The Story of Riverside
Riverside became a city because of oranges. In the 1870s, the navel orange was introduced here and it changed everything — not just the local economy, but the way Americans imagined California itself.
That citrus legacy gave Riverside its wealth, its wide streets, its Spanish Revival architecture, and its university. Today, UCR brings students from around the world, while downtown Riverside remains one of the most walkable and culturally active places in the Inland Empire.
Beyond the university and the Mission Inn, Riverside is a city of neighborhoods — from Eastside to Arlington to Wood Streets — each with its own character and quiet pride.
