Riverside, California

R iverside, California is a thriving city in the Inland Empire metropolitan area, conveniently situated midway between San Diego and Los Angeles in southern California. With a population around 330,000, Riverside is the 59th most populous city in the United States and 12th most populous city in the state. As a community, Riverside offers a vibrant lifestyle for both personal and professional living, punctuated by exceptional education institutions, plenty of parks and outdoor spaces, and a strong commitment to culture and the arts. Add to that, a full complement of restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment venues, and there’s no doubt that Riverside is truly an extraordinary place to live. Founded in the early 1870s, and named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County and the birthplace of the California citrus industry. Today, it is home to the University of California, Riverside, which also hosts the Riverside Sports Complex. Other attractions of importance include the Fox Performing Arts Center, the Historic Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the California Museum of Photography, the California Citrus State Historic Park, and the Parent Washington Navel Orange Tree – last of the two original navel orange trees in California. AT A GLANCE RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA WHAT: 59th largest U.S. city; population approx. 330,000 WHERE: Midway between Los Angeles and San Diego in Southern California WEBSITE: www.riversideca.gov e, nia Thriving in the Inland Empire