The City of Riverside, California, is an exciting, diverse, urban center situated in the heart of Southern California. The City of Riverside (pop. 270,000) is the county seat of 7,000-square-mile Riverside County (pop. 1.6 million), and is the largest city in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States.

The City of Riverside is characterized by its visionary, strategic, innovative, and inclusive approach to meeting the high standard of services citizens want. The City is assuredly positioning itself as a preeminent "creative city" for the 21st century. In just the past few years, the City of Riverside has launched community-driven visioning and strategic planning processes, including a General Plan update, significantly redeveloped its beautiful, historic downtown, which is anchored by the world famous Historic Mission Inn Hotel, launched one of two downtown wireless malls in California, and embraced multiple green-oriented environmental strategies. The City also boasts four institutions of higher learning, with a student population of over 40,000.

Four institutions of higher learning bring a student population of over 40,000 to the city each year. Additionally, continued investment in a unique urban forest of 100,000 eucalyptus, palm, sycamore and pepper trees, as well as orange groves, historic preservation of a unique blend of modern, Spanish and Italian Renaissance, Craftsman Bungalow, and art deco architectural styles, aggressive homeownership strategies, and a network of 26 civic-minded and highly involved neighborhoods are other reasons why Riverside is considered a community of choice by its residents, students, businesses, and visitors alike.

The City builds on unique historical foundations while embracing the promising concepts and practices of the new economy. The city of Riverside was founded in 1870 by a group of utopian-minded Easterners searching for the perfect spot to establish a colony dedicated to education and beauty. Riverside is indeed a city of both. The city's unusual bounty of universities and colleges are one of Riverside's great strengths. The University of California-Riverside is the fastest growing campus in the UC system and its well-endowed research program has significant potential to benefit Riverside's high-tech economy in the years ahead.

Riverside's proximity to larger cities like Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as the mountains and beaches of the region attract many people. But what surprises new visitors is the city's distinct sense of place; an identity that delineates it from the suburban sprawl that otherwise defines much of the region. Riverside is a vibrant, yet peaceful city of strong, affordable neighborhoods. A multi-cultural city of arts and culture. And a thriving city full of economic opportunity.