About the County
Riverside County is transforming from a regional economic hub to a leading economic driver on the state and national level. The county’s economic base is experiencing rapid change moving from a predominantly construction, retail, and agricultural base to a thriving innovative center for healthcare, renewable energy, logistics and supply chain technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
Riverside County is located in Inland Southern California to the east of Orange County, north of San Diego and Imperial counties, and south of San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties. It is the fourth largest county in California, and is home to diverse geographic features including deserts, forests and mountains, as well as rich biological resources.
There are 28 incorporated cities within Riverside County, large areas of unincorporated land and several Native American tribal entities. Over 86% of the county is unincorporated land.
Riverside County offers businesses the unique combination of location within a marketplace of 22 million + Southern California customers, easy access to main east/west and north/south transportation routes, trained large and diverse workforce, a reasonable cost of living and business-friendly environment, a global perspective, and the lowest net cost of doing business in Southern California.
Why Riverside County?
Population Demographics
Riverside County currently has a population around 2.4 million people. Around 56.6% of the population are white with African Americans and Asians making up around 8.3% and 9% of the population respectively. 44.9% of the population list their race as other and 3.3% are of two or more races. American Indian & Alaskan Native make up 3.5% of the population and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander make up 0.7% of the population. 52.0% of the population are of Hispanic ethnicity.
76% of the population is over 18 years old with 39.5% of the population falling between the ages of 25 and 54. Of those over the ages of 25, 83% have graduated high school at least with 25% having earned a bachelor’s degree or more. 42.2% speak another language besides English with the majority speaking Spanish as a second language. 48.6% of the population are married and 36.2% have never been married. 8.7% are divorced, 1.7% are separated, and 4.6% are widowed.
The average household size is 3.17. 54.6% of the population live in married couple households while 37.1% of households have at least one member under the age of 18 and 35.2% have at least one member over the age of 65. 8.2% of all families live below the poverty line and 114% of those that live below the poverty line are households with children.
The population in Riverside County is projected to grow considerably, outpacing its neighboring counties. Current levels of home affordability will continue to attract households from throughout Southern California. Cities like Corona and Riverside are attracting many first-time homebuyers who cannot afford a traditional detached single-family home in coastal areas.
Workforce & Human Capital
45K
Employed in Manufacturing
78K
Employed in Transportation and Warehousing
121K
Employed in
Healthcare & Social Assistance
74K
Employed in
Construction
22K
Employed in Professional,
Scientific and Technical Services
Available Workforce
Paralleling nationwide trends, Riverside County’s unemployment rate has improved substantially since the pandemic low. The county stands at a 5.4% unemployment rate for August 2023 with jobs and labor force numbers higher than pre pandemic levels. Annual employment growth in Riverside County from 2020 to 2022 has been faster than the states (9.5% vs 8.2%).
The county workforce stands at over 1 million individuals larger than 14 state workforces.
The largest industries based on employment in Riverside County are Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Accomodation and Food Services, Professional and Business Services, Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities, Construction and Manufacturing. On top of that, Riverside County has a significant number of people employed in STEM occupations such as engineering, technology, and medical.
Educational Infrastructure
Riverside County is home to several higher education institutions including the No. 1 college value in the nation, the University of California, Riverside (UCR). It is also home to other four year universities such as California Baptist University, Cal State San Bernardino – Palm Desert Campus, Cal State San Marcos – Temecula Campus, and La Sierra University. Riverside County also has a number of community colleges such as Riverside Community College, Moreno Valley College, Norco College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Palo Verde College, and the College of the Desert.
Riverside County is in close proximity to some of the most distinguished universities in the world including University of California, Los Angeles. University of Southern California, and the Claremont Colleges. The inland Southern California Region is home to seven research institutions, including one of America’s few research intensive accredited Hispanic Serving Institutions. The region boasts more than 20 colleges and universities.
In total there are over 178 thousand college and university students in the county which is served by more than 20 Colleges and Universities. The largest of these is UCR. UCR ranks among the top 25 comprehensive research universities in the nation. The UCR School of Medicine, is also California’s first new public medical school in four decades. More than 200 medical students train in hospitals across Inland Southern California, while UCR Health rapidly expands regional access to healthcare for the growing Inland Empire communities.
Construction and Land Costs
Riverside County is the best investment value in the Southern California industrial marketplace for purchasing land and constructing a new building or purchasing a new building.
To start, Riverside County has available land for building construction that is generally not available in the neighboring coastal communities and urban metropolis. According to Cushman and Wakefield “… in Q3 2023, the IE ranked fourth in the nation for new leasing activity, following Dallas, Houston, and Chicago.”
Trade and Transportation
The busiest rail corridors in the U.S. run through the region, featuring rail service from Union Pacific and BNSF. These railroads connect the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the rest of the United States.
The county benefits from nearby airports with large available space: LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT); Southern California Logistics Airport; Palm Springs International Airport (PSP); and March Air Reserve Base/Global Port. ONT and PSP are full-service airports with commercial passenger service.
We are located approximately 40 miles from the seaports of Los Angeles/Long Beach. Because of its strategic location, the county offers superior transportation and logistical advantages by providing timely access to domestic and global markets. The county is within a 60mile radius of world-class air, land, rail and sea facilities for commercial shipping and cargo. The county also has an expanding transportation network and has several billion in transportation infrastructure over the course of the last 10 years. Riverside County offers businesses both economic values and quality of life values that make it the perfect place to start, grow, or relocate a business.
Communities
Corona
A city whose heritage spans more than a century, Corona has emerged as an ethnically diverse community, where a significant percentage of the population is made up of young, well-educated families.
The Corona community boasts many amenities that provide a first-rate quality of life for residents. The City has more than 394 acres of parks, with sports fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, tennis courts, two skate parks and an outdoor pool.
Corona’s industrial base has played an important role in the growth of the City and its employee base. Corona’s economy is strong and getting stronger! There are more than 69,000 jobs within the city of Corona and there is a workforce of more than 88,000.
City of Corona has established it’s own opportunity zone website and can be accessed here.
Home Gardens
Home Gardens is an unincorporated area within the Corona area and is very young compared to the average age of establishments in the county. This community is situated between Riverside and Corona off of the 91 freeway. It is close to many amenities and offers a good commute time and affordable housing. The job market and housing market could use some improvement in the area, but they already show a lot of potential.
Jurupa Valley
Jurupa Valley was incorporated on July 1, 2011 as the 482nd city in California and the 28th city in Riverside County due to passionate community volunteers. It is a 44 square mile area with a population of over 104,000. Jurupa Valley is situated off of the I-15 and is intersected by Highway 60. It is a quiet city with great schools and lots of parks. It has a decent commute to bigger cities and also has several unique attractions like the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center and Cove Water Park. The city has a mix of high and low-density residential development, rural farming and other agricultural activities, and a mix of commercial retail and industrial activity. The city’s economy is starting to pick up with more businesses opening and more construction happening.
Riverside
The City of Riverside is the largest city in Riverside County and the cultural, civic, and economic heart of the Inland Southern California region. It grew from a quiet, agricultural colony into a dynamic, culturally diverse city with a growing urban core that is now the regional hub for higher education, technology, commerce, law, finance, and culture. Riverside is located approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles and has a population of 313,676. It has excellent freeway and rail access, reasonable land and building costs, City owned electrical and water systems, and a large general aviation airport. Riverside is experiencing massive growth as the innovation hub of Riverside County.
MEAD VALLEY & PERRIS
Mead Valley is an unincorporated area in Riverside County adjacent to the City of Perris with a mix of industrial property development and residential areas. It is a rural community with large land tracts and a lot of potential. There is room to grow and opportunities for many businesses, especially those related to entertainment. The southern portion of the OZs located in Mead Valley cross over into the City of Perris
Perris is a fast-growing community with a population of 78,948 with convenient transportation options, affordable housing, and a skilled local workforce. The community first started as a town near a railroad stop between San Diego and Barstow. It became a farming community that specialized in dry grains and citrus. Since the 1950s, Perris has grown alfalfa, king potatoes, and sugar beets which inspired the town’s Rods, Rails, and Potato Festival.
With the construction of Lake Perris in the 1960s and 1970s, water activities made Perris an attractive entertainment location. Since then, Perris has also become known for their air sports such as their sky diving services and their hot air balloon rides.
Recently, there have been a number of new businesses opening in Perris and it looks like Perris’s economy just needs some help to reach its full potential.
Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley is the 2nd largest city in Riverside County and 21st largest city in California. It is 51.3 square miles with a population of 208,289. Moreno Valley offers many competitive incentives to help relocate and expand businesses. With its close proximity to metro areas, large amount of land available, and a dedicated and productive workforce, Moreno Valley is an excellent place to start or expand your business.
Hemet and East Hemet
Hemet and East Hemet share an OZ and are therefore addressed together. Hemet has a population of 89,918 and East Hemet has a population of 19,432. Hemet started as part of a ranch and truly became a town when the railroads caused exponential growth in the area. It grew again when Lake Hemet was formed.
Hemet is the home of the Ramona Pageant which has been a tourist attraction for decades. At its peak, it used to bring tourists from all over to view the scenery featured in the book of the same name by Helen Hunt Jackson. Hemet is also the location of the Western Science Center which features the largest mastodon found in California.
In the 1960s, Hemet sold its first retirement oriented housing. It retains a retirement orientation today but is also attracting a significant number of young families that provide services to the senior population or are looking for less urban living in Southern California. The economy is based primarily on service to the senior community and ancillary services such as financial institutions and health care professions.
Homeland and Winchester
Winchester and Homeland are grouped together because they share an OZ. Both Winchester and Homeland are primarily rural areas with a mix of medium to low density rural residential areas, vacant land, agricultural land, and some service and retail businesses.
Winchester is one of the oldest communities in Riverside County. It is located 15 minutes outside of Temecula which allows residents access to a wide variety of recreational activities. Winchester is mostly a commuter town but it is looking to expand into a more self-sufficient town. It has very affordable housing and with some investment, the town could improve by leaps and bounds.
Homeland is a small and quiet town. It lacks a lot of the more luxurious amenities which are located close by in Menifee. However, it is very affordable to live in and it has amazing potential once it has been revitalized. It has a large concentration of construction, architecture, and engineering companies.
San Jacinto
San Jacinto was founded in 1870 and incorporated as a city in 1888. In 1834, the area was handed over to the Mexican government who then granted the land to the Estudillo family who ran a ranch on the land for decades. One of their houses, Estudillo Mansion, is a historic site and museum in the town. San Jacinto is one of the oldest incorporated cities in Riverside County. It started out as an agricultural community with some dairy farms as well. San Jacinto has been working on revitalizing their downtown and are ripe for business expansion. The city also has really good schools and some tourism throughout the year due to nearby hot springs and the Ramona Pageant in Hemet.
Banning
Banning is strategically located astride Interstate 10 (I-10) between the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley in San Gorgonio Pass. The Pass Region is currently experiencing a phenomenal growth rate. These new residents will bring with them the need for new municipal services, as well as the potential for new investments in business ventures expanding the local economy and creating jobs. Expanded destination retail operations adjacent to the Desert Hills Premium Outlets and the expanded Morongo Hotel and Casino will provide jobs.
The proximity to Interstate 10, as well as rail lines, also makes the Pass Region attractive to distribution and large-scale industrial uses. The clean air, ample water supplies, and scenic vistas of Mt. San Gorgonio and Mt. San Jacinto (2 tallest peaks in California) are also a major attractions for the area.
Cathedral City
Cathedral City started as a housing subdivision in 1925 and then was incorporated as a city in 1981. It currently has the 2nd largest population in Coachella Valley after Indio.
Cathedral City has a few unique attractions. One of these is their numerous Depression era nightclubs. Another is the many public artworks that were created in response to their recent public arts initiative. Cathedral City also has a huge Auto Center off of Highway 111. The city also has many golf courses and parks.
The city is committed to enhancing its urban landscape, as evidenced by the downtown area’s revitalization in the 1990’s and their plans to build a Commons Amphitheater. The downtown area has several theaters and museums to peruse.
Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs was named after the many natural hot springs it is near. It is one of the few places in the world with both naturally occurring hot and cold mineral water springs. The area was first settled in 1908, but it has been a town since 1941.
By the 1950s, the town was attracting Midwestern winter tourists, known as snowbirds. Desert Hot Springs experienced a period of growth in the 1980s and 1990s which led to a lot of vacant land being developed. The city has it’s own Opportunity Zone website that can be accessed here.
It was also the 1st city in Southern California to legalize medical marijuana cultivation and the 1st city to legalize commercial marijuana cultivation. Desert Hot Springs also has a wealth of mid-century modern architecture and the Cabot-Pueblo Museum.
Indio
Indio is the largest and fastest growing city in Eastern Riverside County and the Coachella Valley with a population over 90,000, which is estimated to grow to 135,000 by 2035. Indio is the center for business, government, and entertainment in the Coachella Valley. Nearly 1.4 million people visit Indio annually to experience its world-famous arts, food, and music festivals. Indio serves as the primary workforce of the Coachella Valley and is one of the most livable cities in America.
Indio spans approximately 33 square miles and has a balanced mix of commercial, office, industrial, and residential developments. Indio has a very business-friendly environment and is ranked as one of the Top 500 Fastest-Growing Economies in America by WalletHub. Indio is home to 10 major retail centers, JFK Memorial Hospital, Loma Linda University Children’s Health Clinic, and the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law. Indio also has the largest auto mall in the region on the Interstate 10 freeway with a traffic count of 54 million per year and is centrally located to the region’s three major airports. Indio is the industrial and manufacturing center of the Coachella Valley and nearly 80% of its industrial area is within the City’s Opportunity Zone.
City of Coachella
The City of Coachella is a 32 square mile community in the heart of California’s desert with an inviting and authentic community that celebrates a largely Latino population. Situated on the rapidly growing eastern edge of the valley and slated to become the valley’s geographic center and Coachella Valley’s 2nd largest city. It is ideally located between the Los Angeles and Phoenix markets to deliver regional access to 22 Million + customers through commercial shipping and cargo using the rail ways and the I-10 corridor. Coachella is also located near Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport and Palm Springs International Airport.
It has California’s lowest cost of doing business and land opportunities and increasing visibility due to transformational tourism of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, and pro tennis and PGA golf tournaments.
La Quinta
La Quinta has long been recognized for its world-class golf, thriving arts community (including the award-winning La Quinta Arts Festival), unparalleled quality of life, and strong consumer base – all contributing to La Quinta’s bright economic outlook. Many national retailers have located in La Quinta alongside thriving small businesses. With close proximity to the Thermal Club, which is “…the premier private motorsports facility in the world” and now also hosts a new BMW Performance Center, La Quinta is a prime location for high end retail and restaurants as well.
La Quinta has it all – a growing population; a large winter/spring seasonal population; retail synergy along its Highway 111 corridor; charming boutique shops and restaurants in its Village area; tourism; and a variety of recreational opportunities. La Quinta has been called "the golf capital of the world" with a variety of spectacular courses open to the public, and has been the “Host City" for the PGA Tour's CareerBuilder Challenge (formerly the Bob Hope Classic). The City's SilverRock Resort - featuring the Arnold Palmer Classic Course - has won accolades as one of the top tour and municipal courses.
Eastern Coachella Valley
Mecca, North Shore, and Thermal are the unincorporated areas in Eastern Coachella Valley that have OZs. Each of these communities has opportunities for businesses to grow and flourish.
Mecca is a small town that started off as a railroad camp and has since evolved into a Middle Eastern inspired desert oasis. The majority of the residents are farm workers and there are few stores. It has a lot of pride in its community and was heavily involved in United Farm Workers movements.
North Shore was a small town located on the shores of the Salton Sea. It boomed when Salton Sea was at the peak of its tourism. It has since fallen into decline due to the ongoing problems with the Salton Sea. If it is revitalized, it could perhaps reach the level of economic success it once reached decades ago.
Thermal was another town created from a railroad camp just a few years before Mecca. It is best known for the regional airport that has been in Thermal since 1965. Although it has had several names, it is now known as the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport. It also is home to Thermal Club which attracts auto enthusiasts.
Blythe
Blythe is located at the easternmost edge of Riverside County and is poised for expansion and growth with their focus on economic development and recent addition of the cannabis industry. They are primarily known for their agricultural production as they grow a variety of produce, cotton, and alfalfa which is distributed worldwide.
The city is also located on I-10 which provides a market of some 11 Million drivers who pass through Blythe annually, and is situated ideally between Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas for transportation, distribution, and logistics purposes. Located on the Colorado River, it is also a destination for outdoors recreation.