Moreno Valley, California

Moreno Valley is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. It is part of the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario area and is the second-largest city in the county. Many people live there.

The city is close to the big cities of the greater Los Angeles area. It became an official city in 1984 and was named after a smaller community called Moreno. The name came from Frank E. Brown, one of the town's early founders. The word "Moreno" means "brown" in Spanish.

History

The Moreno Valley area has been home to people for over 2,300 years. Ancient people left behind many places where they worked and lived, along with special paintings and carvings on rocks.

When Spanish explorers arrived, they met local tribes like the Shoshone and Luiseño. These groups moved between villages and the wild to gather food.

After California became a state in 1850, American settlers began moving in. The area got its name, Moreno Valley, from a man named Frank Brown. In 1984, many neighborhoods joined together to become the city of Moreno Valley. The first city leaders were chosen that same year.

In 2007, part of the city was given a new name, "Rancho Belago", mixing Spanish and Italian words.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.5 square miles (133 km²). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.

Moreno Valley is located at an important crossroads. To the east is the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley. To the south are Lake Perris, Perris, and the San Jacinto Mountains. To the north are the San Bernardino Valley and San Bernardino Mountains. To the west lies neighboring Riverside. It is also close to Ontario International Airport.

One of the most noticeable features in Moreno Valley is Box Springs Mountain. This mountain is at the northwest end of the city and has a large letter "M" built on it. This was built to help bring the community together. The letter sometimes has lights and has been cared for by charitable groups, including several Eagle Scout projects.

Climate

Moreno Valley has a mild semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh), with some Mediterranean traits. Summers are usually very hot, often reaching above 100°F.

• The warmest month on average is August.
• The highest temperature ever recorded was 118°F (48°C) in July 2018.
• The coolest month on average is December.
• The coldest temperature ever recorded was 22°F (-6°C) in 1974.
• The most rain usually falls in December.

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census showed that Moreno Valley had a population of 208,634 people. The city had many different groups of people: about 22.5% were White, 15.9% were African American, 1.9% were Native American, 6.0% were Asian, 0.6% were Pacific Islander, 35.8% were from other races, and 17.4% were from two or more races. Many people, 61.4%, were Hispanic or Latino.

Most people, 99.6%, lived in homes with families or roommates. Many homes had children under 18. The city had many families, and the average family had almost four people. The median age was 32 years, and there were slightly fewer males than females.

In 2023, the average income for a family was $87,477, and about 11% of people lived below the poverty line.

2010

In 2010, Moreno Valley had a population of about 192,000 people. The groups of people were a bit different than in 2020: 18.9% were non-Hispanic White, 18.0% were African American, 0.9% were Native American, 6.1% were Asian, 0.6% were Pacific Islander, 26.8% were from other races, and 5.7% were from two or more races. About 54.4% of people were Hispanic or Latino.

Most people lived in homes with families. Many homes had children under 18. The median age was 28.6 years, and there were slightly fewer males than females.

During 2009–2013, the average income for a family was $54,918, and about 19.5% of people lived below the federal poverty line.

Economy

The city’s 2024 report shows the main jobs and workplaces in Moreno Valley. The city has many places where people work and make a living.

Government

Local

Moreno Valley became a city in 1984. It uses a council-manager style of government. The city is split into four areas. Each area elects someone to join the city council. The mayor is chosen by all the people in the city. The council picks one of its members to help lead as Mayor Pro Tem. They also choose important city workers.

The current City Council includes:

• Mayor: Ulises Cabrera
• District 1: Elena Baca-Santa Cruz
• District 2: Ed Delgado
• District 3: Erlan Gonzalez
• District 4: Cheylynda Barnard

State and federal

In the state legislature, Moreno Valley is part of the 31st senatorial district, represented by Democrat Sabrina Cervantes. It is also in the 60th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Corey Jackson.

In the United States House of Representatives, the city is in California's 39th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mark Takano.

Education

Moreno Valley has many schools to help children learn. Most of the city is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District, which has many schools, including high schools. Another part of the city is served by the Val Verde Unified School District, which also has a high school here. There are also private schools and charter schools in the area.

For students who want to study after high school, there is Moreno Valley College and other colleges and universities nearby. The city also has public libraries for everyone to use.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Two major roads go through the city. They are State Route 60 (called the Moreno Valley Freeway) and Interstate 215.

Metrolink has a train stop at Moreno Valley/March Field west of the city. Trains run Monday through Friday on the 91/Perris Valley Line. They connect the area to Riverside and Downtown Los Angeles to the north and Perris to the south. The Riverside Transit Agency runs local and express buses.

Healthcare

Moreno Valley has two hospitals:

• Kaiser Permanente Community Hospital. It used to be called Moreno Valley Community Hospital. It provides general care and basic emergency services. Kaiser Permanente took over the hospital in 2008 and plans to make it bigger.
• Riverside County Regional Medical Center offers general care, basic emergency services, and has a center for serious injuries.

Public safety

Moreno Valley has its own station of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to help keep the city safe. The station is led by Sheriff's Captain Joel Ontiveros, who is also the city's Chief of Police.

The city works with the Riverside County Fire Department and CAL FIRE for fire and emergency care. They use special vehicles to help people who need urgent medical care. When people need quick help, American Medical Response takes them to hospitals in ambulances.

Notable people

Moreno Valley has been home to many interesting people.

Some well-known individuals include Mark Contreras, a baseball player, and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, a football player who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Natalie Duran is a famous rock climber, and Elisabeth Harnois is an actress who went to Canyon Springs High School.

Other notable figures are Kawhi Leonard, a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers, and Troy Percival, a former pitcher for the Anaheim Angels who won a World Series. Many of these individuals graduated from local high schools such as Canyon Springs High School and Rancho Verde High School.

Sister cities

Moreno Valley has a sister city. It is San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico.