Riverside, California

For the community in Humboldt County, see Riverside, Humboldt County, California.

Riverside, California
—  City  —
City of Riverside
Riverside Skyline
Flag Seal
Motto: City of Arts & Innovation
Location of Riverside County within the State of California
Riverside, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°56′53″N 117°23′46″W
Country	United States of America
State	California
County	Riverside
Founded	1870
Incorporated	1883
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• City Council	Mayor Rusty Bailey Mike Gardner Andy Melendrez Ken Gutierrez Paul Davis Chris Mac Arthur Nancy Hart Steve Adams
• City Manager	Scott Barber
Area
• Total	81.444 sq mi (210.941 km2)
• Land	81.140 sq mi (210.152 km2)
• Water	0.304 sq mi (0.788 km2)  0.37%
Elevation	860 ft (262 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	303,871
• Rank	1st in Riverside County 12th in California 59th in the United States
• Density	Bad rounding here3,700/sq mi (Bad rounding here1,400/km2)
• Demonym	Riversider
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	92501-92509, 92513-92519, 92521-92522
Area code(s)	951
FIPS code	06-62000
GNIS feature ID	1661315
Website	riversideca.gov

Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California city after Fresno, Sacramento, and Bakersfield, and is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) east of Los Angeles.^{[citation needed]} Riverside is the 59th most populous city in the United States and 12th most populous city in California. It is also part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2010 Census, Riverside had a population of 303,871. The city spans 81 square miles (210 km²) making it the second largest city by area in the county behind Palm Springs.^{[citation needed]}

Riverside was founded in the early 1870s and is the birthplace of the California citrus industry as well as home of the Mission Inn, the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States. It is also home to the Riverside National Cemetery.

The University of California, Riverside, is located in the northeastern part of the city. The university also hosts the Riverside Sports Complex. Other attractions in Riverside include the Fox Performing Arts Center, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history, the California Museum of Photography, the California Citrus State Historic Park, and the Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree, one of the two original navel orange trees in California.^{[citation needed]}

History

Main article: History of Riverside, California

Riverside, 1876.

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, and Republican. There were four saloons in Riverside when it was founded. The license fees were raised until the saloons moved out of Riverside. 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.

Riverside, 1900

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

The three trees were planted on the Tibbets' property. One of the trees 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. 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 was placed at the intersection of Magnolia and Arlington Ave. Eliza Tibbets was honored with a stone marker placed with the tree. That tree still stands to this day inside a protective fence abutting what is now a major intersection.

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

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 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 per capita by 1895.

Victoria Avenue provides a citrus-lined paseo for both visitors and locals to enjoy.

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 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 de Sena Estancia), 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 scattering of elegant turn-of-the-century homes, and citrus-lined paseo, serves as a reminder of European investors who settled here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total 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. Riverside is approximately 36 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

Climate

Riverside experiences a semi-arid mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa/BSh) with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Temperatures in the summer generally average in the 90s (F) but often exceed 100 °F (38 °C) though with somewhat low humidity. In the winter, high temperatures average in the upper 60s (°F), but may not rise above 55 °F (13 °C) during rainy days. January, the coldest month, averages a high / low temperature of 68 °F / 43 °F (20 °C / 6 °C), while August, the hottest month, averages a high / low temperature of 95 °F / 64 °F (35 °C / 18 °C). Riverside receives 10.4 inches of precipitation annually with most of it occurring in the winter and early spring, especially January through March, with February the wettest month.

Climate data for Riverside
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	97 (36)	92 (33)	98 (37)	104 (40)	108 (42)	112 (44)	113 (45)	112 (44)	113 (45)	108 (42)	98 (37)	93 (34)	113 (45)
Average high °F (°C)	68.1 (20.1)	68.7 (20.4)	71.8 (22.1)	73.8 (23.2)	78.9 (26.1)	85.7 (29.8)	92.3 (33.5)	93.1 (33.9)	90.8 (32.7)	81.0 (27.2)	75.3 (24.1)	66.6 (19.2)	78.8 (26)
Average low °F (°C)	46.5 (8.1)	46.1 (7.8)	48.3 (9.1)	51.2 (10.7)	55.5 (13.1)	60.1 (15.6)	66.0 (18.9)	65.2 (18.4)	63.5 (17.5)	57.6 (14.2)	51.7 (10.9)	45.6 (7.6)	54.8 (12.7)
Record low °F (°C)	24 (−4)	27 (−3)	29 (−2)	33 (1)	38 (3)	44 (7)	49 (9)	49 (9)	42 (6)	32 (0)	26 (−3)	22 (−6)	22 (−6)
Precipitation inches (mm)	2.33 (59.2)	2.50 (63.5)	1.69 (42.9)	0.68 (17.3)	0.20 (5.1)	0.09 (2.3)	0.04 (1)	0.09 (2.3)	0.16 (4.1)	0.46 (11.7)	0.81 (20.6)	1.37 (34.8)	10.42 (264.7)
Source #1: weathercurrents.com
Source #2: weather.com

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 as local municipalities and counties work with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to implement measures to improve regional air quality. The smog alerts that people remember from decades ago are history. 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, as well as the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach into the Inland Empire.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Riverside, California

A 360 degree panorama of Riverside, California, taken from the summit of Mount Rubidoux

Landmarks

Main article: List of landmarks in Riverside, California

The Mission Inn

Riverside is home of 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. The Fox Theater underwent extensive renovation and restoration, which was completed in 2009, to turn the old cinema into a performing arts theater. 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 to a nearly sold out show.

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

Riverside is also the home of the "World's Largest Paper Cup," (actually made of concrete) which is over three stories (68.10 ft) tall. The "Dixie Cup" landmark is located 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 landmark 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 is the oldest operating Air Force Base west of the Mississippi River being founded in 1918.

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 that is home to many species of birds. On nearby private land is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village.

Neighborhoods

Homes in Riverside.

The City of Riverside has 28 designated "neighborhoods" within the city limits. These neighborhoods 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.

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, other orchards and produce fields. The area these people lived in was called Agua Mansa. Mexican communities were also formed in the barrio of Casa Blanca during the early twentieth century.

Annexations

The City Council has proposed numerous annexations of nearby unincorporated communities which will increase its population and land area over the next few years. Most notable is the Lake Hills/Victoria Grove area, which would extend its southwestern borders to Lake Mathews.

Current proposals

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

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

Features

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 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 one 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 Cybrary, and Casa Blanca.

Convention facilities are available at the Riverside Convention Center, 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m²) indoors and 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m²) outdoors, the Riverside Marriott 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²) indoors, and the Mission Inn, 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m²) indoors and 5,000 sq ft (460 m²) outdoors. All three facilities are located within walking distance of each other in downtown Riverside.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries in Riverside include:

• Crestlawn Memorial Park
• Evergreen Cemetery – notable burials include Frank Augustus Miller, John W. North, Eliza Tibbets, and Marcella Craft
• Olivewood Cemetery – notable burials include Dorothy Burgess, Mayor Ben H. Lewis, Del Lord, and Gloria Ramirez
• Riverside National Cemetery, established in 1976, is the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration, and since 2000 has been the most active in the system based on the number of interments.
• Sherman Indian High School Cemetery, Home Gardens

Arts and culture

Museums

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird at the March Field Air Museum

See also: List of museums in Riverside, California

• California Citrus State Historic Park Museum
• Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside (not open to the public).
• Heritage House Museum
• March Field Air Museum
• Mission Inn Museum
• Museum of Online Museums, the MoOM, an online museum maintained by the California Baptist University.
• Riverside Art Museum
• Riverside International Automotive Museum
• Riverside Metropolitan Museum
• Sherman Indian Museum at the Sherman Indian High School
• Southern California Medical Museum, housed at the Riverside County Medical Association
• Sweeney Art Gallery, an extension of the University of California, Riverside
• The Stahl Center Museum of Culture at the La Sierra University
• University of California, Riverside California Museum of Photography
• World Museum of Natural History at the La Sierra University

Festivals and events

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."

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.

The Legends of Riverside Film Festival and charity fund raiser is held in March each year at the Riverside International Automotive Museum. In addition to showcasing popular racing films, the annual event offers attendees an opportunity to personally meet famous racing legends of the past. In attendance at the 2009 event were racing greats Dan Gurney, Elliot and Stuart Forbes-Robinson, Bob Bondurant, Peter Brock, George Follmer, and Dick Goldstrand.

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

In October, the California Riverside Ballet sponsors the Ghost Walk, which in 2012 celebrated its 21st year. The event is an adventure through some of the city's oldest and most historic buildings, with volunteers leading tours and telling tales of ghouls and ghosts.

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. The Inn puts up more than three million lights and hundreds of animated characters. 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.

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. At the Festival of Trees numerous professionally decorated Christmas trees are judged, auctioned and then displayed for public viewing. Other activities include entertainment, a children's craft area, a sweet shop, and Storytime with Santa.

The Riverside Robot Expo is held in November each year, sponsored by the Riverside Robotics Society in alignment of its goal "to bring robotics to the Inland Empire." Society members bring robots and robot replicas to the event to spark children's interest in math, robotics and other sciences.

Other events in Riverside include a LGBT Pride event, which was first held at White Park on September 13, 2008, and on the first Thursdays of each month the Riverside Art Walk, with local vendors selling handmade arts and crafts.

Religion

1913 Mt Rubidoux Easter Sunrise Services

Riverside is home to Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant churches, as well as a Jewish synagogue, mosque, and Hindu temple. Riverside is also home to the Inland Empire Atheists and Agnostics organization. Riverside is also home to an SGI Buddhist community center.

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 The 100th anniversary of the event was held April 12, 2009. Each December, a 2½-mile 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.

In 2012, a controversy erupted regarding the cross at the top of Mount Rubidoux, which is on city-owned land and maintained by the city. Due to constitutional issues related to the separation of church and state, the Riverside City Council is considering selling the cross and the land under it to a private entity.

Economy

Citrus is in decline in many areas of the Inland Empire where urbanization and water scarcity have made the industry uneconomical.

Top employers

According to the City's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	County of Riverside	11,187
2	University of California, Riverside	5,554
3	Riverside Unified School District	5,580
4	Kaiser Permanente	4,500
5	City of Riverside	2,687
6	Riverside Community Hospital	1,880
7	Riverside Community College District	2,087
8	Riverside County Office of Education	1,627
9	Alvord Unified School District	1,654
10	Parkview Community Hospital	1,350

Entrance to the Galleria at Tyler mall

Film/Television Industry

See also: List of films shot in Riverside, California

Riverside's close proximity to Hollywood, combined with its many unique architectural features, has made it a frequent filming choice by Hollywood film studios. The Mission Inn has been a particularly favorite backdrop.^{[citation needed]}

Episodes of the 2013 television celebrity diving program Splash are taped at Riverside Community College's aquatics complex.

Riverside was the recent setting for the second episode of Season Five of the Bravo TV Reality show Tabatha Takes Over. The show focused on the rehabilitation of a local gay bar named V.I.P.. The episode was not only hosted by celebrity hairstylist Tabatha Coffey but also featured a cameo appearance by celebrity drag queen Morgan McMichaels who performed a tribute drag act dressed as Coffey.

Retail

Retail shopping centers include the open-air Riverside Plaza, the Galleria at Tyler regional mall, while Main Street downtown, is the site of a pedestrian mall with unique shops.

Statistical profile

Riverside is the 61st-largest city in the United States, 12th largest city in California, the largest city in California's Inland Empire region, and fourth largest inland city in California.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	4,683		—
1900	7,973		70.3%
1910	15,212		90.8%
1920	19,341		27.1%
1930	29,696		53.5%
1940	34,696		16.8%
1950	46,764		34.8%
1960	84,332		80.3%
1970	140,089		66.1%
1980	170,591		21.8%
1990	226,505		32.8%
2000	255,166		12.7%
2010	303,871		19.1%

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Riverside had a population of 303,871. The population density was 3,731.0 people per square mile (1,440.6/km²). The racial makeup of Riverside was 171,669 (56.5%) White, 21,421 (7.0%) African American, 3,467 (1.1%) Native American, 22,566 (7.4%) Asian (1.7% Filipino, 1.6% Chinese, 1.1% Korean, 1.0% Vietnamese, 0.8% Indian, 0.3% Japanese, 0.1% Pakistani), 1,219 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 68,111 (22.4%) from other races, and 15,418 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 148,953 persons (49.0%); 41.8% of Riverside's population is Mexican, 1.1% Guatemalan, 1.0% Salvadoran, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Colombian. Non-Hispanic Whites were 34.0% of the population in 2010, down from 82.1% in 1970.

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.

The population was spread out with 81,406 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 47,126 people (15.5%) aged 18 to 24, 82,482 people (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 66,615 people (21.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 26,242 people (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 per square mile (466.7/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.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there are 255,166 people, 82,005 households, and 58,141 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,261.5/km² (3,267.2/mi²). There are 85,974 housing units at an average density of 425.0/km² (1,100.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 59.32% White, 7.41% African American, 1.09% Native American, 5.68% Asian, 0.39% Pacific Islander, 21.00% from other races, and 5.10% from two or more races. 38.14% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $41,646, and the median income for a family is $47,254. Males have a median income of $36,920 versus $28,328 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,882. 15.8% of the population and 11.7% of families are 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 are living below the poverty line.

Crime

The three most crime-prone areas are the Casa Blanca, Eastside, and Arlanza neighborhoods. Casa Blanca started around the late 1920s to early 1930s, but became troublesome around the 1950s and still to this day are known to be very violent.

Data collected by Project Bridge, an anti-gang program under the City of Riverside’s 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 82 gangs with 4,500 active gang members. More recent estimates indicate there are 86 gangs with 8,000 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 Eastside’s problems are compounded by the highest unemployment rate in the City, 65.1%^{[citation needed]} . The neighborhood also has the lowest educational attainment in the City, with 82%^{[citation needed]} 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 2009 list of most dangerous cities in America by Morgan Quitno Press, Riverside came in 174th out of 393 ranked cities of over 75,000 population, making it the 27th most dangerous city in California and 2nd in the Inland Empire area, behind San Bernardino. Like much of the country, Riverside's crime rate has been steadily dropping since reaching all-time high in the 1970s^{[citation needed]} 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.) According to the FBI crime index there were 1,922 violent crimes along with 11,059 property crimes in 2008. In the city of Riverside, 15 homicides occurred in 2009, down from 20 in 2008, its highest total since 2003 when there were 24. All but three cases resulted in arrests. In the past 10 years Riverside has averaged about 20 homicides a year, its highest being in 1999 when there were 31 homicides.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Riverside, California

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

In the state legislature Riverside is located in the 31st Senate District, represented by Democrat Richard Roth, and in the 61st and 66th Assembly Districts, represented by Democrat Jose Medina and Republican Kevin Jeffries respectively.

Federally, Riverside is located in California's 41st congressional district, and is represented by Democrat Mark Takano.

Under the electoral maps drawn by the Citizens' Redistricting Commission, which will be used in the upcoming 2012 elections and remain in effect from 2013 through at least 2020, Riverside's state and federal legislative districts have changed substantially. At the state level, portions of the city lie in the 60th, 61st and 67th Assembly Districts and the 28th and 31st Senate Districts. At the federal level, most of the city lies in the 41st Congressional District, with a small portion in the 42nd.

Local government

In Riverside's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, the city’s various funds reported $745.3 million in revenues, $713.9 million in expenditures, $3,901.9 million in total assets, $1,957.1 million in total liabilities, and $348.7 million in cash and investments. The report showed ending fund balance of $360.8 million of which $30 million is designated for economic contingencies.

Courts

• Federal
  • United States District Court, Central District of California, Eastern Division
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
  • United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California

• State
  • California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two
  • Superior Court of California, County of Riverside

Education

Colleges and universities

The 161-foot, 48-bell, carillon tower at the University of California, Riverside.

Riverside is home to several institutions of higher learning:

• California Baptist University
• California Southern Law School
• La Sierra University
• Riverside City College
• UEI College
• University of California, Riverside

Secondary schools

Public school districts and high schools

Riverside is served by two school districts:

• Riverside Unified School District serves eastern Riverside.
  • High schools include:
    • Arlington High School
    • Martin Luther King High School
    • John W. North High School
    • Riverside Polytechnic High School also known as Poly High School
    • Ramona High School
    • The Riverside Virtual School
  • 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:
    • La Sierra High School
    • Norte Vista High School
  • Continuation high schools include:
    • Alvord High School (continuation)

Other public secondary schools

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

• California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSD-R) for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from Preschool to 12th grade has been open since 1952. The CSD-R varsity football team, the Riverside Cubs, had an undefeated season which led to an appearance on a May 2006 segment on ABC's 20/20 news series.^{[citation needed]}
• Sherman Indian High School of the Bureau of Indian Education, is for Native American tribal members from 7th to 12th grade; it has been open since 1878.

Private secondary schools

• Bethel Christian School
• Eastside Christian Academy
• La Sierra Academy
• Notre Dame High School (Roman Catholic)
• Riverside Christian High School
• Woodcrest Christian High School
• Islamic Academy of Riverside

Initiative to raise college graduation rates

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 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’s degree or transfer to a four-year university. 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.

Transportation

Highways

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. Riverside is one of America's most congested cities because of heavy traffic. It used to be at the top of the list, but it has gone down to number 19.^{[citation needed]}

Rail lines

See also: Riverside (Amtrak station) and Riverside-La Sierra (Metrolink station)

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. Amtrak's Southwest Chief which runs from Los Angeles to Chicago also serves the city.

Bus lines

Local bus service is provided by the Riverside Transit Agency. Recently, the agency proposed a new bus rapid transit route to travel along the current Route 1 from the University of California, Riverside to Corona. The project is expected in FY 2011 or 2012, as funding is made available.

Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound and Amtrak California, as well as a handful of small operators serving the cross-border market into Mexico.

Airports

The Riverside Municipal Airport (FAA designator: RAL) with a 5,400-foot (1,600 m) runway, is the only airport within Riverside's city limits, and is the location for the annual Riverside Air Show. The airport is primarily used for private and business aviation. The nearest major airport is the LA/Ontario International Airport in the city of Ontario, California (FAA designator: ONT), about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Riverside.

Notable people

• Steve Agee, actor, former writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Ahmed Ahmed, Egyptian comedian and actor
• Hakim Akbar, former football player
• Marsia Alexander-Clarke, artist
• Chris Arreola, professional heavyweight boxer
• Dusty Baker, former baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers among others and current manager of the Cincinnati Reds, former manager of the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants
• Jasmine Byrne, American pornographic actress, model and dominatrix
• Barry Bonds, baseball player for the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Bobby Bonds, former baseball player for the San Francisco Giants and the California Angels
• Sean Brewer, former football player for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons
• Richard Shaw Brown, lead-singer with Riverside rock-band The Misunderstood, gemologist, designer and author
• Larry Christiansen, chess Grandmaster
• Chris Claiborne, football player for the New York Giants
• Frank Corral, former football kicker for the Los Angeles Rams
• Allen Cunningham, professional poker player
• Stephen W. Cunningham, first UCLA graduate manager and Los Angeles City Council member, 1933–41
• Jaye Davidson, Oscar-nominated actor
• Alvin Davis, baseball player for the Seattle Mariners
• Walker Evans, Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame
• Bubba Franks, National Football League tight end
• David Gilliland, NASCAR driver for Yates Racing
• Dan Gurney, first race-car driver to win in four major categories of motorsports: Grand Prix, Indy Car, NASCAR and Sports Car
• Barbara Hambly, novelist
• Edmund C. Hinde, famous gold miner during the California Gold Rush.
• Duncan Hunter, U.S. Representative, 2008 Republican Presidential candidate
• Gabriel Iglesias, comedian
• Don Imus, national syndicated radio talk host
• Phil Ivey, professional poker player
• Edmund Jaeger, biologist, instructor at Riverside City College for 30 years
• Etta James, singer
• Tanya James, pornographic actress
• Reed Johnson, baseball player for the Chicago Cubs
• Sharon Jordan, actress (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)
• Adam Kennedy, baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and St. Louis Cardinals
• Bobby Kielty, baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins
• Darci Kistler, ballerina
• Sammy Knight, professional football player for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and New York Giants
• Lorenz Larkin, mixed martial artist
• J. F. Lawton, screenwriter (Pretty Woman), director and producer
• Amy Lee, singer (Evanescence)
• John N. Lotz, Air National Guard Brigadier General
• Chad Marshall, Major League Soccer player for the Columbus Crew
• Jason Martin, musician (Starflyer 59, Neon Horse, The Brothers Martin, Bon Voyage)
• Kellie Martin, actress
• Laurie McBain, romance novelist^{[citation needed]}
• Chief Meyers, baseball player in early 20th century
• Cheryl Miller, sports commentator and former professional basketball player and coach
• Reggie Miller, former basketball player for the Indiana Pacers
• T. Mills, pop artist, rapper
• Stephen Murray, BMX rider, now paralyzed after attempting a double backflip
• Heather Myles, country singer
• Nick Neugebauer, baseball player for the Milwaukee Brewers
• Don O'Neill, architect and water color artist
• Natalie Osman, professional wrestler and valet
• Mitch Lucker, vocalist of deathcore band Suicide Silence.
• Bill Parsons, player for the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics
• Troy Percival, former baseball player for the Anaheim Angels and Tampa Bay Rays
• David Petruschin, drag artist and reality TV star
• Rod Piazza, blues harmonica player
• Scarlett Pomers, actress (Star Trek: Voyager, Reba)
• Lindsay Ridgeway, actress (Boy Meets World)
• Gabriel Roth, aka Bosco Mann, principal composer, bandleader, and producer of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings; co-founder of Daptone Records
• Bob Rule, former NBA All-star
• Patrick Seitz, voice actor, (Bleach)
• Alia Shawkat, actress, (Arrested Development)
• Drew Shirley, member of band Switchfoot
• Eric Show, baseball pitcher, started for San Diego Padres in 1984 season
• Skee-Lo, African-American West Coast rapper known for "I Wish"
• Tiffany van Soest, kickboxer
• Susan Straight, novelist, National Book Award nominee
• Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr., U.S. Air Force Major General
• Billy Vera, (born William McCord), singer and actor; best known as frontman of Billy and the Beaters
• Garrett Wang, actor (Star Trek: Voyager)
• Tyree Washington, track and field athlete
• Ray Lyman Wilbur, physician for the president of the United States, president of Stanford University, United States Secretary of the Interior
• Bert Williams, popular Vaudeville entertainer and first black American to take a lead role on the Broadway stage.
• Michael Wittig, AKA "Kalel" the bass player for hard rock band Pillar
• Cynthia Woodhead, (nicknamed "Sippy"), Olympic medalist swimmer and world record holder
• Alan Yang, screenwriter for the NBC sitcom, Parks and Recreation; credits include Last Call with Carson Daly and South Park

Sister cities

Riverside, California's sister city sign in front of White Park in downtown Riversde.

Sister cities of Riverside, California
Sendai, Japan
Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico
Ensenada, Mexico
Jiangmen, People's Republic of China
Gangnam, South Korea
Hyderabad, India
Obuasi, Ghana
Erlangen, Germany

Riverside has eight 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

• California Riverside Ballet
• Largest cities in Southern California
• Ranchos of California

References

Bibliography

• 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, Illinois.
• Gunther, Jane Davies. Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories, Riverside, CA, 1984. LOC catalog number: 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, California. ISBN 0-935661-24-7.
• Patterson, Tom. Landmarks of Riverside; and the Stories Behind Them. 1964. Press~Enterprise Co., Riverside, California. Library of Congress Catalogue Card No. 64-15204.

Further reading

• Hall, Joan H. Cottages, Colonials and Community Places of Riverside, California. 2003. Highgrove Press, Riverside, CA. ISBN 0-9631618-5-7.
• Klotz, Esther H. and Joan H. Hall. Adobes, Bungalows, and Mansions of Riverside, California. 2005. Highgrove Press, Riverside, CA. ISBN 0-9631618-6-5.
• Klotz, Esther H. Riverside and the Day the Bank Broke. 1972. Rubidoux Press, Riverside, CA.
• Lech, Steve (2007). Riverside 1870-1940. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-7385-4716-9. 

External links

• City of Riverside