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Riverside, California
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Riverside is a large city located in the Inland Empire in Southern California. It is also the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. The city is named for the nearby Santa Ana River, and is the birthplace of the California citrus industry. As of 2008, Riverside has an estimated population of 311,575. Riverside is the 61st-largest city in the United States, 12th largest city in California, the largest city in California's Inland Empire region, the fourth largest inland city in California, the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the nation and part of the 2nd largest Combined Statistical Area in the country.
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Encyclopedia
Riverside is a large city located in the Inland Empire in Southern California. It is also the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. The city is named for the nearby Santa Ana River, and is the birthplace of the California citrus industry. As of 2008, Riverside has an estimated population of 311,575. Riverside is the 61st-largest city in the United States, 12th largest city in California, the largest city in California's Inland Empire region, the fourth largest inland city in California, the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the nation and part of the 2nd largest Combined Statistical Area in the country. The city anticipates that the population of Riverside will surpass 320,000 by 2010. Riverside is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Riverside is also one of the best places to live according to Money Magazine.
Compared with other cities in Southern California, real estate prices in Riverside are significantly lower than those in adjacent counties. This has led to steady growth in Riverside. Consequently, this has also contributed to heavy traffic as residents from Riverside commute to job centers in Orange County and Los Angeles.
In the 2000s, Riverside has been listed by various research groups as having some of the United States' most severe air pollution and congestion. Smart Growth America lists Riverside as the most sprawling city in the nation. However, according to the United States Bureau of the Census, the corresponding Riverside-San Bernardino urbanized area had a population density of 3,400 per square mile in 2000, slightly above that of Portland, Oregon, which is often cited as an example of having contained urban sprawl (suburbanization). Riverside is also the 20th most congested city in the United States because of traffic, this has decreased though, Riverside used to be before number 20.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, 78.1 square miles (202.3 kmē) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 kmē) of it is water. The total area is 0.36% water. Downtown Riverside sits on an elevation of 860 feet. There are some hills in the city limits of Riverside. Riverside is surrounded by small and large mountains. Some of which get snow during the colder months of the year.
Demographics
These Statistics are from 2000 and need to be updated to 2007 via the U.S. Census Bureau Website
- 59.3% White Non-Hispanic
- 38.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race
- 7.4% African American
- 5.7% Asian
- 5.1% from two or more races.
- 1.1% Native American
- 0.4% Pacific Islander
There were 93,405 occupied households out of which 44.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone 65 or older. The average household size was 3.15 and average family size 3.70.
As of the census of 2000, the population density was 3,267.2 people per square mile (1,261.5/kmē). There were 85,974 housing units at an average density of 1,100.8/sq mi (425.0/kmē). It is noteworthy that Riverside has the largest population of Mexican-Americans concentrated in any one city located in the Inland Empire, totaling nearly 150,000.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 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 $41,66, 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. About 11.7% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
In the state legislature Riverside is located in the 31st Senate District, represented by Republican Robert Dutton, and in the 64th and 66th Assembly Districts, represented by Republicans Brian Nestande and Kevin Jeffries respectively. Federally, Riverside is located in California's 44th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +6 and is represented by Republican Ken Calvert.
History
The city was founded in the early 1870s beside the Santa Ana River by John W. North, a staunch temperance-minded abolitionist from Tennessee, who had previously founded Northfield, Minnesota. A few years after, the navel orange was planted and found to be such a success that full-scale planting started. Riverside was temperance minded (few saloons if any were allowed in Riverside proper), and Republican. 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, but the citrus industry Riverside is famous for began two years later when Eliza Tibbets received two Brazilian navel orange trees sent to her by a friend at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The trees thrived in the Southern California climate and the navel orange industry grew rapidly. Within a few years, the successful cultivation of the newly discovered navel orange 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 wealthiest city per capita by 1895.
As the city prospered, a small guest hotel designed in the popular Mission Revival style, known as the Glenwood Tavern, eventually grew to become the world-famous Mission Inn, favored by presidents, royalty and movie stars. Inside was housed a special chair made for the sizable President William Howard Taft. The hotel was modeled after the missions left along the California coast by Franciscan friars in the 16th and 17th centuries. (Although Spanish missionaries came as far inland as San Bernardino (San Bernardino Asistencia), east of Riverside, there was no actual Spanish mission in what is now Riverside.) Postcards of lush orange groves, swimming pools and magnificent homes have attracted vacationers and entrepreneurs throughout the years. Many relocated to the warm, dry climate for reasons of health and to escape Eastern winters. Victoria Avenue with its landmark homes serves as a reminder of European investors who settled here.
At the entrance to Riverside from the 60 freeway sits Fairmount Park. This extensive urban oasis was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Slightly fraying around the edges, it still has a lovely, stocked pond, and many species of birds. Nearby, on private land, is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village.
To the east of downtown is the originally named "Eastside," which grew out of a colonia inhabited by Mexican immigrant workers in the Orange groves. Mexican communities were also formed in the barrio of Casa Blanca during the early twentieth century. That tradition continues today, with Oaxacan workers in the place of Spanish speakers. Michael Kearney, an anthropologist at University of California, Riverside, refers to this vast transnational labor space as "Oaxacalifornia."
Asian-American History
Settlements of Japanese and Korean immigrants used to exist along the railroad tracks, which would fill with thousands of workers during the citrus harvest. None of these remain, but the Santa Fe depot, like several others in the Inland Empire, has been restored to its turn-of-the-century glory. Today, many of Riverside's Asian Americans live in the sections of Arlington and La Sierra, the majority being Chinese American and Korean American. The largest Korean American church in the city is Riverside Korean Baptist Church near Arlington.
Riverside used to boast one of the largest Chinatowns in California, but the last resident, Mr. Wong, died in the 1970s and the remaining (decrepit) buildings were razed. Extensive archaeological excavation took place in the 1980s, and many artifacts are housed at the newly re-named Metropolitan Museum across from the Mission Inn Hotel. The City of Riverside Planning Commission and City Council are in the final stages of approving the construction of a medical building on the site, which has spurred opposition. A new organization called the Riverside Chinese Culture Preservation Committee formed in the summer of 2008 with the goal of protecting the site from commercial development.
In 1915 a Japanese immigrant named Jukichi Harada, proprietor for many years of a local restaurant, purchased a home in Riverside in the names of his American-born children in order to provide access for them to the public school system. Neighbors formed a committee and charged him with violating the California Alien Land Law of 1913, which barred aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning land. The case, The People of the State of California v. Jukichi Harada, became a test of the constitutionality of the law and progressed to the state Supreme Court, where the Haradas won. The Metropolitan Museum of Riverside now owns the house, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-born politician elected to the United States Congress (and the only Sikh), was voted into office in 1956 to represent a district that included Riverside.
Filipinos have been in Riverside for over 100 years. Known as the Pensionados they were Philippine nationals sent to live in the United States to learn the principles of liberty and self-government.
African-American History
At the intersection of Howard and 12th sits the last remnants of a formerly thriving African-American neighborhood. The old Wiley Grocery store now houses the activities of "Black" Prince Hall Masons. Nearby is the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage site complete with shrine. Built and destroyed three times, the current incarnation dates from the 1920s. And the Bobby Bonds recreation center named for the major league baseball legend.
Athletic History
Riverside was the original home of the Riverside International Raceway, which closed in 1989 to make way for a shopping mall. The raceway was included within the city limits of the city of Moreno Valley upon that city's incorporation in 1984.
Riverside had three minor league baseball teams, one in 1941—the Riverside Reds—and two from the class-A California League: the Riverside Red Wave from 1988–90 and the Riverside Pilots (a Seattle Mariners Class-A minor league affiliate) from 1993–95 at the UC-Riverside Sports Center also known as the Blaine Sports Complex. The Riverside Red Wave moved to Adelanto in 1990 to become the High Desert Mavericks and the Riverside Pilots moved to Lancaster in 1995 to become the Lancaster JetHawks. The latter team's move occurred only after a long-standing dispute between the Pilots, the California League, and the city to build a new facility to replace the decrepit Blaine Sports Complex. Today, a semi-pro collegiate team, the Inland Empire Rockets plays some home games in Riverside and Moreno Valley.
Riverside was home to many professional sports players including Basketball Hall of Fame siblings Reggie and Cheryl Miller, formerly of Poly High School in Riverside. Another notable resident is heavyweight boxing prospect Chris Arreola who trains at Lincoln Gym on 14th and Victoria in Downtown Riverside.
Features
Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside. The UCR Botanic Gardens contains 40 acres (162,000 mē) of unusual plants, with four miles (6 km) of walking trails. The city prides itself on its historic connection to the navel orange, which was introduced to North America from Brazil by the first settlers to Riverside in 1873. Riverside is home to the three surviving Parent Navel Orange Tree, from which all American West Coast navel orange trees are descended.
There are three hospitals in Riverside.
- Riverside Community Hospital is a General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services and a Level II Trauma Center as of 2006.
- 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: Arlington, La Sierra, Marcy, Main, Eastside Cy-brary, and Casa Blanca.
Education
Colleges and universities
The city of Riverside is served by several institutions of higher learning:
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Riverside has two notable institutions of learning for specified student bodies:
The CSD-R varsity football team, the Riverside Bears, had an undefeated season which led to an appearance on a May 2006 segment on ABC's 20/20 news series.
Riverside is served by two school districts. Riverside Unified School District serves eastern Riverside. High schools in that district include:
Continuation high schools include:
- Abraham Lincoln High School (continuation)
- Raincross High School (continuation)
- Summit View High School (continuation)
Alvord Unified School District serves western Riverside. High schools include:
Continuation schools include:
- Alvord High School (continuation)
Private schools
- Notre Dame High School (Roman Catholic)
- Woodcrest Christian School
- Bethel Christian School
- Riverside Christian School
- La Sierra Academy
- St. Francis de Sales School
- St. Catherine of Alexandria
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Riverside Christian Day School
- Eastside Christian Academy
Climate
Riverside has a warm mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Riverside enjoys nice weather all year long. Temperatures in the summer can on some days exceed 100F but with low humidity. In the winter, the high temperature can sometimes go below 55 degrees, this happens when there are winter storms that bring rain. On average January is the coldest month during which the average high/low is 68F/43F (20C/6C) while August is the hottest with a high/low of 95F/64F (35C/18C). Riverside sees most of its precipitation in the winter and early spring, especially January through March, with January being the wettest month. Riverside gets about 11 inches of rain per year.
Environment
The Riverside area is referred to as a "smog belt" because of its above-average level 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. [NEJM 2004;351:1057-1067] Despite smog problems, the city has made efforts to reduce pollution by incorporating additional means of mass transit (Metrolink) and equipping its entire fleet of buses with natural gas. Smog has decreased considerably over the past years, and it should continue to decrease if measures are taken to reduce smog.
A General Plan for the city was prepared in the year 1994 and updated in 2004. This documentation set forth broad planning goals for the city and specifically included housing, transportation, noise, seismic safety, natural resources, and all other State of California mandated elements. However smog only occurs during the summer because its hot and dry. But during the winter, the smog goes away because the weather gets cooler and it rains.
Crime
The three most gang-prone areas are the Casa Blanca, Eastside, and Arlanza neighborhoods.
Data collected by Project Bridge, an anti-gang program under the City of Riversides Park and Recreation Department, shows that the city of Riverside has experienced an increase in gang membership and gang activity since the early 1990s. In 1991, Riverside had approximately 182 gangs with 8,500 active gang members. More recent estimates indicate there are 186 gangs with 12,000 members. Reportedly 3,000 of these members are juveniles, while 10 of these gangs are primarily minors. The juvenile crime rates did drop dramatically between 1994 and 1997 for these areas. However, juvenile crime rates have exhibited a gradual and steady rise since 1998. In 2000, Casa Blanca, Arlanza and Eastside had crime rates of approximately 40, 18, and 30 per 1000 youths, respectively. Of these three areas, the Eastsides problems are compounded by the highest unemployment rate in the City, 65.1%. The neighborhood also has the lowest educational attainment in the City, with 82% of the population having less than a 4th grade education. Project Bridge has provided comprehensive services to at-risk and gang-involved youth between the ages of 4 and 22 and their families in for over a decade. Since 1995, the program has served over 500 gang-involved youth with recent enrollment nearing 500 participants. Almost 50 percent of participant enrollment is generated from the Eastside, mostly from the areas around the Eastside Apartments.
Riverside's Comprehensive Community-Wide Approach to Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression project is focused on two of the high gang-crime neighborhoods, Casa Blanca and Eastside. In these neighborhoods, there are 21 gangs with approximately 3,230 members. The project targets more than 150 gang-involved and high-risk youth. Oversight of the project is handled by a committee consisting of local agencies and organizations, including the Riverside County Juvenile Court, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, the Riverside and Alvord Unified School Districts, the Youth Service Center, and other agency and community leaders.
On the 2006 list of safest cities in America by Morgan Quitno Press, Riverside scored a middle-of-the-road 209th out of 371 ranked cities of over 75,000 population. Riverside ranked much better than comparable-sized California cities like Oakland (364th), San Bernardino (348th), Stockton (336th), Sacramento (322nd) and Bakersfield (236th). Like much of the country, Riverside's crime rate has been steadily dropping since reaching all-time high in the 1970s though the past two years has seen a dramatic 10 percent increase in the overall violent crime rate (1,954 crimes in 2005 vs. 1,777 in 2004.) Car thefts and arson are well-above the national average with 8,770 car thefts and 908 arson incidents in 2005 alone.
Landmarks
Riverside is home of the historic Mission Inn, the Historic Riverside County Courthouse (based on the Petit Palais in Paris, France), and the Fox Theater, where the first showing of Gone with the Wind took place, which was purchased by the city and is now being refurbished. Its appearance today is dilapidated and vacant, although with the recent , the Fox Theater is currently undergoing to become a performing arts theater. The building will be expanded to hold 1,600 seats, and will boast a stage large enough for Broadway-style performances. The expected completion date for the rehabilitation efforts is Fall 2008.
Also it is the home of the "World's Largest Paper Cup" which is over three stories (68.10 ft) tall. There is a warehouse/manufacturing building, Dixie Corporation, right behind it. It is made of painted concrete. The "Dixie Cup" landmark is located on Iowa Street just north of Palmyrita. The manufacturing plant itself is now non-existent.
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, Mt. Rubidoux, which is next to the Santa Ana River and one of the most noticeable landmark in the downtown area. This mountain is the dividing line between the town of Rubidoux and the City of Riverside.
March Air Reserve Base borders Riverside on the east serving as a divider between the City and Moreno Valley. March ARB is the oldest operating Air Force Base west of the Mississippi River being founded in 1918.
Neighborhoods
The City of Riverside has 28 neighborhoods within city limits.
These neighborhoods include: Airport, Alessandro Heights, Arlanza, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Arlington South, Canyon Crest, Casa Blanca, Downtown, Eastside, Grand, Hawarden Hills, 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/Canyon Springs, University, Victoria, and Wood Streets.
Current annexation proposals
The City Council has also proposed numerous annexations of nearby unincorporated communities which will dramatically increase its population and land area over the next few years. Most notable, the Lake Hills/Victoria Grove area, which would extend its southwestern borders to Lake Mathews. Most residents in these portions of Riverside County oppose the annexation by the city. The residents feel that the annexation is a deliberate act by the city that seeks to unfairly increase the city's tax base. Most of these areas contain newer homes that sold within the last year for more than $600,000. The residents opposing these anexations strongly believe that this will lead to an increase in taxes, and will diminish the rural feel of the area in which they have purchased their homes.
Communities include:
- 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
- A Center Street
- B Highgrove
- C Spring Mountain Ranch (92)
- D Canyon Ridge
- E Woodcrest
- F Gateway
Transportation
Riverside is served by three major freeways, the I-215, the State Route 60, and the State Route 91. These three freeways meet in north-eastern Riverside at the rebuilt 60/91/215 interchange that was completed in late 2007.
The constant construction on Riverside freeways has taken its toll on Riverside's image. The area near the 60/91/215 interchange had a reputation as being one of the worst interchanges in the nation due to its location in a turn, continued construction, short exit time, and other factors.
The city contains two Metrolink commuter rail stations, Riverside-Downtown and Riverside-La Sierra. Both are served by the Inland Empire-Orange County and 91 Lines, and the Downtown station is served by the Riverside Line on weekdays, and the San Bernardino Line on weekends.
Local bus service is provided by the Riverside Transit Agency Service is relatively limited, though this is common for the region. Recently, the agency proposed a new Bus Rapid Transit route to travel along the current Route 1 from the University of California to Corona. The project was due in the summer of 2005, and as of writing is still stalled in the planning stages.
Riverside Municipal Airport (FAA designator: RAL) has a runway.
Festivals
The Riverside International Film Festival takes place April 11 - April 20, 2008. The festival includes directors from around the world.
The Riverside Festival of Lights centers around the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, in the downtown area. Decoration of the Inn begins in October and is lighting ceremony takes place the day after Thanksgiving Day. The Inn puts up more than three million lights and hundreds of animated characters. The festival runs through New Years. At the festival, carolers, horse drawn carriage rides, and ice skating all color the event. Restaurants, cafes, and community groups all contribute to the festival which covers several city blocks in the downtown Riverside area.
On September 13, 2008, Riverside also hosted its first LGBT Pride event at White Park, near the Mission Inn.
Notable natives
- Alien Ant Farm rock band most famous for the cover of Michael Jackson's hit Smooth Criminal
- Dusty Baker, former professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers among others and current manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Former manager of the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
- Barry Bonds, professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Bobby Bonds, former professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants and the California Angels (among others)
- Larry Christiansen, chess Grandmaster
- Chris Claiborne, National Football League player for the New York Giants
- Frank Corral, former National Football League kicker, Los Angeles Rams
- Allen Cunningham, professional poker player
- Alvin Davis, former professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners
- Evan Evans, Off-road racer
- Walker Evans, Off-road Motorsports Hall of Famer
- Bubba Franks, National Football League tight end
- Jerome Fontamillas, keyboardist/ guitarist for the band Switchfoot
- David Gilliland, NASCAR driver for Robert Yates Racing
- Barbara Hambly, novelist
- Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative 52nd House district since 1980, Vice-Chair on the House Armed Services Committee, 2008 Republican Presidential candidate
- Don Imus, national syndicated radio talk host
- Phil Ivey, professional poker player
- Etta James, American Blues, Soul, R&B, rock & roll and jazz legend
- Reed Johnson, Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs
- Sharon Jordan, actress (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)
- Adam Kennedy, Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and St. Louis Cardinals
- Bobby Kielty, Major League Baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland A's, Toronto Blue Jays & Minnesota Twins
- Darci Kistler, ballerina
- Greg Laurie, evangelist; Pastor of the largest church in Riverside, Harvest Christian Fellowship.
- J. F. Lawton, screenwriter (Pretty Woman), director and producer
- Amy Lee, singer (Evanescence)
- A Lighter Shade of Brown, hip-hop duo.
- Ronald O. Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside 1993 to Present and City council from 1979 to 1993, occasional UC Riverside professor
- Mitch Lucker, Vocalist for deathcore band Suicide Silence
- Jason and Ronnie Martin, of Starflyer 59 and Joy Electric
- Kellie Martin, actress
- Chief Meyers, baseball player in early 20th century
- Cheryl Miller, sports commentator and former professional basketball player and coach
- Reggie Miller, former National Basketball Association player for the Indiana Pacers
- Troy Percival, Major League Baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays
- Rod Piazza, blues harmonica extraordinaire, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers.
- Scarlett Pomers, actress (Star Trek: Voyager, Reba)
- Bob Rule, former NBA All Star
- Saint Dog, rapper and original member of Kottonmouth Kings
- Patrick Seitz, voice actor, (Bleach)
- Alia Shawkat, actress, (Arrested Development)
- Eric Show, Major League Baseball pitcher, started for San Diego Padres in 1984 season
- Drew Shirley, member of band Switchfoot
- Skee-Lo, African-American West Coast rapper known for "I Wish".
- Susan Straight, novelist, National Book Award nominee
- Tyree Washington, athlete
- Michael Wittig, AKA "Kalel" the bass player for hard rock band Pillar
- Chris Arreola, Heavyweight Boxer
- Suicide Silence, a deathcore band
- Lil Blacky
- Voodoo Glow Skulls
- Jose (Josesito) Lopez Boxer From The Lincon Boxing Club
- Lindsay Ridgewayactress(Boy Meets World)
Sister cities
Riverside has seven sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International.
The city of Riverside has an economic partnership program with the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Mexico in the early 2000s. 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
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