; 117 years ago (1907-03-05)[2]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager[3]
 • MayorPatricia Lock Dawson (I)
 • City managerMike Futrell[4]
Area
[5]
 • City81.54 sq mi (211.18 km2)
 • Land81.23 sq mi (210.38 km2)
 • Water0.31 sq mi (0.80 km2)
Elevation
[6]
827 ft (252 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • City314,998
 • Estimate 
(2021)[7]
317,261
 • Rank61st in the United States
12th in California
 • Density3,877.85/sq mi (1,497.28/km2)
 • Urban
[8]
2,276,703 (US: 19th)
 • Urban density3,741.1/sq mi (1,444.4/km2)
 • Metro
[9]
4,599,839 (US: 13th)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
92501–92509, 92513–92519, 92521–92522
Area code951
FIPS code06-62000
GNIS feature IDs1661315, 2410965
Websiteriversideca.gov

Riverside is a city in and the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States, in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River.[10] It is the most populous city in the Inland Empire and in Riverside County, and is about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is also part of the Greater Los Angeles area. Riverside is the 61st-most-populous city in the United States and the 12th-most-populous city in California. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 314,998.[7] Along with San Bernardino, Riverside is a principal city in the nation's 13th-largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA); the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (pop. 4,599,839) ranks in population just below San Francisco (4,749,008) and above Detroit (4,392,041).

Riverside was founded in the early 1870s. It is the birthplace of the California citrus industry and home of the Mission Inn, the nation's largest Mission Revival Style building.[11] It is also home to the Riverside National Cemetery and the Eastern Division of the Federal District Court for the Central District of California.

The University of California, Riverside, is in the northeastern part of the city. The university hosts the Riverside Sports Complex. Other attractions in Riverside include the Fox Performing Arts Center, Museum of Riverside, which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history, the California Museum of Photography, the California Citrus State Historic Park, Castle Park, and the Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree, the last of California's two original navel orange trees.[12]

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Riverside, California
Statue in Downtown Riverside of famed Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, whose expedition came through the area in 1774

In the late 18th century and the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by Cahuilla and the Serrano people. Californios such as Bernardo Yorba and Juan Bandini established ranches during the first half of the 19th century.

In the 1860s, Louis Prevost launched the California Silk Center Association, a short-lived experiment in sericulture. In the wake of its failure, John W. North purchased some of its land and formed the Southern California Colony Association to promote the area's development. In March 1870, North distributed posters announcing the formation of a colony in California.[13] North, a staunch temperance-minded abolitionist from New York State, had formerly founded Northfield, Minnesota. Riverside was temperance-minded, and Republican. There were four saloons in Riverside when it was founded. The license fees were raised until the saloons moved out of Riverside.[14] Investors from England and Canada transplanted traditions and activities adopted by prosperous citizens. As a result, the first golf course and polo field in southern California were built in Riverside.

The first orange trees were planted in 1871, with the citrus industry Riverside is famous for beginning three years later (1874)[15] when Eliza Tibbets received three [15] Brazilian navel orange trees sent to her by a personal friend, William Saunders, a horticulturist at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The trees came from Bahia, Brazil. The Bahia orange did not thrive in Florida, but its success in southern California was phenomenal.

One of the first three navel orange trees in California, this one replanted at the Mission Inn by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Photo c. 1910.
Riverside, 1876
Riverside, 1910

The three trees were planted on the Tibbets' property. One of them died after it was trampled by a cow during the first year it was planted. After the trampling, the two remaining trees were transplanted to property belonging to Sam McCoy to receive better care than L.C. Tibbets, Eliza's husband, could provide.[16] Later, the trees were again transplanted, one at the Mission Inn property in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt (this tree died in 1922), and the other at the intersection of Magnolia and Arlington avenues. Eliza Tibbets was honored with a stone marker placed with the last tree. That tree still stands to this day inside a protective fence abutting what is now a major intersection.

The trees thrived in the southern California climate and the navel orange industry grew rapidly. Many growers purchased bud wood and then grafted the cuttings to root stock. Within a few years, the successful cultivation of many thousands of the newly discovered Brazilian navel orange trees led to a California Gold Rush of a different kind: the establishment of the citrus industry, which is commemorated in the landscapes and exhibits of the California Citrus State Historic Park and the restored packing houses in the downtown's Marketplace district. By 1882, there were more than half a million citrus trees in California, almost half of which were in Riverside. The development of refrigerated railroad cars and innovative irrigation systems established Riverside as the richest city in the United States (in terms of income per capita) by 1895.[17]

Geography

[edit]

Riverside is the 61st-largest city in the United States, the 12th-largest city in California, and the largest city in California's Inland Empire metro area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 81.4 square miles (210.8 km2), of which 81.1 square miles (210 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.37%) is water. The elevation of downtown Riverside is 860 feet (260 m). Hills within the city limits include Mount Rubidoux, a city landmark and tourist attraction. Riverside is surrounded by small and large mountains, some of which get a dusting of winter snow. Many residents also enjoy the many beaches of Southern California. Riverside is about a 47-mile (76 km) drive to the Pacific Ocean and is close to Orange County and Los Angeles County.[18]

A panorama of Riverside, California, taken from the summit of Mount Rubidoux, 1908

Cityscape

[edit]
A 360-degree panorama of Riverside, California, taken from the summit of Mount Rubidoux

Landmarks

[edit]
Main article: List of landmarks in Riverside, California
The Mission Inn

Riverside is home to the historic Mission Inn, the Beaux-Arts style Riverside County Historic Courthouse (based on the Petit Palais in Paris, France), and the Riverside Fox Theater, where the first showing of the 1939 film Gone with the Wind took place. The theater was purchased by the city and refurbished as part of the Riverside Renaissance Initiative.[19] The Fox Theater underwent extensive renovation and restoration, which was completed in 2009, to turn the old cinema into a performing arts theater.[20] The building was expanded to hold 1,600 seats and the stage was enlarged to accommodate Broadway-style performances. In January 2010, singer Sheryl Crow opened the newly remodeled Fox Theater in a nearly sold-out show.[21]

One of the remaining Queen Anne-style houses from the 19th century

Riverside is the home of the "World's Largest Paper Cup" (actually made of concrete), which is over three stories (68.10 ft; 20.76 m ) tall. The "Dixie Cup" landmark is on Iowa Street just north of Palmyrita, in front of what was once the Dixie Corporation's manufacturing plant (now closed down).

Three notable hills are in Riverside's scenic landscape: Box Springs Mountain, Evans (Jurupa) Hill and Tecolote Hill; all of which are preserved open spaces. South of Riverside is Lake Mathews. There is also the well-known landmark/foothill Mount Rubidoux, which is next to the Santa Ana River and one of the most noticeable landmarks in the downtown area. This foothill is the dividing line between the town of Rubidoux and the city of Riverside.

March Joint Air Reserve Base borders Riverside on the east serving as a divider between the city and Moreno Valley. March ARB, founded in 1918, is the oldest operating Air Force base west of the Mississippi River.

At the entrance to Riverside from the 60 freeway sits Fairmount Park. This extensive urban oasis was designed by the firm founded by Frederick Law Olmsted, which had designed New York's Central Park.[22] It includes a stocked pond that is home to many species of birds. On nearby private land is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village.

Neighborhoods

[edit]
Homes in Riverside

The city of Riverside has 28 designated "neighborhoods" within the city limits.[23] These include Airport, Alessandro Heights, Arlanza, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Arlington South, Canyon Crest, Casa Blanca, Downtown, Eastside, Grand, Hawarden Hills, Hillside Hunter Industrial Park, La Sierra, La Sierra Acres, La Sierra Hills, La Sierra South, Magnolia Center, Mission Grove, Northside, Orangecrest, Presidential Park, Ramona, Sycamore Canyon Park, Sycamore Canyon Springs, University, Victoria and Wood Streets.

East of downtown is the originally named "Eastside". which grew out of a colonia inhabited by Mexican immigrant workers in the orange groves, other orchards and produce fields. The area these people lived in was originally a settlement called La Placita that predated the city, being founded in 1843. Mexican communities were also formed in the barrio of Casa Blanca during the early 20th century.

Annexations

[edit]

The city council has proposed many annexations of nearby unincorporated communities that would increase Riverside's population and land area significantly. Most notable is the Lake Hills/Victoria Grove area, which would extend the city's southwestern borders to Lake Mathews.[24]

Current proposals

[edit]
City limit map which shows possible annexations
  • 97 Berry Road
  • 103 Barton/Gem
  • 104 I-215 Corridor
  • 105 Sycamore/Central
  • 106 East Blaine
  • 107 Alta Cresta Remainder
  • 108 Lake Hills/Victoria Grove
  • 111 University City
  • 112 Kaliber
  • 113 Barton/Station

Potential annexations

[edit]
  • A Center Street
  • B Highgrove
  • C Spring Mountain Ranch (92)
  • D Canyon Ridge
  • E Woodcrest
  • F Gateway

Features

[edit]
Victoria Avenue is an important citrus-lined paseo.

Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside. The UCR Botanical Gardens contains 40 acres (16 ha) of unusual plants, with four miles (6.4 km) of walking trails. The city prides itself on its historic connection to the navel orange, which was introduced to North America from Brazil in 1874. Riverside is home to the one surviving Parent Navel Orange Tree, from which all American West Coast navel orange trees are descended.

There are three hospitals in Riverside.[25]

  • Riverside Community Hospital is a General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services and a Level I Trauma Center as of 2020.
  • Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center is a General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services as of 2006.
  • Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Riverside is a General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services as of 2006.

Riverside is also home to the Riverside Public Library system. Branches include: Arlanza, Arlington, La Sierra, Marcy, Main, Orange Terrace, Eastside Cybrary, and Casa Blanca.

Convention facilities are available at several locations. The Riverside Convention Center, remodeled in 2014, offers 66,000 sq ft (6,100 m2) indoors and 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) of outdoor space. Also available is the Riverside Marriott with 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) indoors, and the Mission Inn with 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) indoors and 5,000 sq ft (460 m2) outdoors.[26] All three facilities are located within walking distance of one another in downtown Riverside. Meetings with an academic focus are also held at the University of California, Riverside.

Cemeteries

[edit]

Cemeteries in Riverside include:

Climate

[edit]

Riverside experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) bordering on an arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Normal monthly mean temperatures range from 54.8 °F (12.7 °C) in December to 79.8 °F (26.6 °C) in August.[29] On average, temperatures reach the freezing mark and 100 °F (37.8 °C) on 3.5 and 21.6 days annually, respectively.[29] Record temperatures range from 18 °F (−7.8 °C) on January 15, 1911, up to 118 °F (47.8 °C) on July 17, 1925, June 16, 1917, and July 6, 2018.[30] On average, Riverside receives 9.39 in (239 mm) of precipitation annually, with measurable precipitation occurring on 35 days, with almost all of it between November and April, with February the wettest month.[31] The wettest “rain year” was from July 1940 to June 1941 with 22.72 inches or 577.1 millimetres and the driest from July 1960 to June 1961 with only 2.79 inches or 70.9 millimetres.

Climate data for Riverside, California (Riverside Municipal Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 94
(34) 		94
(34) 		102
(39) 		105
(41) 		110
(43) 		118
(48) 		118
(48) 		113
(45) 		117
(47) 		109
(43) 		100
(38) 		94
(34) 		118
(48)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 83.1
(28.4) 		83.3
(28.5) 		87.8
(31.0) 		94.2
(34.6) 		97.1
(36.2) 		101.3
(38.5) 		105.1
(40.6) 		106.6
(41.4) 		106.2
(41.2) 		99.8
(37.7) 		91.0
(32.8) 		82.6
(28.1) 		109.6
(43.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 67.7
(19.8) 		67.9
(19.9) 		72.1
(22.3) 		75.9
(24.4) 		79.9
(26.6) 		86.7
(30.4) 		93.3
(34.1) 		94.9
(34.9) 		91.3
(32.9) 		82.7
(28.2) 		74.5
(23.6) 		66.8
(19.3) 		79.5
(26.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 55.6
(13.1) 		56.3
(13.5) 		59.5
(15.3) 		62.9
(17.2) 		67.6
(19.8) 		73.0
(22.8) 		78.6
(25.9) 		79.8
(26.6) 		76.6
(24.8) 		68.9
(20.5) 		61.0
(16.1) 		54.8
(12.7) 		66.2
(19.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 43.6
(6.4) 		44.7
(7.1) 		46.9
(8.3) 		50.0
(10.0) 		55.3
(12.9) 		59.3
(15.2) 		63.9
(17.7) 		64.7
(18.2) 		61.9
(16.6) 		55.2
(12.9) 		47.4
(8.6) 		42.8
(6.0) 		53.0
(11.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 34.0
(1.1) 		36.0
(2.2) 		38.8
(3.8) 		42.3
(5.7) 		48.3
(9.1) 		53.8
(12.1) 		58.6
(14.8) 		59.0
(15.0) 		54.5
(12.5) 		46.7
(8.2) 		38.0
(3.3) 		33.2
(0.7) 		31.5
(−0.3)
Record low °F (°C) 18
(−8) 		24
(−4) 		25
(−4) 		29
(−2) 		33
(1) 		35
(2) 		41
(5) 		40
(4) 		37
(3) 		30
(−1) 		23
(−5) 		21
(−6) 		18
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.29
(58) 		2.41
(61) 		1.21
(31) 		0.57
(14) 		0.20
(5.1) 		0.04
(1.0) 		0.12
(3.0) 		0.03
(0.76) 		0.11
(2.8) 		0.33
(8.4) 		0.57
(14) 		1.51
(38) 		9.39
(239)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.8 6.9 5.2 3.9 1.6 0.2 0.7 0.5 0.5 2.3 3.6 5.1 35.3
Source 1: NWS[32]
Source 2: NOAA[33]

Environment

[edit]

The Riverside area faces issues of smog and above-average levels of air pollution. In a comparison by the National Campaign Against Dirty Air Power (2003), the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area was found to be one of the most polluted regions based on year-round particle measurements when compared to other U.S. cities.[34] The city made efforts to reduce pollution by incorporating additional means of mass transit (Metrolink) and equipping its entire fleet of buses with natural gas. Smog decreased considerably over the next few years as local municipalities and counties worked with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to implement measures to improve regional air quality.[35] In 2020, the American Lung Association rated Riverside County one of the nation's worst counties for smog.[36] Most of Riverside's smog problems are the result of the prevailing wind patterns that blow the smog from the Los Angeles Basin and particulates generated by southern California's multitude of vehicles, and the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach into the Inland Empire.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18904,683—
19007,97370.3%
191015,21290.8%
192019,34127.1%
193029,69653.5%
194034,69616.8%
195046,76434.8%
196084,33280.3%
1970140,08966.1%
1980170,59121.8%
1990226,50532.8%
2000255,16612.7%
2010303,87119.1%
2020314,9983.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[37]
Historical racial profile 2010[38] 2000[39] 1990[40] 1970[40]
White 56.5% 59.3% 70.8% 93.1%
—Non-Hispanic 34.0% 46.6% 61.3% 82.1%[41]
Black or African American 7.0% 7.4% 7.4% 5.2%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 49.0% 38.1% 26.0% 11.4%[41]
Asian 7.4% 5.7% 5.2% 0.7%

2020

[edit]
Riverside, California – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[42] Pop 2010[43] Pop 2020[44] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 116,254 103,398 87,213 45.56% 34.03% 27.69%
Black or African American alone (NH) 18,051 19,917 18,832 7.07% 6.55% 5.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,415 1,297 1,195 0.55% 0.43% 0.38%
Asian alone (NH) 14,233 21,934 22,450 5.58% 7.22% 7.13%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 848 1,019 951 0.33% 0.34% 0.30%
Other race alone (NH) 492 617 1,704 0.19% 0.20% 0.54%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 6,558 6,736 10,267 2.57% 2.22% 3.26%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 97,315 148,953 172,386 38.14% 49.02% 54.73%
Total 255,166 303,871 314,998 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010

[edit]
First Congregational Church of Riverside
Map of racial distribution in Riverside, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: ⬤ White ⬤ Black ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Other

The 2010 census[45] reported that Riverside had a population of 303,871. The population density was 3,731.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,440.5/km2). The racial makeup of Riverside was

41.8% of Riverside's population was of Mexican descent, 1.1% Guatemalan, 1.0% Salvadoran, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Colombian origin.[46] Non-Hispanic Whites were 34.0% of the population in 2010,[38] down from 82.1% in 1970.[40]

The Census reported that 292,322 people (96.2% of the population) lived in households, 8,925 (2.9%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2,624 (0.9%) were institutionalized.

There were 91,932 households, out of which 38,939 (42.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 45,398 (49.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 13,845 (15.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 6,372 (6.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 6,392 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 746 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 18,284 households (19.9%) were made up of individuals, and 6,262 (6.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18. There were 65,615 families (71.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.67.

There were 81,406 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 47,126 (15.5%) aged 18 to 24, 82,482 (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 66,615 (21.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 26,242 (8.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

There were 98,444 housing units at an average density of 1,208.7 units per square mile (466.7 units/km2), of which 51,185 (55.7%) were owner-occupied, and 40,747 (44.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%. 168,888 people (55.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 123,434 people (40.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Riverside had a median household income of $56,403, with 17.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[47]

2000

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 255,166 people, 82,005 households, and 58,141 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,261.5/km2 (3,267/sq mi). There were 85,974 housing units at an average density of 425.0/km2 (1,101/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 59.3% White, 7.4% African American, 1.1% Native American, 5.68% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 21.0% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. 38.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 82,005 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.54.

In the city, 30.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 12.9% was from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,646, and the median income for a family was $47,254. Males had a median income of $36,920 versus $28,328 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,882. 15.8% of the population and 11.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Religion

[edit]

Religion in Riverside (2014)[48][49]

  Protestantism (43%)
  Roman Catholicism (22%)
  LDS Church (3%)
  Eastern Orthodoxy (1%)
  Jehovah's Witnesses (2%)
  No religion (25%)
  Other religion (4%)
Mount Rubidoux

Riverside is largely Christian and is home to Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Protestant, and Universalist Unitarian churches, an Islamic mosque, Jewish synagogue, Hindu temple, and several Buddhist temples. Riverside is also home to the Inland Empire Atheists and Agnostics organization.[50][51]

The city has a large population of Seventh-day Adventists, due to the presence of La Sierra University and proximity to Loma Linda near San Bernardino.

There is also a large Mormon population, as well as in the San Bernardino area, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has missions in Riverside and Redlands near their temple.

Several religious celebrations take place on top of the city's Mount Rubidoux. One is an annual Easter Sunrise service, which is the nation's oldest continual non-denominational outdoor Easter service[52] The 100th anniversary of the event was held April 12, 2009. Each December, a 2½-mile (4 km) procession from Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine to the top of Mount Rubidoux promotes awareness of Juan Diego's walk up Tepeyac hill, in 1531, where he reportedly saw a Marian apparition known as Our Lady of Guadalupe.[53]

In 2012, a controversy erupted regarding the cross atop Mount Rubidoux, which was on city-owned land and maintained by the city. Due to constitutional issues regarding separation of church and state, the Riverside City Council sold the cross and the land under it (0.43 acres; 1740.15 sq m) to a private entity for $10,500.[54]

Economy

[edit]
Downtown Riverside
Riverside Convention Center

Riverside's economy consists largely of light-industry and generates a range of products including aircraft components, automotive parts, gas cylinders, electronic equipment, food products, and medical devices. Supporting the manufacturing sector are several industrial parks, including those in the Hunter Industrial Park, Sycamore Canyon Industrial Park and Airport Industrial Areas. As the county seat of Riverside County and the most populous city in the Inland Empire, Riverside also houses several legal, accounting, engineering, and banking firms. Citrus production and packing houses still exist within the city, but the industry is in decline.

American electronics company Bourns is among the companies based in Riverside.

Citrus is in decline in many areas of the Inland Empire where urbanization and water scarcity have made the industry uneconomic.[55]

Top employers

According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[56] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 County of Riverside 11,865
2 University of California, Riverside 8,686
3 Riverside Unified School District 4,000
4 Kaiser Permanente 3,484
5 City of Riverside 2,504
6 California Baptist University 2,285
7 Riverside Community Hospital 2,200
8 Alvord Unified School District 1,800
9 UTC Aerospace Systems 1,200
10 Parkview Community Hospital 897

Film and television

[edit]
See also: List of films shot in Riverside, California

Retail

[edit]

Retail shopping centers include the open-air Riverside Plaza, and the Galleria at Tyler mall. The Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown is the site of several unique shops.[57]

Arts and culture

[edit]

Museums

[edit]
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at the March Field Air Museum
See also: List of museums in the Inland Empire

Festivals and events

[edit]

Several festivals occur throughout the year in Riverside, many focused on the downtown area.

Each year in February The Riverside Dickens Festival is held to "enhance a sense of community among citizens of Riverside County and Southern California by creating a series of literary events and to provide educational, family-oriented, literary entertainment and activities such as plays, musical performances, pageants, living history presentations, workshops, lectures, classroom study, exhibits and a street bazaar with free entertainment, vendors and costumed characters."[58]

The Riverside Airshow takes place in March at the Riverside Municipal Airport. The event attracts around 70,000 people and includes aerial performers, over 200 acres (0.81 km2) of aircraft displays, a car show and military vehicle display, children's activities, food and refreshments, helicopter displays and community group exhibits.[59][60]

The March Field Airfest, also known as Thunder Over the Empire, is a biennial air show held at March Air Reserve Base. The air show is among the largest events in the Inland Empire and Riverside County. The show has featured such performers as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the Air Combat Command demonstrations teams and many other military and civilian demonstrations. 2010 saw the Patriots Jet Team as the highlight demonstration team of the show. Attendance for the 2010 show was estimated at over 150,000.

The Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF) takes place in April and features films from around the world.[61] Sponsored by the city of Riverside, local universities, and many businesses, past festivals have featured over 175 films.

Old Riverside Foundation,[62] a local nonprofit focused on historic preservation of the built environment, hosts an annual Vintage Home Tour in May that showcases private historic homes, open to the public for one day only.

In October, the California Riverside Ballet sponsors the Ghost Walk, which in 2013 celebrated its 22nd year. The event is a walk around some of the city's oldest and most historic buildings, with volunteers leading tours and telling ghost stories.

The Riverside Festival of Lights centers around The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, located downtown. Decoration of the Inn begins in October and a lighting ceremony that includes speakers, fireworks, and live musicians takes place the day after Thanksgiving Day. Carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, and ice skating all color the festival. Restaurants, cafes, and community groups all contribute to the festival. The festival runs through New Year's Day.[63]

Also during the week of Thanksgiving, the Festival of Trees is held at the Riverside Convention Center. Held since 1990, the event seeks to raise money for the Riverside County Regional Medical Center children's units including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Child Abuse and Neglect Unit, and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Attracting 25,000 people per year, the event has raised over $5 million since its inception.[64] At the Festival of Trees, many professionally decorated Christmas trees are judged, auctioned, and then displayed for public viewing.

Government

[edit]
See also: List of mayors of Riverside, California and Mayoral elections in Riverside, California
Museum of Riverside

Local government

[edit]

Riverside is a charter city governed by a mayor and city council. The mayor is elected in a citywide election. The city council has seven members, each elected from single member wards. A city manager is responsible for ongoing city services.

In Riverside's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the city's government accounts were reported to have $244 million in revenues and $365 million in expenditures, with the deficiency made up by the issuance of long-term debt and transfers from the city-owned utilities (including electric and water).[65] The report also indicates that over the prior nine years, the number of city employees increased by 23.6% to 2,686 FTE, outpacing the 12.5% increase in the number of residents.

Federal and state representation

[edit]

Under the electoral maps drawn by the Citizens' Redistricting Commission, which were first used in the 2022 elections and will remain in effect through at least 2030, Riverside's state and federal legislative districts have changed substantially.

In the California State Legislature, the City of Riverside is in the 31st Senate District, represented by Democrat Richard Roth. In the California State Assembly, it is split between the 58th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Sabrina Cervantes and the 63rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Bill Essayli.

In the United States House of Representatives, Riverside is represented by Democrat Mark Takano in the 39th Congressional District. In the United States Senate, California is represented by Democrats Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla.[66]

Courts

[edit]

Crime

[edit]

Riverside's crime rate has shown a drop over the past several years. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics database, from 2002 to 2014 violent crime fell to 1,384 from 2,026 events, and property crime to 9,864 from 13,135 events.[72] During this time, the population of the city rose by 21%. To help reduce gang-related crime, the city developed Project Bridge, an anti-gang program under the city of Riverside's Park and Recreation Department. Gang activity has been reported to center in the Casa Blanca, Arlanda and Eastside neighborhoods.

Of the 60 largest U.S. police departments in 2015, the Riverside Police Department was the only department whose police did not kill anyone that year.[73]

Education

[edit]
Palm Elementary School

Colleges and universities

[edit]
The 161 ft (49 m), 48-bell carillon tower at the University of California, Riverside

Institutions of higher learning include:

Vocational schools

[edit]
  • Brightwood College
  • UEI College
  • Platt College
  • American College of Healthcare
  • Masters Vocational College
  • US College
  • Northwest College

Secondary schools

[edit]

Public school districts and high schools

[edit]

Riverside is served by two school districts:

A portion of eastern Riverside is in Moreno Valley Unified School District.[81]

Other public secondary schools
[edit]

Two notable institutions of learning, for specified student bodies, are also located in Riverside:

Private secondary schools

[edit]

Initiative to raise college graduation rates

[edit]

Riverside won a $3 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2010. As a result, the Completion Counts initiative was created as a joint partnership by the city of Riverside, Riverside City College, Alvord Unified School District, Riverside Unified School District, Riverside County Office of Education, UC Riverside, and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce to double college graduation rates by 2020. Only Riverside, New York City, San Francisco, and Mesa, Arizona received such a grant.

The partnership is creating measures that help students across Riverside earn a degree. For example, RCC will now give 2012 graduates of AUSD and RUSD priority class registration, and a two-year guarantee to complete an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university.[92] Completion Counts is also ensuring that AUSD, RUSD and RCC work together to create a seamless math and English curriculum to prepare students for college-level work. High school and college student counselors are meeting regularly to agree on the best ways to get students ready for college.

Media

[edit]

Riverside is the home to the Fox Performing Arts Center. The theater is best known for being the first theater to screen the most successful film in box-office history when adjusted for inflation, the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.[93]

Transportation

[edit]
The Santa Ana River Viaduct

Highways

[edit]

Riverside is served by three major freeways: I-215, State Route 60, and State Route 91. These three freeways meet in northeastern Riverside at a multi-level interchange that was rebuilt in 2007.[94]

Rail lines

[edit]
See also: Riverside (Amtrak station) and Riverside-La Sierra (Metrolink station)
Southern Pacific Railroad train running through the tracks in an orange grove in Riverside, California, c. 1910

The city contains three Metrolink commuter rail stations: Riverside-Downtown, Riverside-La Sierra, and Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR. The first two are both served by the 91/Perris Valley and Inland Empire-Orange County lines, and the Downtown station is served by the Riverside Line on weekdays, and the San Bernardino Line on weekends. The Hunter Park station is served by the 91/Perris Valley Line on weekdays only. Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs from Los Angeles to Chicago, also serves the city.

Bus lines

[edit]

Local bus service is provided by the Riverside Transit Agency.[95] Intercity bus service is provided by Omnitrans Greyhound Lines, Amtrak California, and a handful of small operators serving the cross-border market into Mexico.

Airports

[edit]

The nearest airport for commercial airline service is Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California. The Riverside Municipal Airport is an airport within Riverside city limits, but it does not have commercial airline service. It is primarily used for private aviation and is also the location for the annual Riverside Air Show.

Notable people

[edit]
Main article: List of people from Riverside, California
See also: List of University of California, Riverside people

Sister cities

[edit]
Sister city sign in front of White Park in downtown Riverside
Sister cities of Riverside, California[96]

Riverside has nine sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

The Sendai Committee is working on setting up a secure e-pal system whereby the residents of Sendai and Riverside can exchange emails in a fashion similar to pen pals. The aim is to promote grassroots cultural exchange between the two sister cities.

The city of Riverside established an economic partnership program with the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, in the early 2000s.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Brown Jr, John and James Boyd. History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties; With Selected Biography of Actors and Witnesses of the Period of Growth and Achievement, 3 volumes, The Western Historical Association, 1922. The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.
  • Gunther, Jane Davies. Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories, Riverside. 1984. LCCN 84-72920.
  • Patterson, Tom. A Colony For California; Riverside's First Hundred Years. Second Edition 1996. The Museum Press of the Riverside Museum Associates, Riverside. ISBN 0935661247.
  • Patterson, Tom. Landmarks of Riverside; and the Stories Behind Them. 1964. Press~Enterprise Co., Riverside. LCCN 64-15204.

Citations and notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Over One Hundred and Twenty-Five Years of Service" (PDF). City of Riverside. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  3. ^ "Riverside City Charter" (PDF). City of Riverside. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "City Manager". Riverside, California. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  5. ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Riverside". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Riverside city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Gunther, pages 427–429.
  11. ^ "Riversideca.gov" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  12. ^ August 5, 2004
  13. ^ "Local History: Finding aids". Riverside Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  14. ^ Brown and Boyd, Vol 2.
  15. ^ a b Brown and Boyd, Vol 1, p. 429
  16. ^ Brown and Boyd, Vol 1, p. 430
  17. ^ H. Vincent Moses wrote in 1982 that Riverside was the wealthiest U.S. city per capita in 1895. Dr. Moses is a city historian. See "Machines in the Garden: A Citrus Monopoly in Riverside, 1900–31", published in California History, Spring 1982.
  18. ^ calculate travel time. "Flight Distance from Riverside, CA to Laguna Beach, CA". Travelmath.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  19. ^ "Riverside Renaissance Initiative". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "rehabilitation". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ Franko, Vanessa. Sheryl Crow opens the first night of entertainment at the Fox Archived March 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, The Press-Enterprise, January 22, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  22. ^ "City of Riverside, California - Park & Recreation". riversideca.gov. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  23. ^ "Riverside, California - City of Arts & Innovation - At Home in Riverside". riversideca.gov.
  24. ^ "Riverside, California - City of Arts & Innovation - Planning". www.riversideca.gov. Archived from the original on November 15, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  25. ^ California Department of Health Services
  26. ^ Riverside Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  27. ^ 33°57′10″N 117°22′44″W / 33.95278°N 117.37889°W / 33.95278; -117.37889 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Olivewood Cemetery
  28. ^ Santschi, Darrell R. (February 23, 2014). "Riverside med to get top honor: Jesus S. Duran and Salvador J. Lara will be awarded the Medal of Honor". The Press-Enterprise.
  29. ^ a b "Station Name: CA RIVERSIDE MUNI AP". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  30. ^ "NOW Data — NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  31. ^ "CA Riverside Fire STN 3". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  32. ^ "Climate".
  33. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  34. ^ Gauderman, W. J.; Avol, E.; Gilliland, F.; Vora, H.; Thomas, D.; Berhane, K.; McConnell, R.; Kuenzli, N.; Lurmann, F.; Rappaport, E.; Margolis, H.; Bates, D.; Peters, J. (2004). "Air pollution and lung development". The New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (11): 1057–1067. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040610. PMID 15356303. Retrieved March 17, 2006.
  35. ^ "California Air District Website Links". scaqmd.org.
  36. ^ Wisckol, Martin (April 21, 2020). "Worst smog in America is in LA metro region". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  37. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  38. ^ a b "Riverside (city), California". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  39. ^ "Race and Hispanic or Latino: 2000". United States Census Bureau.
  40. ^ a b c "California – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  41. ^ a b From 15% sample
  42. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Riverside city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  43. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Riverside city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  44. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Riverside city, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  45. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Riverside city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  46. ^ "U.S. Census website". census.gov. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  47. ^ "Riverside (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". census.gov. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  48. ^ "Adults in the Riverside metro area". Pew Research Center.
  49. ^ Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles, Pew Research Center
  50. ^ US. "Inland Empire Atheists, Agnostics & Skeptics Meetup Group (Riverside, CA) – Meetup.com". Inlandempireatheists.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  51. ^ "West Briefs – 4/15/09 | Riverside County | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California". PE.com. April 14, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  52. ^ "News : Press Enterprise". pe.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  53. ^ "Press Enterprise : Riverside County California News, Sports and Entertainment". pe.com.[permanent dead link]
  54. ^ "Mount Rubidoux Cross: Auction winner will keep Riverside landmark". Press Enterprise. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  55. ^ "Background Information and Statistics: California's Citrus Industry". Archived from the original on January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  56. ^ "Riverside, California | City of Arts & Innovation | Finance".
  57. ^ "home - ShopRiversideNow.com". ShopRiversideNow.com.
  58. ^ "Welcome to the Frontpage". Dickensfest.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  59. ^ "Riverside Airshow - Riverside Airport". riversideca.gov. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006.
  60. ^ "Riverside Airshow 2011 - Photo Review". thingstodoinlandempire.com.
  61. ^ "Riverside International Film Festival". Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  62. ^ "Old Riverside Foundation". Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  63. ^ "Riverside's Festival of Lights ready to switch on millions of lights". KPVI. November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  64. ^ "Festival of Trees Web Page". Archived from the original on May 17, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  65. ^ Retrieved October 4, 2014
  66. ^ "Who To Call in Sacramento & Washington DC". Riverside, California. Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  67. ^ a b c "United States Courts". United States Courts.
  68. ^ "United States District Court, Central District of California, Riverside". Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  69. ^ "United States Bankruptcy Panel of the 9th Circuit". Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  70. ^ "Site Has Moved". ca.gov. August 9, 2021.
  71. ^ "The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside - Traffic". ca.gov.
  72. ^ "Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics". ucrdatatool.gov. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
  73. ^ "2015 Police Violence Report". Mapping Police Violence. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  74. ^ "About". California Baptist University. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023.
  75. ^ "About La Sierra University". La Sierra University. March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012.
  76. ^ "National University". nu.edu. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023.
  77. ^ "Riverside City College". Riverside Community College District. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  78. ^ "About UCR". University of California, Riverside. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  79. ^ Medina, Jennifer (June 1, 2012). "California Cuts Threaten the Status of Universities". NY Times. Retrieved November 4, 2014. Students at the University of California, Riverside, taking a midterm exam in a psychology class that has an enrollment of 570.
  80. ^ "California Researchers Find New Tool Against the Asian Citrus Psyllid". Entomology Today. October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Now a research team at the University of California, Riverside has found a new tool that targets the ACP's olfactory system, and they've identified a suite of odorants (odor molecules) that the insect detects. Some of these odorants can modify the behavior of ACP and may lead to the development of tools to tackle its spread.
  81. ^ a b c "2020 census - school district reference map: Riverside County, CA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 2 (PDF p. 3/6). Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  82. ^ "Arlington High School". Riverside Unified School District. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.
  83. ^ "History". California School for the Deaf, Riverside.
  84. ^ "Bureau of Indian Education, National Directory" (PDF). Department of the Interior. December 2011. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013.
  85. ^ "Bethel Christian Schools". Bethel Christian Center. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  86. ^ "Harvest Christian School". Harvest Christian School. January 22, 2015.
  87. ^ "LSA High School". lsak12.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  88. ^ "Notre Dame High School". Notre Dame High School. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  89. ^ "Riverside Christian Schools". rivchristian.org.
  90. ^ "Woodcrest Christian High School". Archived from the original on September 13, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  91. ^ "Islamic Academy of Riverside".
  92. ^ "Riverside: RCC trustees hear two-year guarantee plan". Press Enterprise. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  93. ^ "Fox Performing Arts Center - World Class Venue - Riverside".
  94. ^ "News : Press Enterprise". pe.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  95. ^ Riverside Transit Agency.
  96. ^ "Riverside's Sister Cities". City of Riverside, California. 2009. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2009.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Durian, Hal (2013). True Stories of Riverside and the Inland Empire. Charleston, SC: The History Press. ISBN 978-1-6094-9773-6. OCLC 822895113
  • Hall, Joan H. (2003). Cottages, Colonials and Community Places of Riverside, California. Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press. ISBN 0-9631618-5-7. OCLC 55511547
  • Klotz, Esther H.; Hall, Joan H. (2005). Adobes, Bungalows, and Mansions of Riverside, California. Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press. ISBN 0-9631618-6-5. OCLC 57498974
  • Klotz, Esther H. (1972). Riverside and the Day the Bank Broke. Riverside, CA: Rubidoux Press. OCLC 532580
  • Lech, Steve (2007). Riverside 1870–1940. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-4716-9. OCLC 127273299.
[edit]
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