Your Guide to Buying a Home in Riverside, CA

Buying a Home in Riverside, California

Victoria Country Club, one of Southern California's oldest Private Membership Clubs, blends Victorian charm into its full-service facility

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Riverside is located in Riverside County

Riverside's location in a fertile valley fed by the Santa Ana River provided a home to many scattered villages of the Luiseño, Serrano and Cahuilla who were mainly hunter-gatherers. Once the first white settlers arrived they established rancheros, and many land grant holders were among them. A joint-stock venture between a number of these early settlers bolstered the area's economy to the point where Riverside held the distinction as being one of the "richest cities per capita in the United States". Horticulture emerged as the impetus for this prosperity. Under the town's Protestant leadership, most of whom were orange growers, Riverside decided to implement industrial capitalism and scientific management into its thriving agricultural economy. With the arrival of the railroad the pastoral landscape was engulfed in a wave of commercial development that would forever change it. Culturally diverse groups flooded the area with their own dreams and visions for success. Homes and buildings multiplied, many of which adhered to the Mission Revival Style of architecture that was influenced by the New Glenwood Hotel (later known as the Mission Inn). This hotel was the community's first step into a more modern and productive Riverside.

Today, the city has taken several more steps forward as it continues to grow its economy quickly and efficiently. Dozens of sectors are represented, including electrical instruments, plastics, wood and metal fabrication, food processing and recreational vehicles. University Research Park is in constant cooperation with local technology companies via diverse training programs and research partnerships. All businesses in Riverside, both old and new, benefit from the city's excellent transportation and communications infrastructure.

Riverside's economic ferocity is matched only by the quality of life it provides. The local school systems are among the best in this area known as the "Inland Empire", and several major colleges and universities (UCR, CSU-San Bernardino to name a few) cater to local students and those from dozens of countries around the world. This close proximity to these institutions of higher learning only adds to the already culturally diverse climate in Riverside. Year-round parades and festivals celebrate this diversity and lay a foundation for peaceful living among the many ethnic groups living here.

Entertainment is not a rare commodity in Riverside. Local parks not only take advantage of the city's scenic setting, but also its rich history. Mount Rubidoux is great for nature hikes, but it also is the site of the Mt. Rubidoux Peace Tower, which was built in 1925 to promote world peace. Visitors who prefer the arts can take their pick of several local museums, such as the must-see Mission Inn Museum. This artifact of turn-of-the-century Riverside maintains the charming architecture of the day and contains remnants of the diverse world cultures that have shaped today's city.

Riverside is located between San Bernardino and Los Angeles, allowing quick access to each via highway or rail. The San Gabriel Mountains sit to the north of Riverside and provide a breathtaking backdrop to Riverside's on-going activity.

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