Riverside: Recreation

Sightseeing

One of Riverside's most attractive sites, Victoria Avenue, was constructed in 1891-92. The 8.3 miles of divided street are planted with hedgerow roses, eucalyptus, palm, and crepe myrtle trees with a multipurpose trail. Thirty-nine acres of hilly tree-lined paths with more than three thousand blooming plant species from around the world are on view at the Botanical Gardens of the University of California, Riverside. The Gardens are also a wildlife sanctuary with almost two hundred bird species officially observed. The Mission Inn, a completely renovated National Historic Landmark hotel, is a unique blend of architectural styles and houses priceless pieces of art. The Teen Challenge Program is headquartered in the Spanish-style Benedict Castle, which was built in 1931. Overlooking the city of Riverside is the 1,337-foot Mt. Rubidoux, which is the site of the World Peace Tower and a large cross dedicated to Father Junipero Serra.

Heritage House, a restored two-story Victorian home completed in 1892 in the Queen Anne style, is open for tours. Visitors are also welcome at the Jensen-Alvarado Ranch, a historic ranch completely restored to portray rural life. The ranch features a variety of live animals, a duck pond, and citrus groves and fruit orchards.

Castle Park, a 25-acre family recreation park, features miniature golf, arcades, amusement rides, and a restored 1909 carousel. A model railroad at Hunter Park offers train rides when operating. Cuttings from the Parent Navel Orange Tree, planted in 1875, started the entire billion-dollar citrus industry in the United States. The tree, which can be seen at the Magnolia and Arlington area, still bears fruit.

Arts and Culture

Riverside is home to a variety of performing arts, theater, dance, and music organizations. The Children's Performing Art Center of California offers puppetry, mime, story spinning, and family entertainment every weekend through KIDSTUFF. The KIDSTUFF children's theater is housed in Riverside's Life Arts Building. The Performing Arts Program of the University of California, Riverside offers quality plays, musicals, and other acts through its University Theatre and other campus venues. The historic Riverside Municipal Auditorium—located in downtown Riverside—showcases live performances that range from popular music acts to comedy to dance throughout the year. The historic Fox Theater that is located downtown is currently undergoing restoration to become another multiuse venue in Riverside.

The Riverside Community Players, founded in 1926, is one of the oldest continuously active community theater groups in the United States and holds workshops in acting and staging techniques in addition to performing six productions annually. The Riverside Youth Theatre provides training for much younger thesbians and showcases their talents with a few reasonably priced performances per year.

The Riverside Chorale holds several concerts during the year featuring significant works of music. The Riverside Civic Light Opera, the oldest opera-in-English group in the nation, presents four or five shows per season. The Riverside County Philharmonic performs four subscription concerts each year October through May. The free public concerts of the Riverside Concert Band, Inc. provide an opportunity for young musicians to perform with more experienced players at official functions in the city. Riverside Community College's Civic Light Opera offers its Performance/Riverside season at the college's Landis Auditorium.

Dance enthusiasts will enjoy traditional Mexican dances performed by The Ballet Folklorico De Arlanza, whose members range in age from 5 to 23 years old. Annual professional productions of the Nutcracker plus a spring performance are offered by the Riverside Ballet Theatre, founded in 1969.

The Riverside Ballet Theater calls the historic Aurea Vista Hotel its home. It is only one of the many art groups found in the building. Another historic structure that serves as a art center in Riverside is the Life Arts Building, home to KIDSTUFF. Built as a YMCA in 1909, the Life Arts Building is home to more than 30 artists' studios and includes art galleries for the Riverside Community Arts Association and Media Sound Productions, a high-tech recording studio.

The Riverside Arts Council, a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers, presents classes, demonstrations, shows, and sales of artworks. Members promote the cultural life of Riverside through leadership in educational, financial, and technical assistance to artists, art organizations, and community groups.

Riverside has an interesting variety of museums to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The March Air Force Museum displays more than 60 aircraft and missiles, both inside and outside, on a 35-acre site adjacent to March Field. The Riverside Municipal Museum tells the story of the city's history, depicts the development of the citrus and other local manufacturing industries, and features touring exhibits. One of the largest collections of cameras and photos in the world is on display at the University of California, Riverside California Museum of Photography. Rare Indian artifacts, basketry, pottery, and handicrafts are on view at the Sherman Indian Museum. The Mission Inn Museum, located at the historic Mission Inn, presents an eclectic display of historic artifacts, paintings of the California Missions painted in the 1800s, oriental objects d'art, arts and crafts furniture, marble sculptures, and many photographs. The Riverside Arts Museum, which offers 20 major exhibits a year, also is located downtown near the Mission Inn Museum.

Festivals and Holidays

February brings the annual Dickens Festival, a literary festival honoring the writer Charles Dickens that encourages reading and enjoyment of the dramatic and cultural arts by the general public. Riverside also hosts the Black History Parade on the third Saturday in February. And the Riverside Ballet Theatre hosts its Sweetheart Dance in February, which is open to the public.

In March the Riverside Arts Council presents Evening for the Arts to benefit the local arts community. April brings the annual Riverside Airshow at the Riverside Municipal Airport and the annual Orange Blossom Festival. The Orange Blossom Festival is two days of entertainment, vendors, a parade, turn-of-the-century costumes and events that celebrate Riverside's citrus heritage. May's Cinco De Mayo is a celebration with music, entertainment, and food. The Vintage Home Tour and Restoration Faire featuring historically significant homes takes place in June. June also marks the beginning of Riverside Wednesday Night in downtown Riverside; the program lasts until September and offers a certified Farmer's Market, arts and crafts, food, live entertainment, petting zoo, pony rides, and kiddie rides. In the summer months Fairmount Park offers a wide range of family programs and a peaceful setting. Independence Day features fireworks atop Mt. Rubidoux and two other city sites, which can be viewed from Riverside's Wheelock Field.

Fall ushers in a new lineup of programming in Riverside. September is the month of the Annual Mayor's Ball for the Arts, with an evening of banquets, costumes, prizes, and awards. Riverside Jazz Fest goes on for a weekend in September at Fairmount Park. October features Fiesta de la Familia in celebration of Hispanic Heritage month. Halloween weekend brings spooky tales of ghouls with Ghostwalk Riverside.

November brings the Mission Inn 5K/10K Run through notable areas of downtown. But it also kicks off the holiday season with the Christmas Tree Lighting and Mission Inn Festival of Lights. December's Christmas Open House brightens spirits with music and entertainment at the Riverside Municipal Museum, and the Riverside Ballet Theatre Company performs the annual Nutcracker ballet.

Sports for the Participant

Riverside has more than 45 neighborhood and community parks and 2 state parks available to sports enthusiasts. Six neighborhood parks have tennis courts and swimming pools. The city parks also have a combined total of 15 soccer fields and more than 40 ballfields—which includes the lighted baseball stadium at Riverside Sports Complex that seats 3,500.

County parks offer natural environments for hiking, horseback riding, cycling, fishing, and camping. The 180-plus acre Fairmount Park offers fishing and sailing on Lake Evans, paddleboats, wildlife and bird watching, lawn bowling, golfing, playgrounds, and evening concerts. An outdoor recreational facility on 350 acres, Rancho Jurupa Park (a county park) has 10 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, stocked lakes, campsites with utility hookups, and the Louis Rubidoux Nature Center.

The California Citrus State Historic Park is currently being expanded for visitors. Lake Perris State Recreation Area has 8,800 lakeside acres waiting for water-skiing, boating, sailing, and windsurfing. Skiing in the nearby Big Bear area and hot air ballooning near the Temecula wineries are two popular winter activities.

Golfers can choose from 6 public and 3 private courses. Miniature golf enthusiasts can find four different 18-hole miniature courses at the Castle Amusement Park. Bicyclists can find out about a wealth of trails and events through the Riverside Bicycle Club. Even bowlers and skaters have numerous options within Riverside's city limits.

Shopping and Dining

The Inland Empire's shopping outlet is Ontario Mills, home to more than 200 specialty stores and 24 anchor stores. Riverside itself has two other major shopping malls: the 1.1-million square foot Galleria at Tyler and the recently transformed Riverside Plaza. The Riverside Plaza, housed within Riverside's Magnolia Center and historic craftsman-era "Wood Street" neighborhood, now sports a "Main Street" look and feel to its stores and shops. Downtown Riverside also offers a wide arrange of specialty stores. The Canyon Springs shopping center located on the eastern edge of Riverside has national retail stores, while Canyon Crest Towne Center has specialty shops in a residential area five minutes from downtown.

From coffeehouse fare to Cantonese favorites, Riverside has restaurants for every taste. Sandwich shops and casual eateries abound along with purveyors of ethnic delights including Mexican, French, Italian, Greek, Japanese, Thai, and British fish 'n' chips.

Visitor Information: Visitor Center, 3660 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501; telephone (909)684-4636

Riverside: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Although Riverside's beginnings are steeped in agriculture, today the economy relies heavily on government, education, manufacturing, and retail; however, affordable land space and housing are attracting employees and skilled laborers to the city. The city's Development Department Activity Update for 2003/2004 shows that Riverside ranks number one in almost all economic measures among the 53 cities in the area, including largest number of businesses and total jobs.

In recent years Riverside has placed a major emphasis on expanding its technology areas by developing high-tech industrial business parks. For example, the city, county, and University of California at Riverside all cooperate within the 856-acre Riverside Regional Technology Park. The complex offers a high-speed fiber optic telecommunications system that supports voice, video, and data information. Bourns Engineering and I/O Software, Centrum Analytical labs, and Luminex Software, Inc. have all chosen Riverside for new headquarters operations. Riverside also has taken strides in developing its industrial and manufacturing sectors. In the last 10 years Riverside has attracted more than 125 industrial employers, according to the city's Development Department. Riverside's light manufacturing base now includes such sectors as electrical instruments; plastics; wood, glass, and metal fabrication; food processing; recreational vehicles; and imaging equipment.

Riverside also hopes to see huge economic growth with the addition of shipping company DHL to its fold. The $18.6 billion company chose the March Air Reserve Base as its West Coast hub over two other Inland Empire locations. In addition the city's retail industry continues to grow as population continues to rise.

Items and goods produced: electrical instruments; plastics; wood, glass, and metal fabrication; recreational vehicles; food processing; aircraft parts; motorcycle parts; citrus-packing; precision plastic injection molders; home furniture; and medical imaging equipment.

Incentive Programs—New and Existing Companies

Local programs

The City of Riverside Development Department offers many programs and services to help businesses grow and succeed in the Southern California marketplace. These programs and services include: industrial development bond financing, local and state designated Enterprise Zones, redevelopment incentives, accelerated processes for plan checks and building permit fees, employment hiring and training programs, mapping services, high-speed Internet bandwidth within the city limits, and very competitive electric and water utility rates.

State programs

The Agua Mansa Enterprise Zone, which is partially located in the northeast corner of Riverside, is one of the state's designated Enterprise Zones. Business incentives and tax credits are provided to those businesses that operate or invest within a designated enterprise zone. Riverside also is home to a state Recycled Market Development Zone that offers financial incentives to companies interested in promote recycling as part of their manufacturing process.

Job training programs

The federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides a cooperative effort between employers and the Riverside County Workforce Development Board. An employer can receive assistance with employer-specific training and financial incentives, such as reimbursements, tax credits, and direct payments for the training of new employees. Employers can also receive reimbursement for a portion of the employee's wages during an on-the-job training period. The State Employment Development Department offers employers assistance and incentives for hiring qualified individuals. These include the Work Opportunity and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit for employers that are hiring qualified summer youth and other eligible individuals, such as certain veteran populations or older adults on supplemental social security.

Development Projects

Riverside has seen its industrial sector grow with the addition of the 56-acre University Research Park (URP), a project with the University of California, Riverside. URP is housed within Hunter Park and is the core of the recently designated 856-acre Riverside Regional Technology Park. Future plans for the Park include a 40,000 square foot technology business incubator.

Downtown Riverside also has been the focus of a rash of new developments. In 2002 Riverside Community Hospital opened a $20 million Emergency Room and Trauma Center. The Market Street Gateway, which is the entrance to Riverside off State Highway 60, has undergone vast aesthetic changes to attract more residential and retail developments. Market Street will also be the home of a new 126,000-square foot Corporate Center, located across from Fair-mount Park. The historic Fox Theater located downtown is currently undergoing restoration to become another multiuse venue in Riverside.

The Riverside Planning and Building Department has presented its General Plan for 2025. This plan outlines objectives for the future of Riverside in regards to housing, circulation, land use, economic outlook, arts and culture, and education. Some of the projects proposed in the General Plan for 2025 include improvements to the Riverside Municipal Airport, city parks, March Air Reserve Base/March Inland Port Airport, and more. The General Plan also proposes continuing support of the development of a contemporary state-of-the-art campus for the Riverside School of the Arts near White Park in downtown Riverside. The addition of shipping company DHL to the area promises to provide $65 million in new construction, according to the Riverside Chamber of Commerce.

Commercial Shipping

Riverside is adjacent to one of the major rail-freight centers in the state. Rail service to the city includes UPSP's main line and BNSF's main line and branch lines. The Riverside Municipal Airport, an excellent general aviation facility, accommodates private aircraft, charter services, and air-related businesses. More than sixty-five trucking companies are based in or have facilities in Riverside and provide a broad range of interstate, regional, and local freight services. The one-day area served from Riverside has a population of more than 30 million people, which is more than one-tenth of the U.S. population.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

The Inland Empire used to be the bedroom community for the larger metropolitan area. A relatively high percentage of the labor force commuted to jobs outside the two counties. But from 1980 to 2000 about 1.3 million people migrated to the area because it offered large tracts of affordable residential land, more than in coastal areas. The California Employment Development Department notes that Inland Empire's affordable housing and advantageous location have helped it create more new jobs than any other area. And the future forecast is just as bright. The influx of skilled professionals has helped the Inland Empire's economy become more focused on high tech, professional, and corporate jobs. These areas grow at a compound annual rate of 3.4 percent, adding 83,605 jobs, according to the Southern California Association of Governments. Blue-collar construction, manufacturing, and logistics sectors are expected to increase at 2.6 percent per year, adding 89,787 jobs. The Southern California Association of Governments forecasted that the Inland Empire's employment base will expand by 408,946 jobs from 2000-2010.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area labor force, 2004 annual averages.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 1,149,700

Number of workers employed in . . .

construction and mining: 119,000

manufacturing: 120,000

trade, transportation and utilities: 250,400

information: 13,700

financial activities: 45,200

professional and business services: 125,100

educational and health services: 117,700

leisure and hospitality: 115,200

other services: 38,700

government: 211,400

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $13.57

Unemployment rate: 5.5% (January 2005)

Cost of Living

Residential housing costs within Riverside are among the lowest in Southern California, a fact that has caused numerous companies and individuals to relocate to the area in recent years.

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: $424,106

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: 119.9 (U.S. average = 100.0)

State income tax rate: Ranges from 1.0% to 9.3%

State sales and use tax rate: 6%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales and use tax rate: 1.75%

Property tax rate: Approximately 1.25% of assessed valuation; assessment ratio = 100% for residential

Economic Information: City of Riverside Development Department, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92522; toll-free (877)RIV-SIDE (877-748-7433); email devdept @riversideca.gov. Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce, 3985 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501; telephone (951)683-7100

Riverside: History

The Rancho Era

The first European visitors to the area of present-day Riverside were Captain Juan Bautista de Anza and his thirty-four seasoned soldiers, who arrived in the area from Arizona in 1774 in search of a land route to California. At that time the Valley of Paradise was inhabited by Native Americans, who lived in the niches in the rocky hills and foraged for food. The natives lived in the area relatively undisturbed until 1821, when the lands of California became the property of Mexico.

Shortly thereafter Juan Bandini, a prominent political figure in California, was given a piece of land called El Rancho Jurupa, which he later presented to Abel Stearns, the husband of one of his daughters. The Stearns sold the land to Louis Rubidoux, who along with other ranchers, ruled the land. After Rubidoux's death part of the land was purchased by John North, who decided to build a community of ethical people devoted to establishing good schools, churches, and libraries. The new town was called Riverside and its original square, called "Mile Square," remains the heart of the city. Within a few years of its founding, railroad tracks were built connecting the city to far-off places.

Oranges and Irrigation

Around 1875 a mutant Brazilian orange tree that produced fruit with no seeds was brought to the city. In the rich soil by the Santa Ana River the fruit flourished under the abundant sunshine. By 1887 the navel orange had become the dominant crop in Riverside and other California cities.

About the same time, with the financial aid of people from England, Matthew Gage, an immigrant from Canada, began work on a canal to bring water to all of Riverside, parts of which had no water available. With the irrigation made possible by Gage's canal, Riverside's greatest growth period began. Three new subdivisions—White's Addition, Hall's Addition, and Arlington Heights—were developed.

Economic strides were made in the 1880s when a number of local fruit growers joined together to pick and sell fruit under one brand name they could all use, and to grade their oranges for quality. The plan expanded and by 1893 a group of all the growers of California was formed under the name of the Southern California Fruit Exchange, now known as Sunkist. The development of refrigerated railroad cars and innovative irrigation systems established Riverside as the state's wealthiest city per capita by 1895.

In 1873 James Roe, a druggist and teacher, moved to the city and by the late 1870s had launched the Riverside Press weekly newspaper that later became the current daily publication, The Press-Enterprise.

World Wars Establish Military Presence

During World War I, March Field, now March Air Reserve Base, was established for the training of aviators. In 1920, Ernest Louis Yeager began the E. L. Yeager Construction Company, Inc., which, with the assistance of his three sons, completed over a half century of master construction projects. In the latter half of this century the Food Machinery Corporation was formed to produce machinery for packing citrus fruits efficiently and rapidly.

During World War II March Field was expanded and another base, Camp Haan, was begun across from March Field. The site is now occupied by the new National Veteran's Cemetery. A third base was built, called Camp Anza, which later became a subdivision called Arlanza.

Riverside prides itself on its background, and there is strong community support for the historic preservation of architectural structures. Riverside has 22 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A Promising Future

In recent years Riverside has given much attention to diversifying its economy and creating a sustainable community. In 2004 Partners for Livable Communities recognized Riverside as one of America's "Most Livable Communities" in the mid-sized city category. The award—which is given out every decade—recognizes Riverside's strides in preparing itself for a global economy through strategic business plans. However, it also acknowledges Riverside's constant nurturing of its community—something the city has done since it blossomed in 1883.

Historical Information: Riverside Municipal Museum, 3580 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501; telephone (909)826-5273

Riverside: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Riverside Unified School District and the Alvord Unified School District, which accommodates the southwestern part of the city and adjacent unincorporated areas, serve the city of Riverside.

There are 42,000 students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 in 45 schools in the Riverside Unified School District. The following is a summary of data regarding the Alvord Unified School District as of the 2003-2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 19,200

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 12

junior high/middle schools: 4

senior high chools: 3 (includes 1 continuation high school)

Student/teacher ratio: 23:1

Teacher salaries

average: $59,867

Funding per pupil: $6,357

Public Schools Information: Alvord Unified School District, 10365 Keller Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505; telephone (951)509-5000. Riverside Unified School District, 3380 14th Street, Riverside, CA 92501; telephone (951)788-7134

Colleges and Universities

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is one of the most diverse public universities in the nation; U.S. News and World Report ranked UCR third in this distinction. The university is experiencing more growth than any other University of California campuses, and as a result it launched a Long Range Development Plan in 2004 to meet the demands of an expected enrollment of 25,000 by 2010. Projects include more off-campus housing near the UCR campus in downtown Riverside. Considered a major research university and national center for the humanities, UCR offers bachelor's degrees in more than 75 disciplines, 36 doctoral programs, and 40 master's degree programs. The School of Education offers master's and doctoral programs in addition to teaching credentials in several other programs; UCR also offers a College of Engineering. La Sierra University, with more than 1,900 students, is a Seventh-Day Adventist institution that offers course work in undergraduate and graduate programs. California Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts institution with more than 2,000 students that offers degree programs in such areas as behavioral sciences, business administration, liberal arts, and Christian studies. California Southern Law School, which operates part-time evening classes, offers programs in the practice and theory of law. Riverside Community College (RCCD), a two-year school with its main campus downtown, offers a number of associate degree programs in a variety of fields. Local vocational schools feature programs in business services, contractor's licensing, medical services, and other areas of technology and trade. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has recently approved RCCD's request to evolve from a three-campus system to a multi-college system by 2007.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Riverside Public Library has the third largest public library collection in the Southwest; only Los Angeles and Las Vegas public libraries have larger collections. The main library facility is located in historic downtown, and six other branches operate within the city. The Riverside Local History Research Center is a partnership between Riverside Municipal Museum and Riverside Public Library. Special collections at the Riverside Public Library include Spanish language, genealogy, local history, historical photographs, and U.S. documents. The Riverside County Library System, Moreno Valley Public Library, Murrieta Public Library, and College of the Desert are part of the Riverside County Network, an automated network that deploys approximately 350 computer/terminal workstations in library branches throughout the region.

Other local libraries include those associated with local churches, colleges, and businesses, the California School for the Deaf Library, the county historical commission library, county law library, and the University of California Riverside Library. UCR's Library has four separate libraries, including a media library, a science library, and the Tomás Rivera Library.

Public Library Information: Riverside Public Library, 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501; telephone (951)826-5201

Riverside: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents (PMSA)

1980: 1,558,000

1990: 2,588,793

2000: 3,254,821

Percent change, 1990–2000: 25.7%

U.S. rank in 1980: 2nd (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 1990: 2nd (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 2000: 2nd (CMSA)

City Residents

1980: 170,591

1990: 226,546

2000: 255,166

2003 estimate: 281,514

Percent change, 1990–2000: 12.6%

U.S. rank in 1980: 83rd

U.S. rank in 1990: 68th

U.S. rank in 2000: 78th

Density: 3,104 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 151,377

Black or African American: 18,906

American Indian and Alaska Native: 2,779

Asian: 14,501

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 991

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 97,315

Other: 53,591

Percent of residents born in state: 56.5% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 20,435

Population 5 to 9 years old: 22,559

Population 10 to 14 years old: 21,379

Population 15 to 19 years old: 23,145

Population 20 to 24 years old: 22,216

Population 25 to 34 years old: 37,324

Population 35 to 34 years old: 39,140

Population 45 to 54 years old: 29,565

Population 55 to 59 years old: 9,293

Population 60 to 64 years old: 7,056

Population 65 to 74 years old: 11,811

Population 75 to 84 years old: 8,420

Population 85 years and older: 2,823

Median age: 29.8 years

Births (2002, Riverside County)

Total number: 26,691

Deaths (2002, Riverside County)

Total number: 12,830 (of which, 170 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $17,882

Median household income: $41,646

Total households: 86,044

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 8,334

$10,000 to $14,999: 4,927

$15,000 to $24,999: 10,133

$25,000 to $34,999: 10,865

$35,000 to $49,999: 13,565

$50,000 to $74,999: 16,058

$75,000 to $99,999: 8,638

$100,000 to $149,999: 6,678

$150,000 to $199,999: 1,375

$200,000 or more: 1,555

Percent of families below poverty level: 11.7% (48.2% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 15,161