Riverside is a mid-sized city in California with an estimated 305,255 people. Riverside is prized as the birthplace for the Golden State’s citrus industry. The city gets its name from the Santa Ana River that runs alongside the city. The famous scenery stretches as a backdrop behind the city from the Box Springs Mountain to Tecolote Hill. Other well-known landmarks include Lake Mathews and Mount Rubidoux.
Riverside has relatively low real estate prices compared to the cities in the surrounding area. However, the flock of new residents has contributed to the heavy traffic flow of commuters heading to the business districts in Orange County and Los Angeles.
Several institutions of secondary education include University of California, Riverside, California Baptist University, La Sierra University, and Riverside Community College. The University of California and Riverside hosts a Botanic Garden stretched over 40 acres with walking trails.
Riverside is considered a “smog belt” because of the heavy air pollution where some exaggerate comparing it to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Efforts have been made to reduce the city’s pollution and other planning goals including housing, safety and transportation. Another issue being addressed in Riverside is the problem of crime and gangs in the Casa Blanca, Eastside Riva and Arlanza neighborhoods.