About

Riverside has a rich history dating back to its incorporation in 1870. From its earliest days, the city has thrived under the guidance of forward-thinking founders and successive leaders. An innovative and artistic spirit is evident throughout the community, permeating the culture of its residents.

Today, Riverside is a leading Southern California city that offers a blend of hometown charm, history, and hospitality alongside the vision, energy, culture, and diversity of a sophisticated metropolitan area. With a population exceeding 320,100 residents, Riverside proudly holds the title of the 12th largest city in California and the 6th largest in Southern California, serving as the economic powerhouse of one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.

Riverside boasts an exceptional quality of life and continues to grow and evolve. Every day brings new enhancements and opportunities for residents, making it a desirable place to live. It's no surprise the city was named one of the top 50 best areas in the U.S. for Starting a Business by Inc. Magazine, ranked #20 Best Counties for Young Professionals in California, and ranked in the Top 10 of the Digital Cities Survey in 2023.

Riverside has also earned a spot in Inc. Magazine’s Top 50 Surge Cities Index list. This national ranking recognizes Riverside as one of the 50 best areas in the U.S. for starting a business in 2020. Notably, Riverside excels in several key categories: #14 in net business creation and #16 in both job creation and wage growth.

Additionally, in an extensive study across U.S. cities, WalletHub examined 29 key happiness indicators — from depression rates to income growth — and ranked Riverside #68 for Happiest Cities in America (2024).

Riverside’s economy thrives on a diverse range of industries, including advanced manufacturing, quality retail and services, four major medical facilities and institutions of higher education, local agriculture and food system enterprises, and a growing base of clean- and green-tech research, development, technology, and manufacturing companies. As an important financial and professional center, Riverside is home to numerous legal, accounting, brokerage, architectural and engineering, air quality, sustainability and environmental stewardship firms, as well as banking institutions.

Riverside draws interest and investment from a diverse population of creative and entrepreneurial residents, employees, students, business owners, and visitors. This community’s excellence in embracing technology, workforce development, digital inclusion, arts, innovation, collaboration, and social capital continue to improve an already remarkable quality of life.