Riverside is the largest city in the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California, and is approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles, and 12 miles southwest of San Bernardino. Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, and is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. Riverside is the birthplace of the California citrus industry, home of the Mission Inn Hotel, the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States, and home of the Riverside National Cemetery. As of 2008, Riverside had an estimated population of 311,575.

Riverside is the home of La Sierra University, California Baptist University and the University of California, Riverside, which has a citrus experimental station and a salinity lab. Attractions in the area include Riverside Metropolitan Museum, which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history, the California Museum of Photography and the California Citrus State Historic Park. The Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree, planted in 1873 and one of two original orange trees in California, and the historic Mission Inn are landmarks in the city.

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, and Republican. There were 4 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.

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, however it's success in Southern California was monumental.

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 other two trees were then transplanted to property belonging to Sam McCoy as the trees were not being cared for well enough by L. C. Tibbets, Eliza's husband. 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.

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 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 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 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, other orchards and produce fields. The area these people liven in was called Agua Mansa. 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 migrants 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 Harada 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.

Sports History

Riverside was home to the Riverside International Raceway from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989. Races held at the Riverside International Raceway included Formula One, NASCAR, Can-Am, USAC, IMSA, IROC, and CART. The raceway was closed to make way for a shopping mall and housing development shortly after the raceway property was incorporated with the city of Moreno Valley in 1984. In 2003, plans were announced to build a 3-mile (4.8 km) road course near Merced, California, based on the design of the Riverside layout. The new track will be known as the Riverside Motorsports Park.

Riverside has 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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 98.4 square miles (255 km²), of which, 98.1 square miles (222.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.36% water. The elevation of downtown Riverside is 860 feet. There are some hills within the city limits of Riverside. Riverside is surrounded by small and large mountains, some of which get winter snow.

Climate

Riverside experiences a semi-arid or an arid mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification BSh or CSa) with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Temperatures in the summer can exceed 95°F (35°C) but with low humidity. In the winter, high temperatures may not rise above 55°F (13°F) during rainy days. On average, January is the coldest month with an average high/low of 68°F/43°F (20°C/6°C) while August is the hottest with a high/low of 95°F/64°F (35°C/18°C). Riverside receives 10.22" of precipitation annually with most of it occurring in the winter and early spring, especially January through March, with January being the wettest month. However, during El Nino years, Southern California can receive considerably more precipitation and cooler temperatures than average. Mudslides are more common during these winters due to the very powerful storms that are more frequent in the warm phase of ENSO.

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.

Landmarks

Riverside is home of the historic Mission Inn, the beaux-arts style Historic Riverside County 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 is now being refurbished. Part of the Riverside Renaissance Initiative, the Fox Theater is currently undergoing rehabilitation 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 2009.

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, 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.

Neighborhoods

The City of Riverside has 29 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, Woodcrest and Wood Streets.

Current annexation proposals

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, the Lake Hills/Victoria Grove area, which would extend its southwestern borders to Lake Mathews.

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

Features

Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside. The UCR Botanical Gardens contains 40 acres (162,000 m²) 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.

The 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.

Society & Culture

Museums

• 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, located at 815 Marlborough, Suite 200, Riverside, Ca. 92507.
• Riverside Metropolitan Museum
• Sherman Indian Museum at the Sherman Indian High School
• Sweeny 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 & Events

The Riverside Festival of Lights centers around the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, in the downtown area. Decoration of the Inn begins in October and a lighting ceremony that includes notable 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. 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.

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.

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 of aircraft displays, a car show and military vehicle display, children's activities, food and refreshments, helicopter displays and community group exhibits.

The Riverside International Film Festival takes place April 11 - April 20, 2008. The festival includes directors from around the world.

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 second annual event is scheduled for March 26 through March 28, 2010.

On September 13, 2008, Riverside also hosted its first LGBT Pride event at White Park, near the Mission Inn.

Religion

Riverside is home to a variety of churches, religious organizations, and celebrations. The annual Easter Sunrise service at the top of Mt. Rubidoux 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 second celebration involving Mt. Rubidoux takes place. 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 . The 2007 procession attracted 2,500 people.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside,_California