Riverside, California
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Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 255,166. The city is a focus city of the Greater Los Angeles Area. But a July 1, 2002 Census estimate put the fast-growing city's population at 274,226.
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Features
Riverside_Raceway.JPG
Riverside is home to the University of California, Riverside and prides itself on its historic connection to the navel orange, which was introduced to North America by researchers at the university. The University of California, Riverside, Botanic Gardens contains 40 acres (162,000 m²) of unusual plants, with four miles of walking trails.
Riverside's downtown area is known as the "Mission Inn District", after the Mission Inn, a hotel that was modeled after the missions left along the California coast by Catholic monks in the 18th century. However, no missionaries of the era actually came as far inland as Riverside. The city was founded in the 1880s by John W. North, who had previously founded Northfield, Minnesota. Riverside was the home of the Riverside International Raceway, which has long been defunct.
In 1915 a Japanese immigrant named Jukichi Harada, proprietor for many years of a local restaurant, purchased a home in Riverside in the names of his American-born children in order to provide access for them to the public school system. Neighbors formed a committee and charged him with violating the California Alien Land Law of 1913, which barred aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning land. The case, The People of the State of California v. Jukichi Harada, became a test of the constitutionality of the law and progressed to the state Supreme Court, where the Haradas won. The family still owns the house, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
More History
At the entrance to Riverside from the 60 freeway sits Fairmount Park. This extensive urban oasis was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. Slightly fraying around the edges, it still has a lovely, stocked pond, and many species of birds. Nearby, on private land, is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village.
Downtown Riverside used to boast one of the largest Chinatowns in California, until the last resident, Mr. Wong, died in the 1970s and the remaining (decrepit) buildings were razed. Extensive archaeological excavation took place in the 1980s, and many artifacts are housed at the Municipal Museum across from the Mission Inn Hotel.
To the east of downtown is the originally named "Eastside" which grew out of a colonia inhabited by Mexican immigrant workers in the Orange groves. That tradition continues today, with Oaxacan workers in the place of Spanish speakers. Michael Kearney, an anthropologist at University of California, Riverside, refers to this vast transnational labor space as "Oaxacalifornia."
Settlements of Japanese and Korean immigrants used to exist along the railroad tracks, which would fill with thousands of workers during the citrus harvest. None of these are left now, but the Santa Fe depot, like several others in the Inland Empire, has been restored to its turn-of-the-century glory.
At the intersection of Howard and 12 sits the last remnants of a formerly thriving African-American neighborhood -- The old Wiley Grocery store now houses the activities of 'Black' Elks club members. Nearby is the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage site complete with shrine. Built and destroyed three times, the current incarnation dates from the 1920s.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 203.0 km² (78.4 mi²). 202.3 km² (78.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.36% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 255,166 people, 82,005 households, and 58,141 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,261.5/km² (3,267.2/mi²). There are 85,974 housing units at an average density of 425.0/km² (1,100.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 59.32% White, 7.41% African American, 1.09% Native American, 5.68% Asian, 0.39% Pacific Islander, 21.00% from other races, and 5.10% from two or more races. 38.14% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 82,005 households out of which 39.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% are married couples living together, 14.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% are non-families. 21.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.02 and the average family size is 3.54.
In the city the population is spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $41,646, and the median income for a family is $47,254. Males have a median income of $36,920 versus $28,328 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,882. 15.8% of the population and 11.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Riverside (http://www.RiversideCa.Gov/)
- Riverside California (http://www.riversidedirect.com/)
Template:Cities of Riverside County, California
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