Riverside, California

{{Main|History of Riverside, California}}

File:DeAnza-Statue (cropped).jpg, whose expedition came through the area in 1774]]

In the late 18th century and the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by Cahuilla and the Serrano people. Californios such as Bernardo Yorba and Juan Bandini established ranches during the first half of the 19th century.

In the 1860s, Louis Prevost launched the California Silk Center Association, a short-lived experiment in sericulture. In the wake of its failure, John W. North purchased some of its land and formed the Southern California Colony Association to promote the area's development. In March 1870, North distributed posters announcing the formation of a colony in California.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/library/history_aids_founding.asp|title=Local History: Finding aids|publisher=Riverside Public Library|access-date=February 19, 2015}} North, a staunch temperance-minded abolitionist from New York State, had formerly founded Northfield, Minnesota. 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.Brown and Boyd, Vol 2. 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, with the citrus industry Riverside is famous for beginning three years later (1874)Brown and Boyd, Vol 1, p. 429 when Eliza Tibbets received three Brazilian navel orange trees sent to her by a personal friend, William Saunders, a horticulturist at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The trees came from Bahia, Brazil. The Bahia orange did not thrive in Florida, but its success in southern California was phenomenal.

File:The first navel orange tree in California replanted here by President Theodore Roosevelt, ca.1910 (CHS-5239).jpg trees in California, this one replanted at the Mission Inn by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Photo c. 1910.]]

File:Riverside-1876.jpg

File:RiversideFireDept1910.jpg

The three trees were planted on the Tibbets' property. One of them 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.Brown and Boyd, Vol 1, p. 430 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 at the intersection of Magnolia and Arlington avenues. Eliza Tibbets was honored with a stone marker placed with the last tree. That tree still stands to this day inside a protective fence abutting what is now a major intersection.

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 trees 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 in the United States (in terms of income per capita) by 1895.H. Vincent Moses wrote in 1982 that Riverside was the wealthiest U.S. city per capita in 1895. Dr. Moses is a city historian. See "Machines in the Garden: A Citrus Monopoly in Riverside, 1900–31", published in California History, Spring 1982.

Riverside is the 59th-most populous city in the United States, the 12th-most populous city in California, and the largest city in California's Inland Empire metro area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|81.4|sqmi|km2|1||sp=us}}, of which {{convert|81.1|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (0.37%) is water. The elevation of downtown Riverside is {{convert|860|ft|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. Many residents also enjoy the many beaches of Southern California. Riverside is about a {{convert|47|mi|km|adj=on}} drive to the Pacific Ocean and is close to Orange County and Los Angeles County.{{cite web|author=calculate travel time |url=http://www.travelmath.com/flying-distance/from/Riverside,+CA/to/Laguna+Beach,+CA |title=Flight Distance from Riverside, CA to Laguna Beach, CA |publisher=Travelmath.com |access-date=February 8, 2013}}

{{wide image|Birdeye, Riverside, California.jpg|800px|A panorama of Riverside, California, taken from the summit of Mount Rubidoux, 1908}}

{{wide image|Riverside_Panorama.jpg|900px|A 360-degree panorama of Riverside, California, taken from the summit of Mount Rubidoux}}

{{Main|List of landmarks in Riverside, California}}

File:MissionInnEntry.jpg]]

Riverside is home to 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversiderenaissance.org/default.aspx|title=Riverside Renaissance Initiative|access-date=January 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611001522/http://www.riversiderenaissance.org/default.aspx|archive-date=June 11, 2009|url-status=usurped}} The Fox Theater underwent extensive renovation and restoration, which was completed in 2009, to turn the old cinema into a performing arts theater.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversiderenaissance.org/projectsdetail.aspx?List=cc0f2a9b-9a5b-4533-933e-bcafae5946fd&ID=8&Source=http://www.riversiderenaissance.org/projects_arts.aspx|title=rehabilitation|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511110044/http://www.riversiderenaissance.org/projectsdetail.aspx?List=cc0f2a9b%2D9a5b%2D4533%2D933e%2Dbcafae5946fd&ID=8&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eriversiderenaissance%2Eorg%2Fprojects%5Farts%2Easpx|archive-date=May 11, 2008}} 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 in a nearly sold-out show.Franko, Vanessa. [http://www.pe.com/reports/2010/fox/stories/PE_News_Local_W_sheryl23.4470f39.html Sheryl Crow opens the first night of entertainment at the Fox] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316211551/http://www.pe.com/reports/2010/fox/stories/PE_News_Local_W_sheryl23.4470f39.html |date=March 16, 2010 }}, The Press-Enterprise, January 22, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.

File:Victorian Historical House.jpg houses from the 19th century]]

Riverside is the home of the "World's Largest Paper Cup" (actually made of concrete), which is over three stories ({{convert|68.10|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}} ) tall. The "Dixie Cup" landmark is 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 landmarks 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, founded in 1918, is the oldest operating Air Force base west of the Mississippi River.

At the entrance to Riverside from the 60 freeway sits Fairmount Park. This extensive urban oasis was designed by the firm founded by Frederick Law Olmsted, which had designed New York's Central Park.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/park_rec/facilities.asp|title=City of Riverside, California - Park & Recreation|work=riversideca.gov|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-date=October 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006091711/http://www.riversideca.gov/park_rec/facilities.asp|url-status=dead}} It includes a stocked pond that is home to many species of birds. On nearby private land is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village.

File:Riversidehomes.JPG

The city of Riverside has 28 designated "neighborhoods" within the city limits.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhoods-map.asp|title=Riverside, California - City of Arts & Innovation - At Home in Riverside|work=riversideca.gov}} These include Airport, Alessandro Heights, Arlanza, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Arlington South, Canyon Crest, Casa Blanca, Downtown, [http://www.riversider.org 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.

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 originally a settlement called La Placita that predated the city, being founded in 1843. Mexican communities were also formed in the barrio of Casa Blanca during the early 20th century.

The city council has proposed many annexations of nearby unincorporated communities that would increase Riverside's population and land area significantly. Most notable is the Lake Hills/Victoria Grove area, which would extend the city's southwestern borders to Lake Mathews.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/planning/annex.asp|title=Riverside, California - City of Arts & Innovation - Planning|website=www.riversideca.gov|access-date=March 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115010005/http://www.riversideca.gov/planning/annex.asp|archive-date=November 15, 2008|url-status=dead}}

File:annexr.png

• 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

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

File:RiversideCA VictoriaAve.jpg is an important citrus-lined paseo.]]

Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside. The UCR Botanical Gardens contains {{convert|40|acre|ha}} of unusual plants, with {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} of walking trails.

Another notable university in the city is La Sierra University, whose 150-acre (61 ha) campus{{Cite web |title=About La Sierra University - La Sierra University |url=https://lasierra.edu/about/la-sierra-university/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=lasierra.edu |language=en-us}} is located in Riverside's La Sierra neighborhood.{{Cite web |title=Riverside, California {{!}} City of Arts & Innovation {{!}} At Home in Riverside |url=https://www.riversideca.gov/athomeinriverside/neighborhoods-lasierra.asp |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.riversideca.gov}} The university is home to the World Museum of Natural History, which showcases systematic displays of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The specimens are presented through sculpture and freeze-dry taxidermy exhibits.{{Cite web |title=World Museum of Natural History - La Sierra University |url=https://lasierra.edu/world-museum-of-natural-history/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=lasierra.edu |language=en-us}}

The city prides itself on its historic connection to the navel orange, which was introduced to North America from Brazil in 1874. 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.California Department of Health Services

• Riverside Community Hospital is a General Acute Care Hospital with Basic Emergency Services and a Level I Trauma Center as of 2020.
• 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: Arlanza, Arlington, La Sierra, Marcy, Main, Orange Terrace, Eastside Cybrary, and Casa Blanca.

Convention facilities are available at several locations. The Riverside Convention Center, remodeled in 2014, offers {{convert|66000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} indoors and {{convert|14000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of outdoor space. Also available is the Riverside Marriott with {{convert|14000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} indoors, and the Mission Inn with {{convert|15000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} indoors and {{convert|5000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} outdoors.[http://www.riversidecvb.com/meetings_conventions/default.aspx Riverside Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715192350/http://www.riversidecvb.com/meetings_conventions/default.aspx |date=July 15, 2011 }}. Retrieved October 30, 2010. All three facilities are located within walking distance of one another in downtown Riverside. Meetings with an academic focus are also held at the University of California, Riverside.

Cemeteries in Riverside include:

• Crestlawn Memorial Park; notable burials include Medal of Honor recipient George Alan Ingalls, baseball player Mike Darr, actor Roland Harrah III, and actor Darwood Kaye.
• Evergreen Cemetery; notable burials include Marcella Craft, Frank Augustus Miller, John W. North, Eliza Tibbets, and Al Wilson.
• Olivewood Memorial Park;{{Coord|33|57|10|N|117|22|44|W|region:US-CA|display=i}} {{GNIS|246894|Olivewood Cemetery}} notable burials include Medal of Honor recipient Jesus S. Duran,{{cite news|last=Santschi|first=Darrell R.|title=Riverside med to get top honor: Jesus S. Duran and Salvador J. Lara will be awarded the Medal of Honor|newspaper=The Press-Enterprise|date=February 23, 2014}} Travis Alexander, Dorothy Burgess, Mayor Ben H. Lewis, Del Lord, Gloria Ramirez, and Eric Show.
• Riverside National Cemetery, established in 1976, is the 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

Riverside experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) bordering on an arid climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Normal monthly mean temperatures range from {{convert|54.8|°F|1}} in December to {{convert|79.8|°F|1}} in August.{{cite web | url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00003171.normals.txt | title = Station Name: CA RIVERSIDE MUNI AP | publisher = National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200731160653/ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00003171.normals.txt | archive-date = 2020-07-31 | url-status = dead | access-date = April 18, 2018}} On average, temperatures reach the freezing mark and {{convert|100|°F|1}} on 3.5 and 21.6 days annually, respectively. Record temperatures range from {{convert|18|°F|1}} on January 15, 1911, up to {{convert|118|°F|1}} on July 17, 1925, June 16, 1917, and July 6, 2018.{{cite web| url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx| title = NOW Data — NOAA Online Weather Data| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration| access-date = April 18, 2018}} On average, Riverside receives {{convert|9.39|in|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually, with measurable precipitation occurring on 35 days, with almost all of it between November and April, with February the wettest month.{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USC00047470.normals.txt| server = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration| url-status = dead| title = CA Riverside Fire STN 3| access-date = April 18, 2018}} The wettest "rain year" was from July 1940 to June 1941 with {{convert|22.72|in|mm|1|disp=or}} and the driest from July 1960 to June 1961 with only {{convert|2.79|in|mm|1|disp=or}}.

{{Weather box|location = Riverside, California (Riverside Municipal Airport) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 94

|Feb record high F = 94

|Mar record high F = 102

|Apr record high F = 105

|May record high F = 110

|Jun record high F = 118

|Jul record high F = 118

|Aug record high F = 113

|Sep record high F = 117

|Oct record high F = 109

|Nov record high F = 100

|Dec record high F = 94

| Jan avg record high F = 83.1

| Feb avg record high F = 83.3

| Mar avg record high F = 87.8

| Apr avg record high F = 94.2

| May avg record high F = 97.1

| Jun avg record high F = 101.3

| Jul avg record high F = 105.1

| Aug avg record high F = 106.6

| Sep avg record high F = 106.2

| Oct avg record high F = 99.8

| Nov avg record high F = 91.0

| Dec avg record high F = 82.6

|year avg record high F = 109.6

|Jan high F = 67.7

|Feb high F = 67.9

|Mar high F = 72.1

|Apr high F = 75.9

|May high F = 79.9

|Jun high F = 86.7

|Jul high F = 93.3

|Aug high F = 94.9

|Sep high F = 91.3

|Oct high F = 82.7

|Nov high F = 74.5

|Dec high F = 66.8

|year high F= 79.5

|Jan mean F = 55.6

|Feb mean F = 56.3

|Mar mean F = 59.5

|Apr mean F = 62.9

|May mean F = 67.6

|Jun mean F = 73.0

|Jul mean F = 78.6

|Aug mean F = 79.8

|Sep mean F = 76.6

|Oct mean F = 68.9

|Nov mean F = 61.0

|Dec mean F = 54.8

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 43.6

|Feb low F = 44.7

|Mar low F = 46.9

|Apr low F = 50.0

|May low F = 55.3

|Jun low F = 59.3

|Jul low F = 63.9

|Aug low F = 64.7

|Sep low F = 61.9

|Oct low F = 55.2

|Nov low F = 47.4

|Dec low F = 42.8

|year low F= 53.0

| Jan avg record low F = 34.0

| Feb avg record low F = 36.0

| Mar avg record low F = 38.8

| Apr avg record low F = 42.3

| May avg record low F = 48.3

| Jun avg record low F = 53.8

| Jul avg record low F = 58.6

| Aug avg record low F = 59.0

| Sep avg record low F = 54.5

| Oct avg record low F = 46.7

| Nov avg record low F = 38.0

| Dec avg record low F = 33.2

|year avg record low F = 31.5

|Jan record low F = 18

|Feb record low F = 24

|Mar record low F = 25

|Apr record low F = 29

|May record low F = 33

|Jun record low F = 35

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 40

|Sep record low F = 37

|Oct record low F = 30

|Nov record low F = 23

|Dec record low F = 21

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.29

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.41

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.21

|Apr precipitation inch = 0.57

|May precipitation inch = 0.20

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.12

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.03

|Sep precipitation inch = 0.11

|Oct precipitation inch = 0.33

|Nov precipitation inch = 0.57

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.51

|year precipitation inch= 9.39

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 4.8

|Feb precipitation days = 6.9

|Mar precipitation days = 5.2

|Apr precipitation days = 3.9

|May precipitation days = 1.6

|Jun precipitation days = 0.2

|Jul precipitation days = 0.7

|Aug precipitation days = 0.5

|Sep precipitation days = 0.5

|Oct precipitation days = 2.3

|Nov precipitation days = 3.6

|Dec precipitation days = 5.1

|year precipitation days=

|source 1 = NWS{{cite web|url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx|title=Climate}}

|source 2 = NOAA{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00003171&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals |publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information |access-date=July 19, 2022}}

}}

The Riverside area faces issues of smog and above-average levels of air pollution. Southern California is the only extreme nonattainment area for ozone and is one of only three severe nonattainment areas for particulate matter.{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/green-book |website=EPA Green Book |access-date=April 28, 2025 |title=Nonattainment Areas for Criteria Pollutants (Green Book) |date=April 14, 2016 }} 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.{{cite journal |title= Air pollution and lung development |year=2004 |pmid=15356303 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/351/11/1057 |access-date=March 17, 2006|last1=Gauderman |first1=W. J. |last2=Avol |first2=E. |last3=Gilliland |first3=F. |last4=Vora |first4=H. |last5=Thomas |first5=D. |last6=Berhane |first6=K. |last7=McConnell |first7=R. |last8=Kuenzli |first8=N. |last9=Lurmann |first9=F. |last10=Rappaport |first10=E. |last11=Margolis |first11=H. |last12=Bates |first12=D. |last13=Peters |first13=J. |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |volume=351 |issue=11 |pages=1057–1067 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa040610 |doi-access=free }} The city made efforts to reduce pollution by incorporating additional means of mass transit (Metrolink) and equipping its entire fleet of buses with natural gas. Smog decreased considerably over the next few years as local municipalities and counties worked with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to implement measures to improve regional air quality.{{cite web|url=http://www.scaqmd.org|title=California Air District Website Links|work=scaqmd.org}} In 2020, the American Lung Association rated Riverside County one of the nation's worst counties for smog.{{cite web |last1=Wisckol |first1=Martin |title=Worst smog in America is in LA metro region |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/04/20/worst-smog-in-america-is-in-l-a-metro-region/ |publisher=Orange County Register |access-date=October 29, 2020 |date=April 21, 2020}} 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, and the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach into the Inland Empire.

{{US Census population

| 1890 = 4683

| 1900 = 7973

| 1910 = 15212

| 1920 = 19341

| 1930 = 29696

| 1940 = 34696

| 1950 = 46764

| 1960 = 84332

| 1970 = 140089

| 1980 = 170591

| 1990 = 226505

| 2000 = 255166

| 2010 = 303871

| 2020 = 314998

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 323757

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

File:Architectural detail of the bell tower.JPG]]

The 2020 United States census reported that Riverside had a population of 314,998. The population density was {{convert|3,877.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Riverside was 36.5% White, 6.4% African American, 2.0% Native American, 7.4% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 30.3% from other races, and 17.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.7% of the population.{{cite web |title=Riverside city, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0662000 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}

The census reported that 96.3% of the population lived in households, 3.0% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.6% were institutionalized.

There were 96,270 households, out of which 38.1% included children under the age of 18, 47.9% were married-couple households, 7.5% were cohabiting couple households, 26.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 17.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 19.9% of households were one person, and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.15. There were 69,909 families (72.6% of all households).{{cite web |title=Riverside city, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0662000 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}

The age distribution was 23.3% under the age of 18, 13.4% aged 18 to 24, 28.2% aged 25 to 44, 23.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 33.3{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males.

There were 100,255 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,234.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 96,270 (96.0%) were occupied. Of these, 54.2% were owner-occupied, and 45.8% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $88,575, and the per capita income was $33,716. About 9.1% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line.{{cite web |title=Riverside city, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0662000 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 2, 2025}}

File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Riverside (5560442038).png

The 2010 census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0662000|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715040305/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0662000|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Riverside city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Riverside had a population of 303,871. The population density was {{convert|3,731.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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, 1.0% Indonesian, 0.1% 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.
• 148,953 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (49.0%);

41.8% of Riverside's population was of Mexican descent, 1.1% Guatemalan, 1.0% Salvadoran, 0.7% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Colombian origin.{{Cite news

|title=U.S. Census website

|work=census.gov

|access-date=August 27, 2011 |url=https://www.census.gov

}} 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.

There were 81,406 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 47,126 (15.5%) aged 18 to 24, 82,482 (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 66,615 (21.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 26,242 (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 {{convert|1,208.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, 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.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Riverside had a median household income of $56,403, with 17.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0662000.html|title=Riverside (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|work=census.gov|access-date=March 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424143033/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0662000.html|archive-date=April 24, 2015|url-status=dead}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religion in Riverside (2014){{cite web|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/metro-area/riverside-ca-metro-area/|publisher=Pew Research Center|title=Adults in the Riverside metro area}}[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles/ Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles], Pew Research Center

| label1 = Protestantism

| value1 = 43

| color1 = DodgerBlue

| label2 = Roman Catholicism

| value2 = 22

| color2 = #d4213d

| label3 = LDS Church

| value3 = 3

| color3 = DarkTurquoise

| label4 = Eastern Orthodoxy

| value4 = 1

| color4 = Purple

| label5 = Jehovah's Witnesses

| value5 = 2

| color5 = Aquamarine

| label6 = No religion

| value6 = 25

| color6 = Honeydew

| label7 = Other religion

| value7 = 4

| color7 = Orange

}}

Riverside is largely Christian and is home to Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Protestant, and Universalist Unitarian churches, an Islamic mosque, Jewish synagogue, Hindu temple, and several Buddhist temples. Riverside is also home to the Inland Empire Atheists and Agnostics organization.{{cite web|author=US |url=http://www.inlandempireatheists.com |title=Inland Empire Atheists, Agnostics & Skeptics Meetup Group (Riverside, CA) – Meetup.com |publisher=Inlandempireatheists.com |access-date=June 1, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wbriefs15.4798926.html |title=West Briefs – 4/15/09 | Riverside County | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California |publisher=PE.com |date=April 14, 2009 |access-date=June 1, 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The city has a large population of Seventh-day Adventists, due to the presence of La Sierra University and proximity to Loma Linda near San Bernardino.

There is also a large Mormon population, as well as in the San Bernardino area, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has missions in Riverside and Redlands near their temple.

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{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sunrise05.3fcd4b6.html|title=News : Press Enterprise|work=pe.com|access-date=July 18, 2009|archive-date=April 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419172944/http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_S_sunrise05.3fcd4b6.html|url-status=dead}} The 100th anniversary of the event was held April 12, 2009. Each December, a 2½-mile (4 km) 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/family/stories/PE_News_Local_S_guadalupe04.3144338.html|title=Press Enterprise : Riverside County California News, Sports and Entertainment|work=pe.com}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2012, a controversy erupted regarding the cross atop Mount Rubidoux, which was on city-owned land and maintained by the city. Due to constitutional issues regarding separation of church and state, the Riverside City Council sold the cross and the land under it (0.43 acres; 1740.15 sq m) to a private entity for $10,500.{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20130411-mount-rubidoux-cross-auction-winner-will-keep-riverside-landmark.ece|title=Mount Rubidoux Cross: Auction winner will keep Riverside landmark|work=Press Enterprise|access-date=January 17, 2014|archive-date=December 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225001315/http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20130411-mount-rubidoux-cross-auction-winner-will-keep-riverside-landmark.ece|url-status=dead|author-first1=Jeff|author-last1=Horseman|date=11 April 2013}}

File:Fox theater.jpg

File:Riverside Convention Center - aerial view.jpg]]

Riverside's economy consists largely of light-industry and generates a range of products including aircraft components, automotive parts, gas cylinders, electronic equipment, food products, and medical devices. Supporting the manufacturing sector are several industrial parks, including those in the Hunter Industrial Park, Sycamore Canyon Industrial Park and Airport Industrial Areas. As the county seat of Riverside County and the most populous city in the Inland Empire, Riverside also houses several legal, accounting, engineering, and banking firms. Citrus production and packing houses still exist within the city, but the industry is in decline.

American electronics company Bourns is among the companies based in Riverside.

Citrus is in decline in many areas of the Inland Empire where urbanization and water scarcity have made the industry uneconomic.{{cite web |title= Background Information and Statistics: California's Citrus Industry |url= http://www.ers.usda.gov/news/CAcitrus.htm |access-date= January 2, 2012 |archive-date= January 10, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120110153308/http://ers.usda.gov/News/CAcitrus.htm |url-status= dead }}

;Top employers

According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,{{cite web |title=Riverside, California {{!}} City of Arts & Innovation {{!}} Finance |url=https://riversideca.gov/finance/acfr/pdf/2023%20ACFR/2023%20ACFR.pdf}} the top employers in the city are:

{{See also|List of films shot in Riverside, California}}

Retail shopping centers include the open-air Riverside Plaza, and the Galleria at Tyler mall. The Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown is the site of several unique shops.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/shop/retail-centers.asp|title=home - ShopRiversideNow.com|work=ShopRiversideNow.com}}

File:Riverside - SR-71A Blackbird at the March Field Air Museum.jpg at the March Field Air Museum]]

{{see also|List of museums in the Inland Empire}}

• California Citrus State Historic Park Museum
• The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry
• Entomology Research Museum at the University of California, Riverside (not open to the public).
• March Field Air Museum
• Mission Inn Museum
• Riverside Art Museum
• Museum of Riverside
• Sherman Indian Museum at the Sherman Indian High School
• 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

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."{{cite web|url=http://www.dickensfest.com |title=Welcome to the Frontpage |publisher=Dickensfest.com |access-date=June 1, 2010}}

The Riverside Airshow takes place in March at the Riverside Municipal Airport. The event attracts around 70,000 people and includes aerial performers, over {{convert|200|acre|km2}} of aircraft displays, a car show and military vehicle display, children's activities, food and refreshments, helicopter displays and community group exhibits.{{cite web|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/airshow/default.htm|title=Riverside Airshow - Riverside Airport|work=riversideca.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924231011/http://www.riversideca.gov/airshow/Default.htm|archive-date=September 24, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thingstodoinlandempire.com/riverside-airshow-2011/|title=Riverside Airshow 2011 - Photo Review|work=thingstodoinlandempire.com}}

The March Field Airfest, also known as Thunder Over the Empire, is a biennial air show held at March Air Reserve Base. The air show is among the largest events in the Inland Empire and Riverside County. The show has featured such performers as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the Air Combat Command demonstrations teams and many other military and civilian demonstrations. 2010 saw the Patriots Jet Team as the highlight demonstration team of the show. Attendance for the 2010 show was estimated at over 150,000.

The Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF) takes place in April and features films from around the world.{{cite web|title=Riverside International Film Festival|url=https://www.riversidefilmfestival.org|access-date=February 21, 2023}} Sponsored by the city of Riverside, local universities, and many businesses, past festivals have featured over 175 films.

Old Riverside Foundation,{{cite web|title=Old Riverside Foundation|url=https://oldriverside.org|access-date=August 1, 2022}} a local nonprofit focused on historic preservation of the built environment, hosts an annual Vintage Home Tour in May that showcases private historic homes, open to the public for one day only.

In October, the California Riverside Ballet sponsors the Ghost Walk, which in 2013 celebrated its 22nd year. The event is a walk around some of the city's oldest and most historic buildings, with volunteers leading tours and telling ghost stories.

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. 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.{{Cite news |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Riverside's Festival of Lights ready to switch on millions of lights |url=https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/riversides-festival-of-lights-ready-to-switch-on-millions-of-lights/article_a0ea746d-2770-5dee-a2e2-814a467b2b83.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116232716/https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/riversides-festival-of-lights-ready-to-switch-on-millions-of-lights/article_a0ea746d-2770-5dee-a2e2-814a467b2b83.html |archive-date=2022-11-16 |access-date=November 16, 2022 |work=KPVI |language=en}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.rcrmc.org/foundation/festTrees/festTrees_main.html|title=Festival of Trees Web Page.|access-date=July 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517192614/http://www.rcrmc.org/foundation/festTrees/festTrees_main.html|archive-date=May 17, 2007|url-status=dead}} At the Festival of Trees, many professionally decorated Christmas trees are judged, auctioned, and then displayed for public viewing.

{{See also|List of mayors of Riverside, California|Mayoral elections in Riverside, California}}

File:Museum of Riverside.jpg]]

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

In Riverside's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013, the city's government accounts were reported to have $244 million in revenues and $365 million in expenditures, with the deficiency made up by the issuance of long-term debt and transfers from the city-owned utilities (including electric and water).[http://www.riversideca.gov/finance/pdf/cafr2013/Entire-2013-Report.pdf Retrieved October 4, 2014] The report also indicates that over the prior nine years, the number of city employees increased by 23.6% to 2,686 FTE, outpacing the 12.5% increase in the number of residents.

In 2024, Riverside residents approved Measure L, which would create a city-appointed inspector-general position that would be charged with "investigating, auditing, inspecting and providing operational performance evaluations for city offices, special districts and joint powers authorities."{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=Election 2024 Results: Voters favor bringing watchdog to Riverside City Hall |url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/11/06/election-2024-results-voters-favor-bringing-watchdog-to-riverside-city-hall/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Press Enterprise |language=en-US}}

Under the electoral maps drawn by the Citizens' Redistricting Commission, which were first used in the 2022 elections and will remain in effect through at least 2030, Riverside's state and federal legislative districts have changed substantially.

In the California State Legislature, the City of Riverside is in {{Representative|casd|31|fmt=sdistrict}}. In the California State Assembly, it is split between {{Representative|caad|58|fmt=adistrict}}, and {{Representative|caad|63|fmt=adistrict}}. A very small portion of the city is in the 60th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Corey Jackson.

In the United States House of Representatives, Riverside is in {{Representative|cacd|39|fmt=district}}. A very small portion (a few blocks) of the city is in {{Representative|cacd|41|fmt=district}}. In the United States Senate, California is represented by Democrats Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla.{{cite web

| url = http://www.riversideca.gov/gov-whotocall-state.asp

| title = Who To Call in Sacramento & Washington DC

| publisher = Riverside, California

| access-date = November 23, 2014

| archive-date = November 28, 2014

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141128151104/http://riversideca.gov/gov-whotocall-state.asp

| url-status = dead

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

• Federal
• United States District Court, Central District of California, Eastern Division{{cite web|url=http://www.uscourts.gov/|title=United States Courts|website=United States Courts}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/Cacd/CourtInfo.nsf/c755da45cb6a17bc882567d10055026e/fd8558d7305c8fc9882567d100550d05?OpenDocument|title=United States District Court, Central District of California, Riverside|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121020721/http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/CACD/CourtInfo.nsf/c755da45cb6a17bc882567d10055026e/fd8558d7305c8fc9882567d100550d05?OpenDocument|archive-date=November 21, 2010|url-status=dead}}
• United States Bankruptcy Court, 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel{{cite web |url=http://207.41.19.15/Web/bap.nsf/baphome?OpenPage |title=United States Bankruptcy Panel of the 9th Circuit |access-date=October 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080403233406/http://207.41.19.15/Web/bap.nsf/baphome?OpenPage |archive-date=April 3, 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California

{{col-break}}

• State
• California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two{{cite web|url=http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/4thDistrict/|title=Site Has Moved|work=ca.gov|date=August 9, 2021}}
• Superior Court of California, County of Riverside{{cite web|url=http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/|title=The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside - Traffic|work=ca.gov}}

{{col-end}}

Riverside's crime rate has shown a drop over the past several years. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics database, from 2002 to 2014 violent crime fell to 1,384 from 2,026 events, and property crime to 9,864 from 13,135 events.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucrdatatool.gov|title=Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics|work=ucrdatatool.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703191609/http://www.ucrdatatool.gov/|archive-date=July 3, 2013}} During this time, the population of the city rose by 21%. To help reduce gang-related crime, the city developed Project Bridge, an anti-gang program under the city of Riverside's Park and Recreation Department. Gang activity has been reported to center in the Casa Blanca, Arlanda and Eastside neighborhoods.

Of the 60 largest U.S. police departments in 2015, the Riverside Police Department was the only department whose police did not kill anyone that year.{{cite web|title=2015 Police Violence Report|url=http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/2015/|website=Mapping Police Violence|access-date=December 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112637/http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/2015/ |archive-date= December 22, 2015 }}

File:UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS JR. HIGH SCHOOL RIVERSIDE COUNTY CA.jpg

File:Palm School.jpg

File:Ucr-belltower.jpg]]

Institutions of higher learning include:

• California Baptist University{{cite web|url=http://www.calbaptist.edu/about/|title=About |work=California Baptist University |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213071836/https://calbaptist.edu/about/ |archive-date= December 13, 2023 }}
• La Sierra University{{cite web|url=http://www.lasierra.edu/index.php?id=672|title=About La Sierra University |date=March 19, 2012 |work=La Sierra University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114165253/http://www.lasierra.edu/index.php?id=672 |archive-date= November 14, 2012 }}
• National University{{cite web|url=http://www.nu.edu/|title=National University|work=nu.edu |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230801010807/https://www.nu.edu/ |archive-date= August 1, 2023 }} (branch campus in Riverside)
• Riverside City College{{cite web|url=http://www.rcc.edu/riverside/|title=Riverside City College|work=Riverside Community College District |access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-date=May 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527205350/http://www.rcc.edu/riverside/|url-status=dead}}
• Riverside Royals College
• University of California, Riverside{{cite web|url=http://www.ucr.edu/about/|title=About UCR|work=University of California, Riverside |access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218224436/https://www.ucr.edu/about/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Medina|first=Jennifer|title=California Cuts Threaten the Status of Universities|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/02/us/california-cuts-threaten-the-status-of-universities.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 4, 2014|work=NY Times|date=June 1, 2012|quote=Students at the University of California, Riverside, taking a midterm exam in a psychology class that has an enrollment of 570.}}{{cite news|title=California Researchers Find New Tool Against the Asian Citrus Psyllid|url=http://entomologytoday.org/2014/10/27/california-researchers-find-new-tool-against-the-asian-citrus-psyllid/|agency=Entomology Today|date=October 27, 2014|quote=Now a research team at the University of California, Riverside has found a new tool that targets the ACP's olfactory system, and they've identified a suite of odorants (odor molecules) that the insect detects. Some of these odorants can modify the behavior of ACP and may lead to the development of tools to tackle its spread. |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230529032235/https://entomologytoday.org/2014/10/27/california-researchers-find-new-tool-against-the-asian-citrus-psyllid/ |archive-date= May 29, 2023 }}

• Brightwood College
• UEI College
• Platt College
• American College of Healthcare
• Masters Vocational College
• US College
• Northwest College

Riverside is served by two school districts:

• Riverside Unified School District serves eastern Riverside.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06065_riverside/DC20SD_C06065.pdf|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Riverside County, CA|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|page=2 (PDF p. 3/6)|accessdate=July 10, 2021}}
• High schools include:
• Arlington High School{{cite web |url=http://www.rusd.k12.ca.us/schools/SchoolIntro.aspx?sub=ss&nws=0&cl=310 |title= Arlington High School |website=Riverside Unified School District |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002084438/http://www.rusd.k12.ca.us/schools/SchoolIntro.aspx?sub=ss&nws=0&cl=310 |archive-date=October 2, 2011 }}
• Martin Luther King High School
• John W. North High School
• Riverside Polytechnic High School also known as Poly High School
• Ramona High School
• Riverside Virtual School
• Riverside STEM High 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
• Hillcrest High School
• Continuation high schools include:
• Alvord High School (continuation)

A portion of eastern Riverside is in Moreno Valley Unified School District.

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

• California School for the Deaf, Riverside (CSDR) for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from Preschool to 12th grade has been open since 1952.{{cite web|url=http://csdr-cde.ca.gov/history/|title=History |work=California School for the Deaf, Riverside }}
• Sherman Indian High School of the Bureau of Indian Education,{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.bie.edu/idc/groups/xbie/documents/text/idc-008039.pdf |publisher=Department of the Interior |title=Bureau of Indian Education, National Directory |date=December 2011 |page=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017092932/http://www.bie.edu/idc/groups/xbie/documents/text/idc-008039.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2013 }} is for Native American tribal members from 9th to 12th grade; it has been open since 1878.

• Bethel Christian School{{cite web|url=http://www.bethelchristiancenter.cc/pages/schools.html|title=Bethel Christian Schools |website=Bethel Christian Center |access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925064852/http://www.bethelchristiancenter.cc/pages/schools.html|archive-date=September 25, 2010|url-status=dead}}
• Eastside Christian Academy
• Harvest Christian school{{cite web|url=http://harvestchristianschool.org/#|title=Harvest Christian School|website=Harvest Christian School|date=January 22, 2015}}
• La Sierra Academy{{cite web|url=http://lsak12.com/highschool.htm|title=LSA High School|work=lsak12.com|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-date=October 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011000908/http://lsak12.com/highschool.htm|url-status=dead}} (Seventh-day Adventist)
• Notre Dame High School{{cite web|url=http://www.ndhsriverside.org/|title=Notre Dame High School|website=Notre Dame High School|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-date=July 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715211623/http://www.ndhsriverside.org/|url-status=dead}} (Roman Catholic)
• Riverside Christian High School{{cite web|url=http://www.rivchristian.org/|title=Riverside Christian Schools|work=rivchristian.org}}
• Woodcrest Christian High School{{cite web|url=http://hs.woodcrestchristian.org/|title=Woodcrest Christian High School|access-date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913171920/http://hs.woodcrestchristian.org/|archive-date=September 13, 2010|url-status=dead}}
• Islamic Academy of Riverside{{cite web|url= https://islamicacademyofriverside.org/|title= Islamic Academy of Riverside}}
• Carniege Schools Riverside

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 a 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 degree or transfer to a four-year university.{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-education-headlines/20120306-riverside-rcc-trustees-hear-two-year-guarantee-plan.ece|title=Riverside: RCC trustees hear two-year guarantee plan|work=The Press Enterprise|publisher=Enterprise Media|date=6 March 2012|access-date=March 23, 2012|archive-date=March 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310061033/http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-education-headlines/20120306-riverside-rcc-trustees-hear-two-year-guarantee-plan.ece|url-status=dead|author-last1=Straehley|author-first1=Dayna}} 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.

Riverside is the home to the Fox Performing Arts Center. The theater is best known for being the first theater to screen the most successful film in box-office history when adjusted for inflation, the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.{{cite web|url=https://riversidecvb.com/blog/activity/fox-performing-arts-center/|title=Fox Performing Arts Center - World Class Venue - Riverside}}

File:UP business train on Santa Ana River Viaduct, May 2013 (cropped).jpg

Riverside is served by three major freeways: I-215, State Route 60, and State Route 91. These three freeways meet in northeastern Riverside at a multi-level interchange that was rebuilt in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_flyover25.1959457.html|title=News : Press Enterprise|work=pe.com|access-date=January 10, 2008|archive-date=July 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704132927/http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_flyover25.1959457.html|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Riverside (Amtrak station)|Riverside-La Sierra (Metrolink station)}}

File:Train in citrus groves in Riverside, California (CHS-1636).jpg

The city contains three Metrolink commuter rail stations: {{scax|Riverside-Downtown}}, {{scax|Riverside-La Sierra}}, and {{scax|Riverside-Hunter Park/UCR}}. The first two are both served by the 91/Perris Valley and Inland Empire-Orange County lines, and the Downtown station is served by the Riverside Line on weekdays, and the San Bernardino Line on weekends. The Hunter Park station is served by the 91/Perris Valley Line on weekdays only. Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs from Los Angeles to Chicago, also serves the city.

Local bus service is provided by the Riverside Transit Agency.[http://www.riversidetransit.com Riverside Transit Agency]. Intercity bus service is provided by Omnitrans Greyhound Lines, Amtrak California, and a handful of small operators serving the cross-border market into Mexico.

The nearest airport for commercial airline service is Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California. The Riverside Municipal Airport is an airport within Riverside city limits, but it does not have commercial airline service. It is primarily used for private aviation and is also the location for the annual Riverside Air Show.

{{Main|List of people from Riverside, California}}

{{See also|List of University of California, Riverside people}}

File:Sister City Sign for Riverside, California.jpg

{{Sister cities

|boxname={{nowrap|Sister cities of Riverside, California}}{{cite web|title=Riverside's Sister Cities|url=http://www.riversideca.gov/mayor/international.asp|year=2009|publisher=City of Riverside, California|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221025509/https://www.riversideca.gov/mayor/international.asp|archive-date=December 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}

|city1=Sendai, Japan

|country1=Japan

|city2=Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico

|country2=Mexico

|city3=Ensenada, Mexico

|country3=Mexico

|city4=Jiangmen, People's Republic of China

|country4=China

|city5=Gangnam, South Korea

|country5=South Korea

|city6=Hyderabad, India

|country6=India

|city7=Obuasi, Ghana

|country7=Ghana

|city8=Erlangen, Germany

|country8=Germany

|city9=Can Tho, Vietnam

|country9=Vietnam

}}

{{SisterCities|Riverside|nine}}

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.

{{clear}}

{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles}}

• California Riverside Ballet
• Largest cities in Southern California
• Ranchos of California
• Saint Andrew Orthodox Christian Church
• List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations

{{clear}}

• {{cite book|last1=Brown Jr|first1=John|first2=James|last2=Boyd|title=History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties; With Selected Biography of Actors and Witnesses of the Period of Growth and Achievement|others=3 volumes|series=The Western Historical Association|year=1922|publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company|location=Chicago|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsanbern03brow/page/n5/mode/2up}}
• {{cite book|last1=Gunther|first1=Jane Davies|title=Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories|location=Riverside|year=1984|LCCN=84-72920}}
• {{cite book|last1=Patterson|first1=Tom|title=A Colony For California; Riverside's First Hundred Years|edition=Second|year=1996|publisher=The Museum Press of the Riverside Museum Associates|location=Riverside|ISBN=0935661247}}
• {{cite book|last1=Patterson|first1=Tom|title=Landmarks of Riverside; and the Stories Behind Them|year=1964|publisher=Press-Enterprise Co.|location=Riverside|LCCN=64-15204}}

{{Reflist}}

• Durian, Hal (2013). True Stories of Riverside and the Inland Empire. Charleston, SC: The History Press. {{ISBN|978-1-6094-9773-6}}. {{OCLC|822895113}}
• Hall, Joan H. (2003). Cottages, Colonials and Community Places of Riverside, California. Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press. {{ISBN|0-9631618-5-7}}. {{OCLC|55511547}}
• Klotz, Esther H.; Hall, Joan H. (2005). Adobes, Bungalows, and Mansions of Riverside, California. Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press. {{ISBN|0-9631618-6-5}}. {{OCLC|57498974}}
• Klotz, Esther H. (1972). Riverside and the Day the Bank Broke. Riverside, CA: Rubidoux Press. {{OCLC|532580}}
• {{cite book|last=Lech|first=Steve|title=Riverside 1870–1940|year=2007|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|location=Charleston, SC|isbn=978-0-7385-4716-9 |oclc=127273299}}

{{sister project links|collapsible=yes|voy=yes}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.Riversider.org/ Riverside History]

{{Geographic location

|Northwest = Santa Ana River
Jurupa Valley

|North = Bloomington
Rialto

|Northeast = Colton
Grand Terrace

|West = Norco

|Center = Riverside

|South = Lake Mathews
Woodcrest

|Southwest = Corona

|Southeast = Moreno Valley
March Air Reserve Base

|East = Box Springs Mountain

|}}

{{Riverside, California}}

{{California county seats}}

{{Riverside County, California}}

{{Inland Empire}}

{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}

{{Southern California megaregion}}

{{USPopulousCities}}{{Portal bar|United States|California|North America|Geography|Cities}}{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Riverside County, California

Category:County seats in California

Category:Populated places on the Santa Ana River

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Inland Empire

Category:Populated places established in 1883

Category:1883 establishments in California

Category:Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California