Riverside County
Regional Advantages
Riverside County is the fourth largest county in California. It measures
200 miles across from its western border with Orange County to the
Colorado River at the Arizona border. At 7,300 square miles, it is
about the same size as the state of New Jersey. Riverside is among
the fastest growing counties in the nation, adding 145 newcomers
each day or one new resident every 10 minutes. Its population ex-
ceeds 2 million and is expected to reach nearly 3 million by 2020.
· Santa Fe's huge new intermodal railway terminal is an important
transportation link for Riverside County businesses and important
ports of entry. Shipping into and out of ports in Los Angeles, Long
Beach and San Diego is easy from Riverside County.
· Construction has begun on the Alameda Corridor, which will con-
solidate port truck and rail traffic onto a fast- moving corridor, pro-
viding more reliable, higher capacity shipping into and out of the
ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
· Metrolink provides commuter rail service from Riverside to Los
Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties.
· Riverside County is served by 17 airports. Major air hubs include
Ontario International Airport, serving western Riverside County
with quick and easy access, and the Palm Springs International
Airport serving the eastern part of the county. The Jacqueline
Cochran regional Airport also serves the Coachella Valley with
easy access and the capabilities of bringing in Boeing Business
Jet 737. The March Inland Port addresses the growing need for
economical air cargo services.
· Riverside County offers a customs port of entry in Palm Springs
as well as convenient access to customs facilities in the greater
Los Angeles area. In addition, designated Foreign Trade Zones
are located at Palm Springs International Airport and the March
Inland Port.
· Thousands of acres of land for industrial development coupled
with an expanding workforce make Riverside County an advanta-
geous location for business relocation or expansion.
Quality of Life
The county offers a diverse climate and geography that ranges from
rolling hills to desert, alpine to wine country. Average daily temperature
is about 80 degrees with more than 340 days of sunshine each year.
· Clear skies mean unlimited airborne opportunities
· Skydiving, sail and hang gliding or general aviation
· Temecula Valley is the premier wine making region in Southern
California
· More than 20 award winning wineries
· Concerts, cooking schools, resorts and gourmet dining
Recreational and Cultural Attractions Abound
· Museums for all ages
· Festivals
· World-class symphony, opera, theater
· Theme parks
· Professional sports teams
· Access to the best Southern California has to offer
Riverside County Also Has:
· The desert regions of the Coachella Valley
· The artistic mountain community of Idyllwild
· Diamond Valley Lake and Recreation
· Portions of the Anza-Borego Desert State Park
· Salton Sea State Recreational Area
· Most of Joshua Tree National Park
· The county is home to more than 150 golf courses
Economic Development Services
The Riverside County Economic Development Agency (EDA) is
ready to help companies participate the remarkable growth of the
area through a variety of different programs.
· Site Selection Assistance
· Expedited Permit Processing
· Incentive Zones
· Five Redevelopment Project Areas
· Two Recycling Market Development Zones
· State Enterprise Zone
· Foreign Trade Zones
· The only federally designated Empowerment Zone west of the
Rocky Mountains
· HUB Zones
· Financing -- Businesses may be eligible for:
- Small Business Administration loans
- Industrial Development Bond financing
- Empowerment Zone tax-exempt bonds
- Other loan programs
· Employee Recruitment
· Small Business Development Center
City
Population
Population
pop. change
Sq. miles
01/07
01/08
Beaumont
23,304
28,250
21.2%
30
Lake Elsinore
41,271
47,634
15.4%
35
Fontana
165,359
181,640
9.8%
36
San Jacinto
31,280
34,345
9.8%
26
Adelanto
24,863
27,139
9.2%
63
Coachella
35,449
38,486
8.6%
32
Victorville
95,085
102,538
7.8%
74.3
Hesperia
91,627
98,917
8.0%
75
Indio
72,142
77,146
6.9%
26.7
Perris
47,463
50,663
6.7%
33
La Quinta
38,604
41,092
6.4%
35.06
Desert Hot Springs
22,163
23,544
6.2%
23.2
Apple Valley
67,465
70,297
4.2%
78
Murrieta
93,567
97,257
3.9%
34
Temecula
94,575
97,935
3.6%
30.1
Montclair
35,624
36,622
2.8%
5.25
Moreno Valley
175,769
180,466
2.7%
50
Yucca Valley
20,522
21,044
2.5%
39
Loma Linda
21,896
22,451
2.5%
8
Yucaipa
50,523
51,784
2.5%
27
Hemet
70,015
71,705
2.4%
26
FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE INLAND EMPIRE
Source: 2009 Book of Lists, The Business Press
Economic Development & Relocation Guide
68
WWW.VISITINLANDEMPIRE.COM