Riverside is a city located in Riverside County California. Riverside has a 2023 population of 322,538. It is also the county seat of Riverside County.Riverside is currently growing at a rate of 0.83% annually and its population has increased by 2.51% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 314,655 in 2020.
The average household income in Riverside is $96,476 with a poverty rate of 12.89%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Riverside is 31.9 years, 31 years for males, and 33.1 years for females.
Riverside was first founded during the 1800s, and it is most known for its role within California’s citrus industry.
The most common religion observed throughout Riverside is Christianity, with many Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic churches located throughout the area. There are also Mormons, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists, as well as other organizations such as the Inland Empire Atheists and Agnostics.
The city’s economy is based around light-industry and the manufacturing sector. Engineering, technology, and banking are also important. The citrus industry still contributes to the economy but has declined in recent years. The top employer in the city is the County of Riverside, which employs nearly 12,000 residents.
Riverside, throughout its history, has seen steady growth in population. Between the first censuses in 1890 and 1900, the city’s population grew by over 70%. By the 1970s, the city had over 100,000 inhabitants. By the 1990s, the city had over 200,000 residents. It reached another population milestone in 2010 when its population exceeded 300,000. Recent estimates show that since the last official population in 2010, the community has grown by almost 7%, indicating that while growth has slowed, it will continue on a steady upward trajectory into the future.
The Serrano and Cahuilla people first inhabited the site of what is now Riverside. The first official record of the area was recorded in the 1770s following the exploration of Juan Bautista De Anza. It was officially founded much later, however, in 1869, although some sources claim that it wasn’t founded until the 1870s. It was in 1873 that seedless oranges from Brazil were planted, and Riverside’s temperate climate and other conditions were found to be favorable for growing the oranges, leading to a thriving citrus industry. Less than ten years later, close to half of the 500,000 citrus trees in the state were located in Riverside.
By 1900, Riverside’s thriving industry, combined with refrigerated railroad cars and irrigation systems made Riverside the richest city in the country. It was during this time that the Glenwood Tavern was established. This hotel, which was later renamed the Mission Inn, was visited by many presidents. The city throughout the years continued to grow as many people moved here because of the beautiful homes and prosperous economy.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Riverside was:
3.88
Average Family Size
3.38
Average Household Size
55.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
53.5% of Riverside residents speak only English, while 46.5% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 37.38% of the population.
12.89%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.99%
Male Poverty Rate
13.8%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Riverside is Asian, with 18.29% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Riverside is White, with 10.8% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.12%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.69%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 21.8%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
42.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.2%
Male Marriage Rate
40.4%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
9.63%
Veteran Poverty Rate
32.39%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.5%
Labor Force Participation
59.4%
Employment Rate
6.4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
68.38%
Born in Riverside
81.75%
Native Born
23.73%
Foreign Born
11.07%
Non Citizen
12.66%
Naturalized
81.75% of Riverside residents were born in the United States, with 68.38% having been born in California. 11.07% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.