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Riverside County is the fourth largest county in the
state, stretching nearly 200 miles across and comprising over 7,200
square miles of fertile river valleys, low deserts, mountains, foothills
and rolling plains. Riverside County share borders with densely
populated Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and San Bernardino
Counties...extending from within 14 miles of the Pacific Ocean to the
Colorado River.
Taking its name from the City of Riverside, the
county was formed in 1893 from a small portion of San Bernardino County
and a larger part of San Diego County.
Although the county marks its political beginnings in
1893, the land was occupied long before Europeans and their descendants
entered the areas, by several Native American groups including the
Serranos, the Luisenos, the Cupenos, the Chemehuevi, and the Cahuillas.
One of the first caucasians to travel through the area was Juan Bautista
de Anza who led an overland expedition in 1774.
In the late 18th century, the Spanish mission fathers
of San Gabriel (Los Angeles County), San Juan Capistrano (Orange
County), and San Luis Rey (San Diego) began colonizing the land and
gradually used the interior valley (in what is now Western Riverside
County) for raising grain and cattle. During this period, Spain claimed
all of California and Mexico.
In 1822, Mexico successfully revolted against Spain,
and California came under Mexican jurisdiction. The missions and their
lands were secularized beginning in 1834 and the land was transferred as
"grants" to Californians who were citizens of Mexico. The first land
grant in what is now Riverside County, Rancho Jurupa, was given to Juan
Bandini in 1838.
In 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo, California became a territory of the United States, and in 1850
California became a state. This event generated a steady flow of
settlers into the area, including gold miners, entrepreneurs,
health-seekers, speculators, politicians, adventurers, seekers of
religious freedom, and individuals desiring to create utopian colonies.
In May 1893, voters living within an area carved from San Bernardino
County (to the north) and San Diego County (to the south), approved
formation of Riverside County. On May 9, 1893, the County officially
formed, and began charting a course under its newly-elected Board of
Supervisors. The County's early years were linked to the agriculture
industry...but commerce, construction, manufacturing, transportation,
and tourism soon took old...contributing substantially to the region's
rapid growth.
Recent years have brought dramatic population growth
to Riverside County. Between 1980 and 1990, the number of residents grew
by over 76%...making Riverside the fastest-growing County in California.
By 1992, the County was "home" to over 1.3 million residents...more than
the entire population of 13 states, among them Maine, Nevada, Hawaii,
and New Hampshire.
Cities and Towns in Riverside County
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