# Riverside County, California

33°44′N 115°59′W﻿ / ﻿33.73°N 115.98°W﻿ / 33.73; -115.98
Riverside County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,418,185, making it the fourth-most populous county in California and the 10th-most populous in the United States. The name was derived from the city of Riverside, which is the county seat.
Riverside County is included in the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the Inland Empire. The county is also included in the Los Angeles–Long Beach Combined Statistical Area.
Roughly rectangular, Riverside County covers 7,208 square miles (18,670 km$^2$) in Southern California, spanning from the greater Los Angeles area to the Arizona border. Geographically, the western region of the county is chaparral with a Mediterranean climate, while the central and eastern regions of the county are predominantly desert or mountainous. Most of Joshua Tree National Park is located in the county. The desert resort cities of Indio, Coachella, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs are located in the Coachella Valley region of central-eastern Riverside County.
Between 2007 and 2011, large numbers of Los Angeles-area workers moved to the county to take advantage of more affordable housing. Along with neighboring San Bernardino County, it was one of the fastest-growing regions in the state prior to the recent changes in the regional economy. In addition, smaller, but significant, numbers of people have been moving into southwest Riverside County from the San Diego metropolitan area.

## Location

Riverside County is bordered on the north by San Bernardino County; on the east by La Paz County, Arizona; on the southeast by Imperial County; on the southwest by San Diego County; and on the west by Orange County.

## Etymology

When Riverside County was formed in 1893, it was named for the city of Riverside, the county seat. That city, founded in 1870, was so named because of its location near the Santa Ana River.

## History
### Indigenous

The Indigenous peoples of the valleys, mountains and deserts of what is now Riverside County are the Serrano, the Payómkawichum, the Mohave, the Cupeno, the Chemehuevi, the Cahuilla, and the Tongva. The Aguanga and Temecula Basins, Elsinore Trough and eastern Santa Ana Mountains are the traditional homelands of the Payómkawichum. The inland valleys in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains and the desert of the Salton Sink are the traditional homelands of the Cahuilla.

### Spanish era

The first European settlement in the county was a Mission San Luis Rey de Francia estancia or farm at the Luiseño village of Temescal. In 1819, the Mission granted Leandro Serrano permission to occupy the land for the purpose of grazing and farming, and Serrano established Rancho Temescal. Serrano was mayordomo of San Antonio de Pala Asistencia for the Mission of San Luis Rey.

### Mexican era

With the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba in 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but the San Gabriel Mission near what is now Los Angeles, California, continued to expand, and established Rancho San Gorgonio in 1824. The ranch was to be one of the Mission's principal rancherias, and the most distant, and it occupied most of today's San Gorgonio Pass area.
Following the Mexican secularization act of 1833 by the First Mexican Republic, a series of rancho land grants were made throughout the state. In the Riverside County this included; Rancho Jurupa in 1838, El Rincon in 1839, Rancho San Jacinto Viejo in 1842, Rancho San Jacinto y San Gorgonio in 1843, Ranchos La Laguna, Pauba, Temecula in 1844, Ranchos Little Temecula, Potreros de San Juan Capistrano in 1845, Ranchos San Jacinto Sobrante, La Sierra (Sepulveda), La Sierra (Yorba), Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Nuevo y Potrero in 1846.
New Mexican colonists founded the town of La Placita on the east side of the Santa Ana River at the northern extremity of what is now the city of Riverside in 1843.

### American era

When the initial 27 California counties were established in 1850, the area today known as Riverside County was divided between Los Angeles County and San Diego County. In 1853, the eastern part of Los Angeles County was used to create San Bernardino County. Between 1891 and 1893, several proposals and legislative attempts were put forth to form new counties in Southern California. These proposals included one for a Pomona County and one for a San Jacinto County. None of the proposals were adopted until a measure to create Riverside County was signed by Governor Henry H. Markham on March 11, 1893.

#### County formation

The new county was created from parts of San Bernardino County and San Diego County. On May 2, 1893, seventy percent of voters approved the formation of Riverside County. Voters chose the city of Riverside as the county seat, also by a large margin. Riverside County was officially formed on May 9, 1893, when the Board of Commissioners filed the final canvass of the votes.
Riverside county was a major focal point of the Civil Rights Movements in the US, especially the African-American sections of Riverside and heavily Mexican-American communities of the Coachella Valley visited by Cesar Chavez of the farm labor union struggle.
Riverside county has also been a focus of modern Native American Gaming enterprises. In the early 1980s, the county government attempted to shut down small bingo halls operated by the Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians and the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. The tribes joined forces and fought the county all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in the tribes' favor on February 25, 1987. In turn, Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988 to establish a legal framework for the relationship between Indian gaming and state governments. Naturally, both tribes now operate large casinos in the county: the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa and the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino adjacent to Spotlight 29 Casino.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 7,303 square miles (18,910 km$^2$), of which 7,206 square miles (18,660 km$^2$) is land and 97 square miles (250 km$^2$) (1.3%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in California by area. At roughly 180 miles (290 km) wide in the east–west dimension, the area of the county is massive. Riverside County, California is roughly the size of the State of New Jersey in total area. County government documents frequently cite the Colorado River town of Blythe as being a "three-hour drive" from the county seat, Riverside. Some view the areas west of San Gorgonio Pass as the Inland Empire portion of the county and the eastern part as either the Mojave Desert or Colorado Desert portion. There are probably at least three geomorphic provinces: the Inland Empire western portion, the Santa Rosa Mountains communities such as Reinhardt Canyon, and the desert region. Other possible subdivisions include tribal lands, the Colorado River communities, and the Salton Sea.

### Flora and fauna

There is a diversity of flora and fauna within Riverside County. Vegetative plant associations feature many desert flora, but there are also forested areas within the county. The California endemic Blue oak, Quercus douglasii is at the southernmost part of its range in Riverside County.

### National protected areas

* Cleveland National Forest (part)
* Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge
* Dos Palmas Preserve
* Joshua Tree National Park (part)
* San Bernardino National Forest (part)
* Sand to Snow National Monument (part)
* Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
There are 19 official wilderness areas in Riverside County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Some are integral parts of the above protected areas, most (11 of the 19) are managed solely by the Bureau of Land Management, and some share management between the BLM and the relevant other agencies. Some extend into neighboring counties:
* Agua Tibia Wilderness (part)
* Beauty Mountain Wilderness
* Big Maria Mountains Wilderness
* Cahuilla Mountain Wilderness
* Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness
* Joshua Tree Wilderness (part)
* Little Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness (part)
* Mecca Hills Wilderness
* Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
* Palen/McCoy Wilderness
* Palo Verde Mountains Wilderness (part)
* Pinto Mountains Wilderness
* Rice Valley Wilderness
* Riverside Mountains Wilderness
* San Gorgonio Wilderness (part)
* San Jacinto Wilderness
* San Mateo Canyon Wilderness (part)
* Santa Rosa Wilderness
* South Fork San Jacinto Wilderness

### State parks

* California Citrus State Historic Park
* Lake Perris State Recreation Area
* Mount San Jacinto State Park

### County parks and trails

* Hurkey Creek Park
* Idyllwild Park
* Indio Hills Palms
* Jensen Alvarado Ranch
* Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area
* Lake Skinner Recreation Area
* McCall Memorial Equestrian Park
* Santa Rosa Plateau

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Riverside County, California – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 754,140 | 788,831 | 869,068 | 788,235 | 64.43% | 51.04% | 39.69% | 32.60% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 59,966 | 92,403 | 130,823 | 146,762 | 5.12% | 5.98% | 5.97% | 6.07% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 8,393 | 10,135 | 10,931 | 11,960 | 0.72% | 0.66% | 0.50% | 0.49% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 38,349 | 55,199 | 125,921 | 164,889 | 3.28% | 3.57% | 5.75% | 6.82% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | N/A | 3,284 | 5,849 | 6,767 | N/A | 0.21% | 0.27% | 0.28% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 2,051 | 2,425 | 3,682 | 12,365 | 0.18% | 0.16% | 0.17% | 0.51% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | N/A | 33,535 | 48,110 | 84,912 | N/A | 2.17% | 2.20% | 3.51% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 307,514 | 559,575 | 995,257 | 1,202,295 | 26.27% | 36.21% | 45.45% | 49.72% |
| Total | 1,170,413 | 1,545,387 | 2,189,641 | 2,418,185 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2011

Population, race, and income :
| Total population | 2,154,844 | 2,154,844 |
| White | 1,422,604 | 66.0% |
| Black or African American | 135,859 | 6.3% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 21,493 | 1.0% |
| Asian | 127,522 | 5.9% |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 6,955 | 0.3% |
| Some other race | 359,512 | 16.7% |
| Two or more races | 80,899 | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 968,700 | 45.0% |
| Per capita income | $24,516 | $24,516 |
| Median household income | $58,365 | $58,365 |
| Median family income | $65,457 | $65,457 |

#### Places by population, race, and income

Places by population and race :
| Place | Type | Population | White | Other | Asian | Black or African American | Native American | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Aguanga | CDP | 1,540 | 91.2% | 6.1% | 0.0% | 2.7% | 0.0% | 8.7% |
| Anza | CDP | 3,111 | 82.9% | 12.6% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 4.2% | 31.7% |
| Banning | City | 29,414 | 76.9% | 8.8% | 6.8% | 6.7% | 0.7% | 37.0% |
| Beaumont | City | 34,737 | 72.5% | 12.0% | 10.1% | 4.6% | 0.8% | 37.6% |
| Bermuda Dunes | CDP | 7,047 | 88.5% | 4.1% | 1.1% | 6.3% | 0.0% | 25.4% |
| Blythe | City | 21,102 | 62.4% | 18.8% | 2.0% | 15.9% | 0.9% | 48.5% |
| Cabazon | CDP | 1,729 | 87.9% | 7.6% | 0.0% | 3.5% | 0.9% | 40.8% |
| Calimesa | City | 7,923 | 91.0% | 7.6% | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 19.5% |
| Canyon Lake | City | 10,663 | 92.9% | 4.8% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.3% | 9.7% |
| Cathedral City | City | 51,130 | 80.7% | 13.0% | 3.8% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 59.8% |
| Cherry Valley | CDP | 5,477 | 91.4% | 4.7% | 3.0% | 0.7% | 0.3% | 15.2% |
| Coachella | City | 39,442 | 63.5% | 34.8% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 96.6% |
| Corona | City | 152,111 | 65.8% | 17.4% | 9.2% | 5.7% | 1.9% | 42.8% |
| Coronita | CDP | 3,117 | 58.9% | 35.6% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 0.0% | 54.5% |
| Crestmore Heights | CDP | 665 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 82.1% |
| Desert Center | CDP | 150 | 83.3% | 16.0% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 26.7% |
| Desert Edge | CDP | 4,223 | 87.7% | 11.4% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.5% |
| Desert Hot Springs | City | 25,793 | 54.1% | 33.3% | 1.6% | 8.2% | 2.8% | 51.4% |
| Desert Palms | CDP | 6,592 | 95.7% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| East Hemet | CDP | 18,334 | 74.4% | 18.7% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 1.8% | 36.4% |
| Eastvale | City | 53,437 | 48.8% | 17.4% | 21.9% | 10.9% | 1.1% | 40.1% |
| El Cerrito | CDP | 5,059 | 75.0% | 23.2% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 52.5% |
| El Sobrante | CDP | 12,617 | 57.9% | 16.4% | 17.2% | 8.6% | 0.0% | 21.3% |
| French Valley | CDP | 23,097 | 66.7% | 11.6% | 17.2% | 2.7% | 1.7% | 24.2% |
| Garnet | CDP | 5,701 | 66.0% | 28.2% | 1.8% | 3.7% | 0.2% | 69.4% |
| Glen Avon | CDP | 20,393 | 56.8% | 35.9% | 2.3% | 4.4% | 0.7% | 69.0% |
| Good Hope | CDP | 9,194 | 40.9% | 48.1% | 1.1% | 8.4% | 1.5% | 75.2% |
| Green Acres | CDP | 1,832 | 78.7% | 12.6% | 0.7% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 25.2% |
| Hemet | City | 77,752 | 73.5% | 16.6% | 2.7% | 5.2% | 2.0% | 34.1% |
| Highgrove | CDP | 4,155 | 72.8% | 15.0% | 5.9% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 67.3% |
| Home Gardens | CDP | 11,179 | 61.9% | 25.6% | 8.4% | 3.5% | 0.6% | 70.4% |
| Homeland | CDP | 6,441 | 68.1% | 30.0% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.5% | 55.7% |
| Idyllwild-Pine Cove | CDP | 2,309 | 95.5% | 1.0% | 3.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16.5% |
| Indian Wells | City | 4,937 | 93.0% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 6.0% |
| Indio | City | 74,402 | 62.6% | 33.0% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 68.4% |
| Indio Hills | CDP | 876 | 60.7% | 36.2% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 0.0% | 69.5% |
| Lake Elsinore | City | 50,405 | 61.3% | 26.1% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 1.6% | 47.9% |
| Lakeland Village | CDP | 11,558 | 67.7% | 22.8% | 4.0% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 39.6% |
| Lake Mathews | CDP | 5,651 | 58.3% | 28.5% | 1.6% | 10.1% | 1.5% | 35.4% |
| Lake Riverside | CDP | 1,384 | 95.2% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 26.9% |
| Lakeview | CDP | 1,337 | 67.1% | 31.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 79.9% |
| La Quinta | City | 36,600 | 82.4% | 11.8% | 2.8% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 30.1% |
| March ARB | CDP | 791 | 91.7% | 0.1% | 3.0% | 5.1% | 0.1% | 11.4% |
| Meadowbrook | CDP | 2,995 | 40.8% | 49.5% | 5.0% | 4.4% | 0.3% | 66.7% |
| Mead Valley | CDP | 17,498 | 50.0% | 37.5% | 1.8% | 9.9% | 0.8% | 69.3% |
| Mecca | CDP | 8,233 | 55.3% | 43.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 96.2% |
| Menifee | City | 75,023 | 72.7% | 13.0% | 7.1% | 6.0% | 1.2% | 31.1% |
| Mesa Verde | CDP | 1,102 | 59.2% | 38.3% | 0.0% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 74.6% |
| Mira Loma | CDP | 20,923 | 58.6% | 36.2% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 0.3% | 67.5% |
| Moreno Valley | City | 190,977 | 50.4% | 25.6% | 5.4% | 17.6% | 1.0% | 54.4% |
| Mountain Center | CDP | 66 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Murrieta | City | 99,476 | 68.2% | 15.1% | 8.9% | 6.5% | 1.3% | 27.2% |
| Norco | City | 27,131 | 72.9% | 14.8% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 1.2% | 28.0% |
| North Shore | CDP | 2,600 | 56.3% | 38.5% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 3.9% | 93.2% |
| Nuevo | CDP | 5,582 | 76.4% | 19.2% | 1.2% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 49.0% |
| Oasis | CDP | 6,160 | 53.7% | 42.9% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 96.8% |
| Palm Desert | City | 48,769 | 86.7% | 7.1% | 4.2% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 22.2% |
| Palm Springs | City | 45,045 | 82.0% | 8.1% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0.8% | 23.8% |
| Pedley | CDP | 11,229 | 72.3% | 18.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% | 0.8% | 47.9% |
| Perris | City | 65,993 | 43.8% | 38.8% | 3.6% | 12.4% | 1.4% | 70.7% |
| Rancho Mirage | City | 17,022 | 91.2% | 4.1% | 1.3% | 2.4% | 1.0% | 11.2% |
| Ripley | CDP | 706 | 45.6% | 45.2% | 0.0% | 9.2% | 0.0% | 87.1% |
| Riverside | City | 303,569 | 65.1% | 20.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 1.2% | 49.4% |
| Romoland | CDP | 1,604 | 78.1% | 9.9% | 0.0% | 12.0% | 0.0% | 21.9% |
| Rubidoux | CDP | 37,874 | 46.9% | 42.0% | 3.5% | 5.8% | 1.8% | 68.7% |
| San Jacinto | City | 42,722 | 61.4% | 26.4% | 5.1% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 53.4% |
| Sky Valley | CDP | 2,021 | 75.0% | 23.8% | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 40.3% |
| Sunnyslope | CDP | 4,919 | 51.7% | 40.8% | 6.6% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 65.1% |
| Temecula | City | 98,189 | 72.2% | 12.2% | 9.5% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 25.2% |
| Temescal Valley | CDP | 23,288 | 74.6% | 10.0% | 9.9% | 4.4% | 1.1% | 30.4% |
| Thermal | CDP | 3,372 | 57.1% | 39.7% | 0.0% | 3.2% | 0.0% | 94.7% |
| Thousand Palms | CDP | 7,578 | 65.5% | 30.8% | 0.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 60.9% |
| Valle Vista | CDP | 14,579 | 77.0% | 13.8% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 26.2% |
| Vista Santa Rosa | CDP | 2,973 | 60.1% | 34.2% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 5.2% | 78.5% |
| Warm Springs | CDP | 2,196 | 55.8% | 35.5% | 7.3% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 40.1% |
| Whitewater | CDP | 533 | 55.5% | 34.0% | 10.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 31.7% |
| Wildomar | City | 31,452 | 68.0% | 23.4% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 1.1% | 37.7% |
| Winchester | CDP | 2,955 | 63.8% | 30.7% | 5.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 33.4% |
| Woodcrest | CDP | 14,519 | 78.0% | 13.6% | 4.1% | 3.8% | 0.4% | 33.0% |
Places by population and income :
| Place | Type | Population | Per capita income | Median household income | Median family income |
| Aguanga | CDP | 1,540 | $22,716 | $47,754 | $49,275 |
| Anza | CDP | 3,111 | $19,101 | $46,890 | $49,563 |
| Banning | City | 29,414 | $21,150 | $37,373 | $47,243 |
| Beaumont | City | 34,737 | $26,458 | $66,132 | $79,800 |
| Bermuda Dunes | CDP | 7,047 | $35,634 | $64,171 | $69,375 |
| Blythe | City | 21,102 | $15,853 | $46,235 | $50,254 |
| Cabazon | CDP | 1,729 | $14,081 | $30,288 | $26,395 |
| Calimesa | City | 7,923 | $24,429 | $44,911 | $61,357 |
| Canyon Lake | City | 10,663 | $35,332 | $80,145 | $87,250 |
| Cathedral City | City | 51,130 | $21,734 | $45,088 | $47,834 |
| Cherry Valley | CDP | 5,477 | $30,877 | $53,245 | $56,523 |
| Coachella | City | 39,442 | $12,219 | $43,357 | $41,009 |
| Corona | City | 152,111 | $27,825 | $79,877 | $86,106 |
| Coronita | CDP | 3,117 | $26,448 | $75,378 | $89,028 |
| Crestmore Heights | CDP | 665 | $9,579 | $49,395 | $42,218 |
| Desert Center | CDP | 150 | $27,083 | $57,083 | $63,750 |
| Desert Edge | CDP | 4,223 | $22,937 | $35,394 | $43,750 |
| Desert Hot Springs | City | 25,793 | $15,671 | $34,606 | $37,780 |
| Desert Palms | CDP | 6,592 | $46,995 | $61,572 | $77,802 |
| East Hemet | CDP | 18,334 | $20,947 | $53,780 | $60,034 |
| Eastvale | City | 53,437 | $32,263 | $115,025 | $117,549 |
| El Cerrito | CDP | 5,059 | $26,328 | $69,301 | $76,344 |
| El Sobrante (Riverside County) | CDP | 12,617 | $31,251 | $103,100 | $102,409 |
| French Valley | CDP | 23,097 | $26,302 | $85,732 | $86,250 |
| Garnet | CDP | 5,701 | $14,344 | $37,956 | $43,171 |
| Glen Avon | CDP | 20,393 | $16,850 | $45,616 | $52,750 |
| Good Hope | CDP | 9,194 | $12,596 | $38,163 | $41,004 |
| Green Acres | CDP | 1,832 | $18,329 | $35,774 | $35,455 |
| Hemet | City | 77,752 | $19,236 | $34,273 | $42,951 |
| Highgrove | CDP | 4,155 | $16,888 | $41,545 | $43,495 |
| Home Gardens | CDP | 11,179 | $17,354 | $61,133 | $57,923 |
| Homeland | CDP | 6,441 | $14,997 | $38,624 | $41,820 |
| Idyllwild-Pine Cove | CDP | 2,309 | $32,868 | $55,495 | $63,491 |
| Indian Wells | City | 4,937 | $100,330 | $111,078 | $145,714 |
| Indio | City | 74,402 | $21,293 | $52,199 | $56,843 |
| Indio Hills | CDP | 876 | $27,488 | $81,831 | $80,959 |
| Lake Elsinore | City | 50,405 | $21,642 | $63,771 | $67,654 |
| Lakeland Village | CDP | 11,558 | $18,930 | $43,454 | $51,230 |
| Lake Mathews | CDP | 5,651 | $28,851 | $69,271 | $67,149 |
| Lake Riverside | CDP | 1,384 | $27,224 | $75,313 | $68,250 |
| Lakeview | CDP | 1,337 | $16,613 | $55,833 | $50,347 |
| La Quinta | City | 36,600 | $45,172 | $77,790 | $90,406 |
| March ARB | CDP | 791 | $38,084 | $69,438 | $95,357 |
| Meadowbrook | CDP | 2,995 | $11,904 | $31,397 | $30,550 |
| Mead Valley | CDP | 17,498 | $13,784 | $42,261 | $44,057 |
| Mecca | CDP | 8,233 | $7,980 | $26,176 | $22,383 |
| Menifee | City | 75,023 | $24,159 | $54,068 | $63,068 |
| Mesa Verde | CDP | 1,102 | $10,685 | $33,750 | $31,016 |
| Mira Loma | CDP | 20,923 | $18,652 | $66,635 | $68,810 |
| Moreno Valley | City | 190,977 | $18,246 | $56,768 | $58,446 |
| Mountain Center | CDP | 66 | $68,673 | $104,167 | |
| Murrieta | City | 99,476 | $29,198 | $80,792 | $89,683 |
| Norco | City | 27,131 | $27,361 | $84,812 | $93,156 |
| North Shore | CDP | 2,600 | $10,327 | $27,197 | $26,979 |
| Nuevo | CDP | 5,582 | $23,116 | $64,453 | $69,958 |
| Oasis | CDP | 6,160 | $7,372 | $27,340 | $25,194 |
| Palm Desert | City | 48,769 | $42,179 | $53,940 | $76,174 |
| Palm Springs | City | 45,045 | $38,054 | $45,989 | $54,642 |
| Pedley | CDP | 11,229 | $22,289 | $65,012 | $65,361 |
| Perris | City | 65,993 | $14,333 | $49,812 | $47,364 |
| Rancho Mirage | City | 17,022 | $66,770 | $76,261 | $99,250 |
| Ripley | CDP | 706 | $11,610 | $16,859 | $17,276 |
| Riverside | City | 303,569 | $22,806 | $57,555 | $64,618 |
| Romoland | CDP | 1,604 | $27,123 | $108,594 | $101,546 |
| Rubidoux | CDP | 37,874 | $17,432 | $52,108 | $53,082 |
| San Jacinto | City | 42,722 | $17,692 | $47,645 | $52,928 |
| Sky Valley | CDP | 2,021 | $22,201 | $35,473 | $44,506 |
| Sunnyslope | CDP | 4,919 | $22,121 | $68,313 | $71,468 |
| Temecula | City | 98,189 | $28,274 | $76,276 | $83,539 |
| Temescal Valley | CDP | 23,288 | $34,281 | $91,394 | $94,816 |
| Thermal | CDP | 3,372 | $8,801 | $33,311 | $27,675 |
| Thousand Palms | CDP | 7,578 | $19,881 | $43,435 | $41,550 |
| Valle Vista | CDP | 14,579 | $24,464 | $43,855 | $55,335 |
| Vista Santa Rosa | CDP | 2,973 | $16,345 | $52,026 | $54,375 |
| Warm Springs | CDP | 2,196 | $17,378 | $54,286 | $54,434 |
| Whitewater | CDP | 533 | $19,160 | $36,531 | $57,024 |
| Wildomar | City | 31,452 | $24,255 | $63,519 | $67,786 |
| Winchester | CDP | 2,955 | $22,236 | $69,798 | $81,063 |
| Woodcrest | CDP | 14,519 | $32,650 | $91,864 | $103,044 |

### 2010

The 2010 United States census reported that Riverside County had a population of 2,189,641. The racial makeup of Riverside County was 1,335,147 (61.0%) White (40.7% Non-Hispanic White), 140,543 (6.4%) African American, 23,710 (1.1%) Native American, 130,468 (6.0%) Asian (2.3% Filipino, 0.8% Chinese, 0.7% Vietnamese, 0.6% Korean, 0.5% Indian, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Cambodian, 0.1% Laotian, 0.1% Pakistani), 6,874 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 448,235 (20.5%) from other races, and 104,664 (4.8%) from two or more races. There were 995,257 residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (45.5%); 39.5% of Riverside County was of Mexican origin, 0.8% Salvadoran, 0.7% Honduran, 0.6% Puerto Rican, 0.3% Cuban, and 0.2% Nicaraguan descent.
Population reported at 2010 United States Census :
| The County | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Riverside County | 2,189,641 | 1,335,147 | 140,543 | 23,710 | 130,468 | 6,874 | 448,235 | 104,664 | 995,257 |
| Incorporated cities | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Banning | 29,603 | 19,164 | 2,165 | 641 | 1,549 | 39 | 4,604 | 1,441 | 12,181 |
| Beaumont | 36,877 | 23,163 | 2,276 | 544 | 2,845 | 83 | 6,058 | 1,908 | 14,864 |
| Blythe | 20,817 | 12,396 | 3,126 | 243 | 319 | 32 | 4,045 | 656 | 11,068 |
| Calimesa | 7,879 | 6,777 | 88 | 99 | 100 | 10 | 565 | 240 | 1,762 |
| Canyon Lake | 10,561 | 9,495 | 128 | 61 | 190 | 36 | 316 | 335 | 1,303 |
| Cathedral City | 51,200 | 32,537 | 1,344 | 540 | 2,562 | 55 | 12,008 | 2,154 | 30,085 |
| Coachella | 40,704 | 19,576 | 320 | 290 | 266 | 34 | 19,154 | 1,064 | 39,254 |
| Corona | 152,374 | 90,925 | 8,934 | 1,153 | 15,048 | 552 | 28,003 | 7,759 | 66,447 |
| Desert Hot Springs | 25,938 | 15,053 | 2,133 | 357 | 675 | 84 | 6,343 | 1,293 | 13,646 |
| Eastvale | 53,668 | 22,998 | 5,190 | 290 | 13,003 | 198 | 9,172 | 2,817 | 21,445 |
| Hemet | 78,657 | 53,259 | 5,049 | 1,223 | 2,352 | 284 | 12,371 | 4,119 | 28,150 |
| Indian Wells | 4,958 | 4,721 | 29 | 20 | 83 | 2 | 52 | 51 | 209 |
| Indio | 76,036 | 46,735 | 1,805 | 741 | 1,693 | 55 | 22,394 | 2,613 | 51,540 |
| La Quinta | 37,467 | 29,489 | 713 | 230 | 1,176 | 41 | 4,595 | 1,223 | 11,339 |
| Lake Elsinore | 51,821 | 31,067 | 2,738 | 483 | 2,996 | 174 | 11,174 | 3,189 | 25,073 |
| Menifee | 77,519 | 55,444 | 3,858 | 655 | 3,788 | 295 | 9,642 | 3,837 | 25,551 |
| Moreno Valley | 193,365 | 80,969 | 34,889 | 1,721 | 11,867 | 1,117 | 51,741 | 11,061 | 105,169 |
| Murrieta | 103,466 | 72,137 | 5,601 | 741 | 9,556 | 391 | 8,695 | 6,345 | 26,792 |
| Norco | 27,063 | 20,641 | 1,893 | 248 | 844 | 59 | 2,514 | 864 | 8,405 |
| Palm Desert | 48,445 | 39,957 | 875 | 249 | 1,647 | 55 | 4,427 | 1,235 | 11,038 |
| Palm Springs | 44,552 | 33,720 | 1,982 | 467 | 1,971 | 71 | 4,949 | 1,392 | 11,286 |
| Perris | 68,386 | 28,937 | 8,307 | 589 | 2,461 | 286 | 24,345 | 3,461 | 49,079 |
| Rancho Mirage | 17,218 | 15,267 | 256 | 94 | 651 | 14 | 598 | 338 | 1,964 |
| Riverside | 303,871 | 171,669 | 21,421 | 3,467 | 22,566 | 1,219 | 68,111 | 15,418 | 148,953 |
| San Jacinto | 44,199 | 25,272 | 2,928 | 812 | 1,341 | 124 | 11,208 | 2,514 | 23,109 |
| Temecula | 100,097 | 70,880 | 4,132 | 1,079 | 9,765 | 368 | 7,928 | 5,945 | 24,727 |
| Wildomar | 32,176 | 22,372 | 1,065 | 376 | 1,454 | 69 | 5,124 | 1,716 | 11,363 |
| Census-designated places | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Aguanga | 1,128 | 929 | 11 | 20 | 24 | 0 | 109 | 35 | 274 |
| Anza | 3,014 | 2,411 | 34 | 57 | 36 | 3 | 347 | 126 | 791 |
| Bermuda Dunes | 7,282 | 5,433 | 180 | 63 | 241 | 11 | 1,126 | 228 | 2,371 |
| Cabazon | 2,535 | 1,751 | 135 | 90 | 38 | 14 | 358 | 149 | 1,135 |
| Cherry Valley | 6,362 | 5,450 | 63 | 102 | 87 | 4 | 451 | 205 | 1,347 |
| Coronita | 2,608 | 1,649 | 38 | 31 | 108 | 12 | 688 | 82 | 1,349 |
| Crestmore Heights | 384 | 229 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 133 | 12 | 263 |
| Desert Center | 204 | 164 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 9 | 38 |
| Desert Edge | 3,822 | 3,051 | 14 | 34 | 28 | 1 | 624 | 70 | 1,220 |
| Desert Palms | 6,957 | 6,728 | 59 | 16 | 95 | 5 | 15 | 39 | 177 |
| East Hemet | 17,418 | 12,257 | 679 | 323 | 275 | 29 | 2,997 | 858 | 6,778 |
| El Cerrito | 5,100 | 3,542 | 91 | 54 | 95 | 11 | 1,122 | 185 | 2,657 |
| El Sobrante | 12,723 | 7,435 | 1,010 | 73 | 2,240 | 36 | 1,312 | 617 | 3,626 |
| French Valley | 23,067 | 14,827 | 1,828 | 229 | 2,672 | 134 | 1,889 | 1,488 | 6,318 |
| Garnet | 7,543 | 4,247 | 203 | 96 | 62 | 10 | 2,636 | 289 | 5,580 |
| Glen Avon | 20,199 | 10,272 | 805 | 216 | 462 | 34 | 7,567 | 843 | 13,766 |
| Good Hope | 9,192 | 4,156 | 669 | 98 | 64 | 4 | 3,885 | 316 | 7,319 |
| Green Acres | 1,805 | 1,192 | 34 | 41 | 25 | 2 | 396 | 115 | 856 |
| Highgrove | 3,988 | 2,104 | 162 | 41 | 113 | 13 | 1,388 | 167 | 2,604 |
| Home Gardens | 11,570 | 5,275 | 364 | 126 | 667 | 51 | 4,500 | 587 | 8,524 |
| Homeland | 5,969 | 3,727 | 130 | 85 | 49 | 15 | 1,673 | 290 | 3,110 |
| Idyllwild-Pine Cove | 3,874 | 3,434 | 32 | 30 | 135 | 6 | 88 | 149 | 479 |
| Indio Hills | 972 | 542 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 391 | 12 | 657 |
| Lake Mathews | 5,890 | 4,239 | 253 | 59 | 193 | 3 | 891 | 252 | 1,808 |
| Lake Riverside | 1,173 | 1,042 | 21 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 46 | 38 | 186 |
| Lakeland Village | 11,541 | 7,764 | 285 | 131 | 168 | 21 | 2,575 | 597 | 5,114 |
| Lakeview | 2,104 | 1,117 | 15 | 48 | 7 | 2 | 842 | 73 | 1,350 |
| March ARB | 1,159 | 811 | 171 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 93 | 37 | 172 |
| Mead Valley | 18,510 | 8,383 | 1,515 | 179 | 259 | 17 | 7,484 | 673 | 13,395 |
| Meadowbrook | 3,185 | 2,034 | 130 | 19 | 51 | 4 | 798 | 149 | 1,765 |
| Mecca | 8,577 | 2,686 | 40 | 47 | 17 | 7 | 5,543 | 237 | 8,462 |
| Mesa Verde | 1,023 | 589 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 373 | 39 | 715 |
| Mira Loma | 21,930 | 12,577 | 383 | 240 | 465 | 43 | 7,250 | 972 | 14,846 |
| Mountain Center | 63 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| North Shore | 3,477 | 1,394 | 33 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 1,884 | 117 | 3,313 |
| Nuevo | 6,447 | 4,011 | 113 | 91 | 82 | 16 | 1,810 | 324 | 3,514 |
| Oasis | 6,890 | 1,693 | 22 | 96 | 42 | 0 | 4,927 | 110 | 6,731 |
| Pedley | 12,672 | 7,509 | 381 | 119 | 554 | 48 | 3,520 | 541 | 6,773 |
| Ripley | 692 | 393 | 103 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 165 | 24 | 537 |
| Romoland | 1,684 | 958 | 65 | 8 | 35 | 12 | 514 | 92 | 865 |
| Rubidoux | 34,280 | 16,935 | 1,850 | 391 | 855 | 136 | 12,469 | 1,644 | 23,322 |
| Sky Valley | 2,406 | 1,961 | 35 | 34 | 21 | 3 | 282 | 70 | 682 |
| Sunnyslope | 5,153 | 3,017 | 96 | 55 | 76 | 10 | 1,696 | 203 | 3,630 |
| Temescal Valley | 22,535 | 14,785 | 1,507 | 131 | 2,157 | 74 | 2,565 | 1,316 | 6,753 |
| Thermal | 2,865 | 1,034 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 1 | 1,685 | 55 | 2,730 |
| Thousand Palms | 7,715 | 5,763 | 105 | 75 | 129 | 10 | 1,422 | 211 | 4,051 |
| Valle Vista | 14,578 | 11,542 | 440 | 252 | 283 | 41 | 1,351 | 669 | 4,027 |
| Vista Santa Rosa | 2,926 | 1,699 | 8 | 140 | 6 | 0 | 942 | 131 | 2,487 |
| Warm Springs | 2,676 | 1,673 | 119 | 24 | 102 | 14 | 606 | 138 | 1,232 |
| Whitewater | 859 | 636 | 37 | 31 | 21 | 0 | 97 | 37 | 267 |
| Winchester | 2,534 | 1,577 | 38 | 17 | 46 | 2 | 728 | 126 | 1,233 |
| Woodcrest | 14,347 | 10,418 | 716 | 69 | 715 | 41 | 1,716 | 672 | 4,113 |
| Other unincorporated areas | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| All others not CDPs (combined) | 73,117 | 51,422 | 2,231 | 2,102 | 3,794 | 206 | 10,105 | 3,257 | 24,128 |

### 2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,545,387 people, 506,218 households, and 372,576 families residing in the county. The population density was 214 inhabitants per square mile (83/km$^2$). There were 584,674 housing units at an average density of 81 per square mile (31/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 18.7% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. 36.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.2% were of German, 6.9% English, 6.1% Irish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.2% spoke English and 27.7% Spanish as their first language.
In 2006 the county had a population of 2,026,803, up 31.2% since 2000. In 2005 45.8% of the population was non-Hispanic whites. The percentages of African Americans, Asians and Native Americans remained relatively similar to their 2000 figures. The percentage of Pacific Islanders had majorly risen to 0.4. Hispanics now constituted 41% of the population.
There were 506,218 households, out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.5.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,887, and the median income for a family was $48,409. Males had a median income of $38,639 versus $28,032 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,689. About 10.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and law enforcement
### Government

Riverside County is organized as a General Law County under the provision of the California Government Code. The county has five supervisorial districts, and one supervisor is elected from each district every four years.
In 1999, the County Board of Supervisors approved a multimillion-dollar planning effort to create the Riverside County Integrated Plan (RCIP) which was to encompass a completely new General Plan, regional transportation plan (CETAP) and Habitat Conservation Plan. The resultant General Plan adopted in 2003 was considered groundbreaking for its multidisciplinary approach to land use and conservation planning.

### Courts

The Riverside Superior Court is the state trial court for Riverside County with 14 courthouses: Riverside Historic Courthouse, Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside Family Law Court, Riverside Juvenile Court, Southwest Justice Center – Murrieta, Moreno Valley Court, Banning Court, Hemet Court, Corona Court, Temecula Court, Larson Justice Center – Indio, Indio Juvenile Court, Palm Springs Court and Blythe Court.
The main courthouse is the Riverside Historic Courthouse. This landmark, erected in 1903, was modeled after the Grand and Petit Palais in Paris, France. The courthouse, designed by Los Angeles architects Burnham and Bliesner, has a classical design – including a great hall that connects all the departments (courtrooms). In 1994, the courthouse was closed for seismic retrofits due to the 1992 Landers and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. The courthouse was reopened and rededicated in September 1998.
Riverside County hands down 1 in 6 death sentences in the US, in spite of it having less than 1% of the population.

### Law enforcement
#### Sheriff

The Riverside County Sheriff provides court protection, jail administration, and coroner services for all of Riverside County. It provides patrol, detective, and other police services for the unincorporated areas of the county plus by contract to the cities and towns of Coachella, Eastvale, Indian Wells, Jurupa Valley, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Norco, Palm Desert, Perris, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, Temecula and Wildomar. The Morongo Indian Reservation also contracts with the Sheriff's Office to provide police services to the reservation.

#### Municipal Police

Municipal departments within the county are Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Calimesa, Cathedral City, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Hemet, Indio, Menifee, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Riverside, Riverside Community College
Riverside County Probation Department https://rivcoprobation.org/

## Politics
### Voter registration

Population and registered voters :
| Eligible voters | 2,473,902 | 2,473,902 |
| Registered voters | 1,372,548 | 83.34% |
| Democratic | 539,624 | 39.32% |
| Republican | 447,217 | 32.58% |
| Democratic–Republican spread | +92,407 | 6.74% |
| American Independent | 63,621 | 4.64% |
| Green | 5,329 | 0.39% |
| Libertarian | 15,541 | 1.13% |
| Peace and Freedom | 9,261 | 0.67% |
| Unknown | 2,807 | 0.20% |
| Other | 14,599 | 1.06% |
| No party preference | 274,549 | 20.00% |
Cities by population and voter registration :
| City | Population | Registered voters | Democratic | Republican | D–R spread | Other | No party preference |
| Banning | 29,414 | 42.9% | 38.9% | 40.8% | -1.9% | 8.2% | 15.4% |
| Beaumont | 34,737 | 46.4% | 33.6% | 40.8% | -7.2% | 10.3% | 19.4% |
| Blythe | 21,102 | 23.1% | 40.3% | 36.0% | +4.3% | 9.2% | 18.3% |
| Calimesa | 7,923 | 53.7% | 29.0% | 48.8% | -19.8% | 10.1% | 16.2% |
| Canyon Lake | 10,663 | 57.3% | 19.9% | 57.5% | -37.6% | 9.7% | 16.8% |
| Cathedral City | 51,130 | 37.6% | 46.9% | 31.8% | +15.1% | 6.2% | 17.5% |
| Coachella | 39,442 | 25.0% | 72.1% | 13.1% | +59.0% | 2.9% | 12.8% |
| Corona | 158,391 | 43.0% | 32.9% | 43.3% | -10.4% | 7.2% | 19.2% |
| Desert Hot Springs | 25,793 | 35.5% | 44.0% | 32.7% | +11.3% | 8.3% | 18.0% |
| Eastvale | 53,437 | 40.6% | 38.0% | 34.2% | +3.8% | 6.9% | 23.6% |
| Hemet | 77,752 | 44.8% | 34.0% | 42.4% | -8.4% | 9.3% | 18.1% |
| Indian Wells | 4,937 | 59.8% | 19.0% | 62.7% | -43.7% | 6.5% | 14.4% |
| Indio | 74,402 | 39.7% | 47.9% | 33.0% | +14.9% | 6.0% | 15.4% |
| Jurupa Valley | 57,464 | 58.4% | 40.1% | 37.1% | +3.0% | 7.1% | 18.3% |
| La Quinta | 36,600 | 52.8% | 30.6% | 47.4% | -16.8% | 8.1% | 17.2% |
| Lake Elsinore | 50,405 | 38.1% | 33.8% | 36.8% | -3.0% | 9.7% | 23.4% |
| Menifee | 75,023 | 52.0% | 31.1% | 44.2% | -13.1% | 9.6% | 19.0% |
| Moreno Valley | 190,977 | 43.5% | 48.1% | 33.5% | +14.6% | 5.6% | 14.8% |
| Murrieta | 99,476 | 48.8% | 25.3% | 48.2% | -22.9% | 9.2% | 20.8% |
| Norco | 27,131 | 45.0% | 25.2% | 52.5% | -27.3% | 8.2% | 17.2% |
| Palm Desert | 48,769 | 50.7% | 31.5% | 45.8% | -14.3% | 7.6% | 18.1% |
| Palm Springs | 45,045 | 53.7% | 50.9% | 26.7% | +24.2% | 7.3% | 17.9% |
| Perris | 65,993 | 36.3% | 54.2% | 27.8% | +26.4% | 5.1% | 14.6% |
| Rancho Mirage | 17,022 | 58.8% | 33.2% | 45.3% | -12.1% | 5.8% | 18.0% |
| Riverside | 303,569 | 44.0% | 38.5% | 39.0% | -0.5% | 7.5% | 17.6% |
| San Jacinto | 42,722 | 38.0% | 36.5% | 38.6% | -2.1% | 9.3% | 19.1% |
| Temecula | 98,189 | 48.0% | 25.2% | 47.6% | -22.4% | 9.7% | 21.4% |
| Wildomar | 31,452 | 47.4% | 26.8% | 45.4% | -18.6% | 10.3% | 21.4% |
* Democratic (40.49%)
* Republican (31.31%)
* Independent (20.49%)
* Other parties (7.71%)

### Overview

Prior to 2008, Riverside County was historically a Republican stronghold in presidential and congressional elections. Between its creation in 1893 and 2004, it voted for the Democratic presidential nominee only three times: Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 (by a margin of 337 votes, or 0.99%), Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 (by a margin of 19,363 votes, or 13.65%), and Bill Clinton in 1992 (by a margin of 6,784 votes, or 1.58%). In 1932, it was one of only two counties in the entire West Coast to vote for Republican president Herbert Hoover over Roosevelt during the latter's landslide victory. In 2024, it was one of ten counties that flipped for Donald Trump after voting for Biden in 2020, and was one of six counties that voted for the Republican presidential candidate for the first time in 20 years since George W. Bush in 2004.
United States presidential election results for Riverside County, California :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 463,677 | 49.30% | 451,782 | 48.04% | 25,051 | 2.66% |
| 2020 | 449,144 | 45.04% | 528,340 | 52.98% | 19,672 | 1.97% |
| 2016 | 333,243 | 44.35% | 373,695 | 49.73% | 44,453 | 5.92% |
| 2012 | 318,127 | 47.97% | 329,063 | 49.62% | 15,926 | 2.40% |
| 2008 | 310,041 | 47.90% | 325,017 | 50.21% | 12,241 | 1.89% |
| 2004 | 322,473 | 57.83% | 228,806 | 41.04% | 6,300 | 1.13% |
| 2000 | 231,955 | 51.42% | 202,576 | 44.90% | 16,596 | 3.68% |
| 1996 | 178,611 | 45.61% | 168,579 | 43.05% | 44,423 | 11.34% |
| 1992 | 159,457 | 37.06% | 166,241 | 38.64% | 104,577 | 24.30% |
| 1988 | 199,979 | 59.46% | 133,122 | 39.58% | 3,247 | 0.97% |
| 1984 | 182,324 | 63.48% | 102,043 | 35.53% | 2,835 | 0.99% |
| 1980 | 145,642 | 59.87% | 76,650 | 31.51% | 20,986 | 8.63% |
| 1976 | 97,774 | 49.24% | 96,228 | 48.46% | 4,556 | 2.29% |
| 1972 | 108,120 | 58.00% | 71,591 | 38.41% | 6,693 | 3.59% |
| 1968 | 83,414 | 52.90% | 61,146 | 38.78% | 13,110 | 8.31% |
| 1964 | 61,165 | 43.14% | 80,528 | 56.79% | 95 | 0.07% |
| 1960 | 65,855 | 56.15% | 50,877 | 43.38% | 544 | 0.46% |
| 1956 | 56,766 | 62.16% | 34,098 | 37.34% | 465 | 0.51% |
| 1952 | 51,692 | 65.08% | 26,948 | 33.93% | 788 | 0.99% |
| 1948 | 32,209 | 55.66% | 23,305 | 40.28% | 2,350 | 4.06% |
| 1944 | 23,168 | 53.94% | 19,439 | 45.26% | 346 | 0.81% |
| 1940 | 21,779 | 51.39% | 20,003 | 47.20% | 598 | 1.41% |
| 1936 | 16,674 | 48.89% | 17,011 | 49.88% | 422 | 1.24% |
| 1932 | 14,112 | 50.20% | 12,755 | 45.37% | 1,245 | 4.43% |
| 1928 | 17,600 | 77.94% | 4,769 | 21.12% | 212 | 0.94% |
| 1924 | 9,619 | 61.99% | 1,318 | 8.49% | 4,579 | 29.51% |
| 1920 | 9,124 | 69.55% | 2,798 | 21.33% | 1,196 | 9.12% |
| 1916 | 7,452 | 54.64% | 4,561 | 33.44% | 1,626 | 11.92% |
| 1912 | 124 | 1.23% | 2,963 | 29.33% | 7,016 | 69.44% |
| 1908 | 3,229 | 57.24% | 1,374 | 24.36% | 1,038 | 18.40% |
| 1904 | 2,638 | 65.23% | 678 | 16.77% | 728 | 18.00% |
| 1900 | 2,329 | 61.14% | 1,134 | 29.77% | 346 | 9.08% |
| 1896 | 2,063 | 53.06% | 1,684 | 43.31% | 141 | 3.63% |
In the United States House of Representatives, Riverside County is split between 6 congressional districts:
* California's 25th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz
* California's 35th congressional district, represented by Democrat Norma Torres
* California's 39th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mark Takano
* California's 40th congressional district, represented by Republican Young Kim
* California's 41st congressional district, represented by Republican Ken Calvert and
* California's 48th congressional district, represented by Republican Darrell Issa.
In the California State Senate, the county is split between four legislative districts:
* the 18th Senate District, represented by Democrat Steve Padilla,
* the 19th Senate District, represented by Republican Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh,
* the 31st Senate District, represented by Democrat Sabrina Cervantes, and
* the 32nd Senate District, represented by Republican Kelly Seyarto.
In the California State Assembly, the county is split between six legislative districts:
* the 36th Assembly District, represented by Republican Jeff Gonzalez,
* the 47th Assembly District, represented by Republican Greg Wallis,
* the 58th Assembly District, represented by Republican Leticia Castillo,
* the 60th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Corey Jackson,
* the 63rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Bill Essayli, and
* the 60th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Corey Jackson.
Riverside County voted 64.8% in favor of Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Only the city of Palm Springs voted against the measure.

## Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Population and crime rates :
| Population | 2,154,844 | 2,154,844 |
| Violent crime | 7,284 | 3.38 |
| Homicide | 91 | 0.04 |
| Forcible rape | 424 | 0.20 |
| Robbery | 2,602 | 1.21 |
| Aggravated assault | 4,167 | 1.93 |
| Property crime | 37,803 | 17.54 |
| Burglary | 17,308 | 8.03 |
| Larceny-theft | 35,135 | 16.31 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 8,641 | 4.01 |
| Arson | 283 | 0.13 |

### Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates :
| City | Population | Violent crimes | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons | Property crimes | Property crime rate per 1,000 persons |
| Banning | 30,541 | 148 | 4.85 | 708 | 23.18 |
| Beaumont | 38,072 | 103 | 2.71 | 1,342 | 35.25 |
| Blythe | 21,323 | 73 | 3.42 | 759 | 35.60 |
| Calimesa | 8,136 | 13 | 1.60 | 202 | 24.83 |
| Canyon Lake | 10,905 | 11 | 1.01 | 209 | 19.17 |
| Cathedral City | 52,867 | 204 | 3.86 | 1,576 | 29.81 |
| Coachella | 42,034 | 265 | 6.30 | 1,547 | 36.80 |
| Corona | 157,342 | 210 | 1.33 | 4,143 | 26.33 |
| Desert Hot Springs | 27,929 | 344 | 12.32 | 1,157 | 41.43 |
| Eastvale | 55,439 | 41 | 0.74 | 1,007 | 18.16 |
| Hemet | 81,213 | 406 | 5.00 | 3,486 | 42.92 |
| Indian Wells | 5,120 | 2 | 0.39 | 203 | 39.65 |
| Indio | 78,501 | 450 | 5.73 | 2,791 | 35.55 |
| Jurupa Valley | 97,577 | 312 | 3.20 | 3,174 | 32.53 |
| Lake Elsinore | 53,912 | 130 | 2.41 | 1,932 | 35.84 |
| La Quinta | 38,690 | 150 | 3.88 | 1,669 | 43.14 |
| Menifee | 80,047 | 87 | 1.09 | 1,942 | 24.26 |
| Moreno Valley | 199,673 | 706 | 3.54 | 6,371 | 31.91 |
| Murrieta | 106,839 | 70 | 0.66 | 1,715 | 16.05 |
| Norco | 27,850 | 56 | 2.01 | 580 | 20.83 |
| Palm Desert | 50,021 | 104 | 2.08 | 2,322 | 46.42 |
| Palm Springs | 45,996 | 302 | 6.57 | 2,232 | 48.53 |
| Perris | 70,616 | 240 | 3.40 | 2,081 | 29.47 |
| Rancho Mirage | 17,778 | 23 | 1.29 | 726 | 40.84 |
| Riverside | 313,532 | 1,389 | 4.43 | 10,818 | 34.50 |
| San Jacinto | 45,637 | 137 | 3.00 | 1,479 | 32.41 |
| Temecula | 103,414 | 97 | 0.94 | 2,440 | 23.59 |
| Wildomar | 33,227 | 53 | 1.60 | 707 | 21.28 |

## Education
### Universities and colleges

* Azusa Pacific University – Murrieta
* Brandman University Archived October 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, part of the Chapman University System – Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Riverside and Temecula
* California Baptist University – Riverside
* California Southern Law School – Riverside
* California State University, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus – Palm Desert
* California State University, San Marcos, Temecula Satellite Campus – Temecula
* College of the Desert – Palm Desert and Indio
* La Sierra University – Riverside
* Mayfield College – Cathedral City
* Mt. San Jacinto College – Banning, Menifee, San Jacinto, Temecula
* Olivet University – Anza
* Palo Verde College – Blythe
* Riverside Community College District
** Riverside City College
** Moreno Valley College
** Norco College
* Santa Barbara Business College – Palm Desert
* University of California, Riverside – Palm Desert and Riverside
* University of Phoenix – Murrieta and Palm Desert

### K-12 schools
#### Public school districts

K-12 unified:
* Alvord Unified School District
* Banning Unified School District
* Beaumont Unified School District
* Coachella Valley Unified School District
* Colton Joint Unified School District
* Corona-Norco Unified School District
* Desert Center Unified School District
* Desert Sands Unified School District
* Hemet Unified School District
* Jurupa Unified School District
* Lake Elsinore Unified School District
* Moreno Valley Unified School District
* Murrieta Valley Unified School District
* Palm Springs Unified School District
* Palo Verde Unified School District
* Riverside Unified School District
* San Jacinto Unified School District
* Temecula Valley Unified School District
* Val Verde Unified School District
* Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District
Secondary:
* Perris Union High School District
Elementary:
* Menifee Union School District
* Nuview Union Elementary School District
* Perris Elementary School District
* Romoland Elementary School District

#### State-operated schools

* California School for the Deaf, Riverside

#### Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools

* Sherman Indian High School

## Transportation
### Major highways

* I-10
* I-10 BL
* I-15
* I-215
* U.S. Route 95
* Historic U.S. Route 99
* Historic U.S. Route 395
* State Route 60
* State Route 62
* State Route 71
* State Route 74
* State Route 78
* State Route 79
* State Route 86
* State Route 91
* State Route 111
* State Route 177
* State Route 243
* State Route 371
* County Route R3

### Public transportation

* Riverside Transit Agency serves the western third of Riverside County, as far east as Banning.
* SunLine Transit Agency serves Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.
* RidePV (formerly Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency) provides service in Blythe, near the Arizona border.
* Pass Transit serves the San Gorgonio Pass communities.
* Corona Cruiser serves the city of Corona.
* Riverside County is also served by Greyhound buses.
Amtrak trains stop in Riverside and Palm Springs, and Amtrak California provides bus connections to the San Joaquins in Riverside–Downtown, Beaumont, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms, Indio, Moreno Valley, Perris, Sun City, and Hemet.
Metrolink trains serve nine stations in Riverside County: Riverside–Downtown, Riverside–La Sierra, Corona–North Main, Corona–West, Jurupa Valley/Pedley, Riverside–Hunter Park/UCR, Moreno Valley/March Field, Perris–Downtown, and Perris–South. These trains provide service to Orange, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties seven days a week, with a primarily commuter-oriented schedule.

### Airports
#### Military air bases

* March Air Reserve Base (former March Air Force Base)

#### Commercial airports

* Palm Springs International Airport

#### General aviation airports

* Banning Municipal Airport
* Bermuda Dunes Airport
* Blythe Airport
* Corona Municipal Airport
* Flabob Airport, Riverside
* French Valley Airport (Temecula Valley)
* Hemet-Ryan Airport (San Jacinto Valley)
* Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, Thermal (Coachella Valley)
* Perris Valley Airport
* Riverside Municipal Airport

## Military installations

* Active
** Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range
** March Air Reserve Base
** Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Norco
*** Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division
* Historical
** Desert Training Center
*** Blythe Army Airfield
*** Desert Center Army Airfield
*** Palm Springs Army Airfield
*** Rice Army Airfield
*** Shaver's Summit Army Airfield
*** Thermal Army Airfield (Also named Naval Air Facility Thermal (historical))
** Hemet Army Airfield

## Points of interest

* Castle Park (amusement park)
* The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture
* Empire Polo Club, location of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals
* Gold Base, international headquarters of the Church of Scientology and Golden Era Productions
* Indian Wells Tennis Garden
* Joshua Tree National Park
* Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
* March Field Air Museum
* Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
* Orange Empire Railway Museum
* Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
* Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mount San Jacinto State Park
* Palm Springs Desert Museum
* Ramona Bowl, Home of The Ramona Pageant
* Riverside Art Museum
* Riverside County fair grounds, location of the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival
* Riverside National Cemetery, including the Medal of Honor Memorial
* Salton Sea State Recreation Area
* Santa Rosa Plateau
* Sunnylands Center & Gardens
* Temecula Valley AVA Wine Region
* Western Science Center

## Communities
### Cities

| City | Year incorporated | Population, 2020 | Median household income, 2019 |
| Banning | 1913 | 29,505 | $42,274 |
| Beaumont | 1912 | 53,036 | $84,105 |
| Blythe | 1916 | 18,317 | $45,385 |
| Calimesa | 1990 | 10,026 | $56,903 |
| Canyon Lake | 1990 | 11,082 | $100,682 |
| Cathedral City | 1981 | 51,493 | $46,521 |
| Coachella | 1946 | 41,941 | $34,224 |
| Corona | 1896 | 157,136 | $86,790 |
| Desert Hot Springs | 1963 | 32,512 | $33,046 |
| Eastvale | 2010 | 69,757 | $119,213 |
| Hemet | 1910 | 89,833 | $39,653 |
| Indian Wells | 1967 | 4,757 | $107,500 |
| Indio | 1930 | 89,137 | $74,774 |
| Jurupa Valley | 2011 | 105,053 | $76,090 |
| Lake Elsinore | 1888 | 70,265 | $77,090 |
| La Quinta | 1982 | 37,558 | $77,839 |
| Menifee | 2008 | 102,527 | $77,033 |
| Moreno Valley | 1984 | 208,634 | $65,449 |
| Murrieta | 1991 | 110,949 | $100,080 |
| Norco | 1964 | 26,316 | $102,817 |
| Palm Desert | 1973 | 51,163 | $59,977 |
| Palm Springs | 1938 | 44,575 | $53,441 |
| Perris | 1911 | 78,700 | $70,714 |
| Rancho Mirage | 1973 | 16,999 | $78,682 |
| Riverside | 1883 | 314,998 | $71,967 |
| San Jacinto | 1888 | 53,898 | $52,009 |
| Temecula | 1989 | 110,003 | $95,918 |
| Wildomar | 2008 | 36,875 | $74,991 |

### Unincorporated communities

* Aguanga
* Alberhill
* Alessandro
* Anza
* Arnold Heights
* Bermuda Dunes
* Bonnie Bell
* Box Springs
* Cabazon
* Cactus City
* Cahuilla
* Cahuilla Hills
* Cherry Valley
* Chiriaco Summit
* Coronita
* Desert Beach
* Desert Center
* Desert Edge
* Desert Palms
* East Hemet
* Edgemont
* El Cariso
* El Cerrito
* El Sobrante
* Fern Valley
* French Valley
* Garnet
* Gilman Hot Springs
* Good Hope
* Green Acres
* Highgrove
* Home Gardens
* Homeland
* Idyllwild
* Indio Hills
* La Cresta
* Lake Mathews
* Lake Riverside
* Lake Tamarisk
* Lakeland Village
* Lakeview
* March ARB
* Mead Valley
* Meadowbrook
* Mecca
* Mesa Verde
* Mountain Center
* North Palm Springs
* North Shore
* Nuevo
* Oasis
* Pine Cove
* Pinyon Pines
* Radec
* Rancho Capistrano
* Ripley
* Romoland
* Sage
* Sky Valley
* Snow Creek
* Temescal Valley
* Thermal
* Thomas Mountain
* Thousand Palms
* Valle Vista
* Vista Santa Rosa
* Warm Springs
* Whitewater
* Winchester
* Woodcrest

### Former census designated places

* Crestmore Heights, annexed to Jurupa Valley

### Ghost towns

* Dos Palmas
* Eagle Mountain
* Fertilla
* Hell
* La Placita
* Leon
* Midland
* Pinacate
* Saahatpa
* Temescal
* Terra Cotta
* Willow Springs Station

### Indian reservations

Riverside County has 12 federally recognized Indian reservations, which ties it with Sandoval County, New Mexico, for second most of any county in the United States. (Sandoval County, however, has two additional joint-use areas, shared between reservations. San Diego County, California has the most, with 18 reservations.)
* Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
* Augustine Indian Reservation
* Cabazon Indian Reservation
* Cahuilla Indian Reservation
* Colorado River Indian Reservation (partly in La Paz County, Arizona and San Bernardino County, California)
* Morongo Indian Reservation
* Pechanga Indian Reservation
* Ramona Village
* Santa Rosa Indian Reservation
* Soboba Band of Mission Indians
* Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation (partly in Imperial County, California)
* Twenty-Nine Palms Indian Reservation (partly in San Bernardino County, California)

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Riverside County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Riverside | City | 314,998 |
| 2 | Moreno Valley | City | 208,634 |
| 3 | Corona | City | 157,136 |
| 4 | Murrieta | City | 110,949 |
| 5 | Temecula | City | 110,003 |
| 6 | Jurupa Valley | City | 105,053 |
| 7 | Menifee | City | 102,527 |
| 8 | Hemet | City | 89,833 |
| 9 | Indio | City | 89,137 |
| 10 | Perris | City | 78,700 |
| 11 | Lake Elsinore | City | 70,265 |
| 12 | Eastvale | City | 69,757 |
| 13 | San Jacinto | City | 53,898 |
| 14 | Beaumont | City | 53,036 |
| 15 | Cathedral City | City | 51,493 |
| 16 | Palm Desert | City | 51,163 |
| 17 | Palm Springs | City | 44,575 |
| 18 | Coachella | City | 41,941 |
| 19 | La Quinta | City | 37,558 |
| 20 | Wildomar | City | 36,875 |
| 21 | French Valley | CDP | 35,280 |
| 22 | Desert Hot Springs | City | 32,512 |
| 23 | Banning | City | 29,505 |
| 24 | Agua Caliente Indian Reservation | AIAN | 27,090 |
| 25 | Norco | City | 26,316 |
| 26 | Temescal Valley | CDP | 26,232 |
| 27 | Mead Valley | CDP | 19,819 |
| 28 | East Hemet | CDP | 19,432 |
| 29 | Blythe | City | 18,317 |
| 30 | Rancho Mirage | City | 16,999 |
| 31 | Valle Vista | CDP | 16,194 |
| 32 | Woodcrest | CDP | 15,378 |
| 33 | El Sobrante | CDP | 14,039 |
| 34 | Lakeland Village | CDP | 12,364 |
| 35 | Home Gardens | CDP | 11,203 |
| 36 | Canyon Lake | City | 11,082 |
| 37 | Calimesa | City | 10,026 |
| 38 | Good Hope | CDP | 9,468 |
| 39 | Bermuda Dunes | CDP | 8,244 |
| 40 | Mecca | CDP | 8,219 |
| 41 | Thousand Palms | CDP | 7,967 |
| 42 | Highgrove | CDP | 7,515 |
| 43 | Garnet | CDP | 7,118 |
| 44 | Homeland | CDP | 6,772 |
| 45 | Nuevo | CDP | 6,733 |
| 46 | Desert Palms | CDP | 6,686 |
| 47 | Cherry Valley | CDP | 6,509 |
| 48 | Lake Mathews | CDP | 5,972 |
| 49 | El Cerrito | CDP | 5,058 |
| 50 | Indian Wells | City | 4,757 |
| 51 | Oasis | CDP | 4,468 |
| 52 | Desert Edge | CDP | 4,180 |
| 53 | Idyllwild-Pine Cove | CDP | 4,163 |
| 54 | North Shore | CDP | 3,585 |
| 55 | Torres-Martinez Reservation | AIAN | 3,454 |
| 56 | Sage | CDP | 3,370 |
| 57 | Meadowbrook | CDP | 3,142 |
| 58 | Anza | CDP | 3,075 |
| 59 | Winchester | CDP | 3,068 |
| 60 | Green Acres | CDP | 2,918 |
| 61 | Thermal | CDP | 2,676 |
| 62 | Coronita | CDP | 2,639 |
| 63 | Cabazon | CDP | 2,629 |
| 64 | Vista Santa Rosa | CDP | 2,607 |
| 65 | Sky Valley | CDP | 2,411 |
| 66 | Romoland | CDP | 2,005 |
| 67 | Lakeview | CDP | 1,977 |
| 68 | Warm Springs | CDP | 1,586 |
| 69 | Colorado River Indian Reservation | AIAN | 1,395 |
| 70 | Lake Riverside | CDP | 1,375 |
| 71 | Morongo Reservation | AIAN | 1,243 |
| 72 | Indio Hills | CDP | 1,048 |
| 73 | Aguanga | CDP | 989 |
| 74 | Whitewater | CDP | 984 |
| 75 | March ARB | CDP | 809 |
| 76 | Mesa Verde | CDP | 766 |
| 77 | Pechanga Reservation | AIAN | 582 |
| 78 | Soboba Reservation | AIAN | 567 |
| 79 | Ripley | CDP | 538 |
| 80 | Desert Center | CDP | 256 |
| 81 | Cahuilla Reservation | AIAN | 229 |
| 82 | Cabazon Reservation | AIAN | 192 |
| 83 | Santa Rosa Reservation | AIAN | 131 |
| 84 | Mountain Center | CDP | 66 |
| 85 | Twenty-Nine Reservation | AIAN | 5 |
| 86 | Augustine Reservation | AIAN | 0 |
| 87 | Ramona Village | AIAN | 0 |

## Climate

Riverside County :
Climate chart (explanation) :