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FEATURES . It was open from 1957 to 1989.]] Riverside is home to the University Of California, Riverside . The University Of California, Riverside, Botanic Gardens contains 40 acres (162,000 m&2) of unusual plants, with four miles of walking trails. The city prides itself on its historic connection to the Navel Orange , which was introduced to North America from Brazil by the first settlers to Riverside in 1873 . Riverside is home to the one surviving Parent Navel Orange Tree , from which all American West Coast navel orange trees are descended. HISTORY Riverside's Downtown area is known as the "Mission Inn District", after the Mission Inn , a Hotel that was modeled after the Missions left along the California coast by Franciscan friars in the 18th Century . However, no missionaries of the era actually came as far inland as Riverside. After secularization of the missions, the land was designated Rancho Jurupa and was purchased in 1848 from Don Yorba by Benjamin Wilson who later married Yorba's daughter Ramona. The city was founded in the 1880s by John W. North , a staunch temperance-minded Abolitionist from Tennessee , who had previously founded Northfield, Minnesota . A few years after, the Navel Orange was planted and found to be such a success that full-scale planting started. Riverside was Temperance minded (few saloons if any were allowed in Riverside proper), and Republican . Investors from England and Canada transplanted traditions and activities adopted by prosperous citizens. As a result, the first Golf course and Polo field in Southern California were built in Riverside. The first orange trees were planted in 1871, but the and the restored packing houses in the Downtown's Marketplace district. By 1882 , there were more than half a million citrus trees in California, almost half of which were in Riverside. The development of refrigerated Railroad cars and innovative Irrigation systems established Riverside as the wealthiest city per capita by 1895 . As the city prospered, a small guest Hotel designed in the popular Mission Revival style grew to become the world famous Mission Inn , favored by President s, Royalty and Movie Star s. Postcards of lush orange Grove s, Swimming Pool s and magnificent homes have attracted vacationers and entrepreneurs throughout the years. Many relocated to the warm, dry climate for reasons of health and to escape Eastern winters. Victoria Avenue with its landmark homes serves as a reminder of European investors who settled here. In 1915 a Japan ese immigrant named Jukichi Harada , proprietor for many years of a local restaurant, purchased a home in Riverside in the names of his American-born children in order to provide access for them to the public school system. Neighbors formed a committee and charged him with violating the California Alien Land Law Of 1913 , which barred aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning land. The case, '' The People Of The State Of California V. Jukichi Harada '', became a test of the constitutionality of the law and progressed to the state Supreme Court, where the Haradas won. The family still owns the house, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark . At the entrance to Riverside from the 60 Freeway sits Fairmount Park. This extensive urban oasis was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. Slightly fraying around the edges, it still has a lovely, stocked pond, and many species of birds. Nearby, on private land, is the former site of Spring Rancheria, a Cahuilla village. Downtown Riverside used to boast one of the largest Chinatowns in California, until the last resident, Mr. Wong, died in the 1970s and the remaining (decrepit) buildings were razed. Extensive archaeological excavation took place in the 1980s, and many artifacts are housed at the Municipal Museum across from the Mission Inn Hotel. To the east of downtown is the originally named "Eastside" which grew out of a ''colonia'' inhabited by Mexican immigrant workers in the Orange groves. That tradition continues today, with Oaxacan workers in the place of Spanish speakers. Michael Kearney, an anthropologist at University of California, Riverside, refers to this vast transnational labor space as "Oaxacalifornia." Settlements of Japanese and Korean immigrants used to exist along the railroad tracks, which would fill with thousands of workers during the citrus harvest. None of these are left now, but the Santa Fe depot, like several others in the Inland Empire, has been restored to its turn-of-the-century glory. At the intersection of Howard and 12th sits the last remnants of a formerly thriving African-American neighborhood -- The old Wiley Grocery store now houses the activities of 'Black' Elks club members. Nearby is the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage site complete with shrine. Built and destroyed three times, the current incarnation dates from the 1920s. Riverside was the home of the Riverside International Raceway , which has long been defunct. See more on Riverside City and County history. Inland Empire History COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES The city of Riverside is served by several institutions of higher learning:
GEOGRAPHY According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 203.0 Km&2 (78.4 Mi&2 ). 202.3 km&2 (78.1 mi&2) of it is land and 0.7 km&2 (0.3 mi&2) of it is Water . The total area is 0.36% water. Environment The Riverside area is referred to as a “smog belt” because of its above-average level of air pollution. In a comparison by the National Campaign Against Dirty Air Power (2003), the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area was found to be the most polluted region based on year-round soot measurements when compared to other U.S. cities. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine (2004) published results from a longitudinal study comparing pollution in southern California communities with lung health in children. Not only did the authors find that Riverside pollution levels were amongst the highest, but they also found a significant correlation with "clinically important deficits in lung function children ," that is, Riverside air is so toxic that it can damage lungs in kids. 2004;351:1057-1067 DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 255,166 people, 82,005 households, and 58,141 families residing in the city. The Population Density was 1,261.5/km&2 (3,267.2/mi&2). There were 85,974 housing units at an average density of 425.0/km&2 (1,100.8/mi&2). The racial makeup of the city was 59.32% White , 7.41% African American , 1.09% Native American , 5.68% Asian , 0.39% Pacific Islander , 21.00% from Other Races , and 5.10% from two or more races. 38.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 82,005 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were Married Couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.54. In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $41,646, and the median income for a family was $47,254. Males had a median income of $36,920 versus $28,328 for females. The Per Capita Income for the city was $17,882. 15.8% of the population and 11.7% of families were below the Poverty Line . 18.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. LANDMARK Riverside is home of the historic Mission Inn . Also, it is the home of the World's Largest Paper Cup which is over three stories. There is a warehouse/manufacturing building right behind it. It is made of painted concrete. NOTABLE NATIVES
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