About Riverside, California

Riverside is the county seat and the most populous city in Riverside County, California located in the Inland Empire metropolitan area. It is named for its location beside the Santa Ana River. Riverside is the 58th most populous city in the United States and 12th most populous city in California. According to the 2010 census, Riverside had a population of 303,871.

Founded in the early 1870s, Riverside is the birthplace of the California citrus industry and home of the Mission Inn, the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States. The University of California, Riverside, is located in the northeastern part of the city. The university also hosts the Riverside Sports Complex. Riverside boasts a number of firsts, including Southern California’s first polo field and golf course. As Riverside flourished, a local family opened the Glenwood Cottages guest house, which later grew into the world-famous Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, the largest Mission Revival–style building in the United States.

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.