Moreno Valley, California
Encyclopedia
Moreno Valley is a city located in Riverside County, California
.
A relatively young city, its rapid growth in the 1980s and the first decade of the 21st century made it second-largest city in Riverside County by population, and one of the Inland Empire
's population centers. As of the 2010 census
, the city's population was 193,365. Neighboring Riverside, California
is the county seat and largest city in the county and the two cities are closely tied.
Located just north of Lake Perris
, Moreno Valley shares March Joint Air Reserve Base
with both Riverside, California
and the city of Perris
.
Native Americans
of the Shoshone
tribe. The first Europeans were Spanish scouts, sent from Mexico
to explore the area. These Spanish scouts blazed a number of trails in the area, including the Anza Trail, which runs through the Edgemont area of present-day Moreno Valley. The relatively dry portion of the city was largely ignored by these earliest settlers.
as a state in 1850, Americans began to move into the area. The Tucson
-to-San Francisco
route of John Butterfield
's Overland Mail Company passed through Moreno Valley. Some farmers began to occupy the area. They relied upon Frank E. Brown's Bear Valley Land and Water Company to provide them water, which was collected and pumped from Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains
to the north. Brown began performing this service in 1883. In 1899, the city of Redlands
won a lawsuit in which the city claimed eminent domain
over the Bear Valley water; the resulting loss of service forced most of Moreno Valley's inhabitants to move. The valley first acquired its current name, "Moreno Valley," at this time; the name is derived from Frank Brown's name ("moreno" is Spanish
for "dark").
(then the United States Army Air Service
) constructed March Field on the outskirts of Riverside as part of its World War I
expansion. March Field was initially used to train fighter pilots. Although it was closed in 1922, it was reopened in 1927 and eventually became a full Air Force base. The presence of March caused the unincorporated communities of Sunnymead, Moreno, and Edgemont to develop and grow. In World War II
, March again became a training ground for military pilots.
occupied the current site of the Moreno Valley Mall. The Riverside International Raceway (Sometimes known as RIR or Riverside Raceway) race track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 3, 1989. Races held at the Riverside International Raceway included IMSA,NASCAR, Indycar, NHRA drag racing and AMA motorcycle racing.
, Judith A. Nieburger, Steven Webb, J. David Horspool (first Mayor Pro Tem), and Marshall C. Scott (first Mayor). The City Seal and Motto were adopted the following year.
In the 1990s, the robust Moreno Valley economy deteriorated, largely due to the statewide economic downturn. Many people began to leave the city. March was also downsized to its present status as March Air Reserve Base. The surplus land was given to the March Joint Powers Authority, made up of representatives of Riverside County and the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris for development. The dismal economic trend began to reverse in the late part of the decade, however. Companies such as Aurora Modular, U-Haul
, and Lowe's
moved major operating facilities to the city or neighboring municipalities (although Aurora later filed for bankruptcy
).
By the early 21st century, the arrival of so many newcomers to Riverside County and the soaring cost of living in Los Angeles and Orange County combined to make the less-developed southern half of the Inland Empire a very attractive place for industry.
Nevertheless, Moreno Valley's coming of age can also be seen in the growth of the area around the Moreno Valley Mall
(former location of the Riverside Raceway
from 1957 to 1989) and nearby Day Street, which straddles the border between Moreno Valley and Riverside. The area has seen massive construction in recent years, attracting Lowe's
, Starbucks
, Outback Steakhouse
, and other stores often seen as prestigious. A Pat & Oscar's
and PFF Bank & Trust are being built, and rumors of Famous Dave's
and Barnes & Noble
coming to the area have emerged lately. These establishments are often seen as appealing to the upper-middle class; this appeal may help attract attention and money to the city.
On the east end of the city off Moreno Beach Drive, a new Wal-Mart
was opened in early 2006 (233000 sq ft (21,646.4 m²), huge for a traditional Wal-Mart
) next to the Moreno Valley Auto Mall. This is also the site of the first Super Target in California and the first (and only) Best Buy
store located within Moreno Valley city limits, which opened in July and October 2007, respectively. The exit off state route 60 is the main way to the Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course, once included in Golf Magazine's Top 75 Golf Courses in the USA.
Recent proposals to turn March Joint Air Reserve Base
to a major commercial airport has been debated in 2005, but the plan was rejected by the Riverside county board of supervisors, until further notice. However, the coming of quieter, more environmentally friendly aircraft and cheaper security procedures and utilities may signal a re-consideration of the plan. In May 2008 the March JPA approved opening the facility to general aircraft.
March Air Reserve base has a ball park facility, where the semi-pro baseball Inland Empire (now Rancho Belago) Rockets of the Southern California League play in the summer months season.
's selection of March Air Reserve Base as its new Southern California hub as a "bright spot", the March JPA and March Global Port operations that brought DHL have been a matter of considerable controversy. DHL selected the March airport over San Bernardino International Airport
and LA/Ontario International Airport. The DHL facility commenced operations in October 2005 (previously expected to be running by March 2005). While initial claims were that the facility would employ 250 workers in its initial stage, over 300 employees went to work daily during normal operations.
Neighboring residents filed an unsuccessful lawsuit to block the zoning change necessary to allow DHL's operations.
In November 2008, due to escalating financial losses associated with deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, DHL announced it was leaving the U.S. market and would shut its operation associated with March Air Field in January 2009.
of Spanish and Italian words. The city council's resolution includes the 92555 zipcode within the boundaries of the area, as reported by the Press Enterprise newspaper.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 51.5 square miles (133.4 km²), of which, 51.3 square miles (132.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water.
Moreno Valley is located at a geographic crossroad. To the east lie the San Gorgonio Pass
and Coachella Valley
; to the south are Lake Perris
, Perris
, the San Jacinto Mountains
, and the route to San Diego
; to the north are the San Bernardino Valley and San Bernardino Mountains
. To the west lies neighboring Riverside
, as well as Los Angeles
and Orange
Counties. The heavily-traveled routes of State Route 60
(locally called the Moreno Valley Freeway) and Interstate 215
both pass through the city. It lies under approach paths for Los Angeles International Airport
, John Wayne Airport
in Orange County, LA/Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport
.
One of the most visible geographical features in Moreno Valley, visible from almost anywhere in the city, is Box Springs Mountain
. This mountain at the northwest end of the city towers over the city, providing a concrete landmark. The face of the mountain that faces the city has a large "M" constructed upon it. This was built privately at the encouragement of the City Council, which argued it would foster unity. The letter is located on public land and is maintained entirely by charity. The letter had lights installed on December 3, 2005 to celebrate Moreno Valley's 21st anniversary of its incorporation and the completion of the repairs of heavy damage to the M, due to excessive rain the year before. The mayor at that time, Bonnie Flickinger, has said that the citizens liked it that way and that the council would try to get it to light up regularly. Between December 2, 2009 and December 6, 2009, Moreno Valley, along with Edison lit up the "M" in celebration of the city's 25th anniversary. Several Eagle Scout projects have been dedicated to maintaining the letter
.
(Köppen climate classification
CSa). The summer temperatures average in the mid to high 90's, though many days can reach well above 100°.
- On average, the warmest month is August.
- The highest recorded temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) in 1960.
- On average, the coolest month is December.
- The lowest recorded temperature was 22 °F (-5.6 °C) in 1974.
- The maximum average precipitation occurs in December.
was 3,756.5 people per square mile (1,450.4/km²). The racial makeup of Moreno Valley was 80,969 (41.9%) White, 34,889 (18.0%) African American, 1,721 (0.9%) Native American, 11,867 (6.1%) Asian, 1,117 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 51,741 (26.8%) from other races
, and 11,061 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 105,169 persons (54.4%).
The Census reported that 192,811 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 471 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 51,592 households, out of which 28,586 (55.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 29,000 (56.2%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 9,990 (19.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4,191 (8.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,627 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 375 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,094 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals and 1,611 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.74. There were 43,181 families
(83.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.99.
The population was spread out with 62,496 people (32.3%) under the age of 18, 23,563 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 53,726 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 41,446 people (21.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,134 people (6.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
There were 55,559 housing units at an average density of 1,079.3 per square mile (416.7/km²), of which 33,393 (64.7%) were owner-occupied, and 18,199 (35.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%. 123,863 people (64.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 68,948 people (35.7%) lived in rental housing units.
of a variety of racial and ethnic groups, esp. Blacks, Latinos and Asians replaced the once majority White (non-Hispanic) population in the 1990s. Immigrants often come from Central America
, Southeast Asia
and the Philippines
, the Middle East
and Somalia
, the Balkans
, the Caribbean
islands (esp. Cubans
and Puerto Ricans
) and Samoans
to reestablish themselves in older post-WWII suburban tracts in Sunnymead.
Moreno Valley has increasingly become a destination for African-American families from Los Angeles County. Between 2006-2007 alone, Moreno Valley saw a 13% increase in its black population.
Also in the same time period, Latinos became the majority of over half the MoVal's population, especially a large Mexican-American and Mexican
population developed in Sunnymead. There are several business strips catering to Spanish-speaking clientele and Latin American cultures.
There were 43,381 households out of which 54.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.6 and the average family size was 3.9.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income
for a household in the city was $47,387, and the median income for a family was $48,965 (these figures had risen to $55,604 and $57,385 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $38,620 versus $26,492 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,983. 14.2% of the population and 11.6% of families were below the poverty line. 18.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
city. It is governed by a council-manager government
. The city is divided into five districts, each of which elect a representative. The council chooses two of its own members to serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. The council also selects the city manager. The current City Council consists of:
Richard Stewart is the current Mayor. Jesse Molina is the current Mayor Pro Tem. The current City Manager is Henry Garcia.
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $243.3 million in Revenues, $132.8 million in expenditures, $1,076.3 million in total assets, $195.3 million in total liabilities, and $293.8 million in cash and investments.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
Moreno Valley is located in the 37th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Bill Emmerson
, and in the 63rd, 64th, and 65th Assembly
Districts, represented by Republicans Mike Morrell
, Brian Nestande
, and Paul Cook
respectively. Federally, Moreno Valley is located in California's 45th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of R +3 and is represented by Republican Mary Bono Mack.
Moreno Valley also contracts for fire services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
). Six paramedic engines and two truck companies provide both medical and fire related services to the city.
American Medical Response
is responsible for transports to emergency departments via paramedic ambulance.
and secondary education
needs are fulfilled by the Moreno Valley Unified School District
and the Val Verde Unified School District
. The former serves approximately 35,000 students, the bulk of the city's children, and has 35 schools, including five high school
s: Moreno Valley High School
, Canyon Springs High School
, Valley View High School
, March Mountain High School, and Vista del Lago High School. Val Verde District serves part of southern and eastern Moreno Valley, in addition to parts of Perris
, Mead Valley
, and unincorporated areas. It serves about 13,000 students and maintains 12 schools; one of its high schools, Rancho Verde High School
, is located in Moreno Valley. Some private school
s exist, including the local Valley Christian Academy, established in 1979, and Calvary Chapel
Academy.
The Riverside Community College District
, RCCD, serves 6,500 students at their Moreno Valley College
campus. The city is also the location of one of the twenty-six Chapman University
campuses. In Neighboring Riverside, students may opt to attend RCCD's main campus, Riverside Community College
, the University of California, Riverside
, La Sierra University
or California Baptist University
. California State University, San Bernardino
is another popular school for city high school graduates.
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
.
A relatively young city, its rapid growth in the 1980s and the first decade of the 21st century made it second-largest city in Riverside County by population, and one of the Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
's population centers. As of the 2010 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the city's population was 193,365. Neighboring Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
is the county seat and largest city in the county and the two cities are closely tied.
Located just north of Lake Perris
Lake Perris
Lake Perris is an artificial lake completed in 1973. It is the southern terminus of the California State Water Project situated in a mountain-rimmed valley between Moreno Valley, and city of Perris in what is now the Lake Perris State Recreation Area. The park offers a variety of recreational...
, Moreno Valley shares March Joint Air Reserve Base
March Joint Air Reserve Base
March Joint Air Reserve Base is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force Headquarters and the 452d Air Mobility Wing , the largest air mobility wing of the 4th Air Force...
with both Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
and the city of Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
.
Prehistory to 1800s
Moreno Valley was originally inhabited by hunter-gathererHunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
tribe. The first Europeans were Spanish scouts, sent from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to explore the area. These Spanish scouts blazed a number of trails in the area, including the Anza Trail, which runs through the Edgemont area of present-day Moreno Valley. The relatively dry portion of the city was largely ignored by these earliest settlers.
U.S. settlement
When California entered the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as a state in 1850, Americans began to move into the area. The Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
-to-San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
route of John Butterfield
John Warren Butterfield
John Warren Butterfield was an operator of stagecoach and freight lines in the mid-19th century in the American Northeast and Southwest. He founded companies that became American Express and Wells Fargo. Butterfield also founded the Butterfield Overland Express and from 1858 to 1861 operated a...
's Overland Mail Company passed through Moreno Valley. Some farmers began to occupy the area. They relied upon Frank E. Brown's Bear Valley Land and Water Company to provide them water, which was collected and pumped from Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
to the north. Brown began performing this service in 1883. In 1899, the city of Redlands
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
won a lawsuit in which the city claimed eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
over the Bear Valley water; the resulting loss of service forced most of Moreno Valley's inhabitants to move. The valley first acquired its current name, "Moreno Valley," at this time; the name is derived from Frank Brown's name ("moreno" is Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for "dark").
March Field
The revival of Moreno Valley began in 1918, when the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(then the United States Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
) constructed March Field on the outskirts of Riverside as part of its World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
expansion. March Field was initially used to train fighter pilots. Although it was closed in 1922, it was reopened in 1927 and eventually became a full Air Force base. The presence of March caused the unincorporated communities of Sunnymead, Moreno, and Edgemont to develop and grow. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, March again became a training ground for military pilots.
Riverside International Raceway
From 1957 to 1989, Riverside International RacewayRiverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
occupied the current site of the Moreno Valley Mall. The Riverside International Raceway (Sometimes known as RIR or Riverside Raceway) race track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 3, 1989. Races held at the Riverside International Raceway included IMSA,NASCAR, Indycar, NHRA drag racing and AMA motorcycle racing.
Incorporation
Moreno Valley experienced explosive growth in the 1980s; by 1984, the valley's population was 49,702 (contrasted with 18,871 residents in 1970). The state economic boom fueled the construction of new houses and businesses. This growth led to a push for incorporation. Although similar measures had failed in 1968 and 1983, a measure to form the city of Moreno Valley was approved by voters in 1984. The communities of Edgemont, Sunnymead, and Moreno were incorporated on December 3, 1984 to form the general law city of Moreno Valley. The first City Council was also elected in 1984, composed of Bob LynnBob Lynn
Bob Lynn is a Republican member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 31st District since 2002. He is currently serving as Chair of the State Affairs Committee, and is a member of the Health & Social Services Committee, Judiciary Committee, Labor & Commerce Committee, and the...
, Judith A. Nieburger, Steven Webb, J. David Horspool (first Mayor Pro Tem), and Marshall C. Scott (first Mayor). The City Seal and Motto were adopted the following year.
Bust and boom
By 1990, Moreno Valley had exploded in population growth to become the second largest city in Riverside County with a population of over 118,000. Growth continued until about 1992.In the 1990s, the robust Moreno Valley economy deteriorated, largely due to the statewide economic downturn. Many people began to leave the city. March was also downsized to its present status as March Air Reserve Base. The surplus land was given to the March Joint Powers Authority, made up of representatives of Riverside County and the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris for development. The dismal economic trend began to reverse in the late part of the decade, however. Companies such as Aurora Modular, U-Haul
U-Haul
U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation since 1945. The company was founded by Leonard Shoen U-Haul International, Inc. is an American equipment rental company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, that has been in operation...
, and Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
moved major operating facilities to the city or neighboring municipalities (although Aurora later filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
).
By the early 21st century, the arrival of so many newcomers to Riverside County and the soaring cost of living in Los Angeles and Orange County combined to make the less-developed southern half of the Inland Empire a very attractive place for industry.
Moreno Valley Mall
The Moreno Valley Mall at Towngate is a shopping mall located on the former site of the Riverside International Raceway in Moreno Valley, California.In the early years competition for tenants divided prospects between competing developers...
(former location of the Riverside Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
from 1957 to 1989) and nearby Day Street, which straddles the border between Moreno Valley and Riverside. The area has seen massive construction in recent years, attracting Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse is an American casual dining restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida with over 1200 locations in 22 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It was founded in February 1988 in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T...
, and other stores often seen as prestigious. A Pat & Oscar's
Pat & Oscar's
Pat & Oscar's, formerly known as "Oscar's", is a restaurant chain with about 20 locations in California. The first location was opened in 1991. - History :* 2000 - Sizzler bought 82% stake of the "Oscar's" chain....
and PFF Bank & Trust are being built, and rumors of Famous Dave's
Famous Dave's
Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, formerly Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que Shack, is a chain of southern-style barbecue restaurants serving pork ribs, chicken, and beef brisket. Dave Anderson, an Ojibwe who served as the head of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2004 to 2005, started the...
and Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
coming to the area have emerged lately. These establishments are often seen as appealing to the upper-middle class; this appeal may help attract attention and money to the city.
On the east end of the city off Moreno Beach Drive, a new Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
was opened in early 2006 (233000 sq ft (21,646.4 m²), huge for a traditional Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
) next to the Moreno Valley Auto Mall. This is also the site of the first Super Target in California and the first (and only) Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
store located within Moreno Valley city limits, which opened in July and October 2007, respectively. The exit off state route 60 is the main way to the Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course, once included in Golf Magazine's Top 75 Golf Courses in the USA.
Recent proposals to turn March Joint Air Reserve Base
March Joint Air Reserve Base
March Joint Air Reserve Base is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force Headquarters and the 452d Air Mobility Wing , the largest air mobility wing of the 4th Air Force...
to a major commercial airport has been debated in 2005, but the plan was rejected by the Riverside county board of supervisors, until further notice. However, the coming of quieter, more environmentally friendly aircraft and cheaper security procedures and utilities may signal a re-consideration of the plan. In May 2008 the March JPA approved opening the facility to general aircraft.
March Air Reserve base has a ball park facility, where the semi-pro baseball Inland Empire (now Rancho Belago) Rockets of the Southern California League play in the summer months season.
DHL controversy
While some may view DHLDHL
DHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
's selection of March Air Reserve Base as its new Southern California hub as a "bright spot", the March JPA and March Global Port operations that brought DHL have been a matter of considerable controversy. DHL selected the March airport over San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. The airport covers and has one runway. It is currently a general aviation and cargo airport located on...
and LA/Ontario International Airport. The DHL facility commenced operations in October 2005 (previously expected to be running by March 2005). While initial claims were that the facility would employ 250 workers in its initial stage, over 300 employees went to work daily during normal operations.
Neighboring residents filed an unsuccessful lawsuit to block the zoning change necessary to allow DHL's operations.
In November 2008, due to escalating financial losses associated with deteriorating macroeconomic conditions, DHL announced it was leaving the U.S. market and would shut its operation associated with March Air Field in January 2009.
Rancho Belago
On February 13, 2007, the City Council passed, by a vote of 4-1, a controversial resolution christening the eastern half of the city (roughly from Lasselle Street to Gilman Springs Road) "Rancho Belago", a pastichePastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of Spanish and Italian words. The city council's resolution includes the 92555 zipcode within the boundaries of the area, as reported by the Press Enterprise newspaper.
Geography
Moreno Valley is located at 33°55'35" North, 117°13'42" West (33.926267, -117.228345).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 51.5 square miles (133.4 km²), of which, 51.3 square miles (132.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it is water.
Moreno Valley is located at a geographic crossroad. To the east lie the San Gorgonio Pass
San Gorgonio Pass
The San Gorgonio Pass el. cuts between the San Bernardino Mountains on the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. Like the Cajon Pass to the northwest, it was also created by the San Andreas Fault...
and Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley is a large valley landform in Southern California. The valley extends for approximately 45 miles in Riverside County southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the saltwater Salton Sea, the largest lake in California...
; to the south are Lake Perris
Lake Perris
Lake Perris is an artificial lake completed in 1973. It is the southern terminus of the California State Water Project situated in a mountain-rimmed valley between Moreno Valley, and city of Perris in what is now the Lake Perris State Recreation Area. The park offers a variety of recreational...
, Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
, the San Jacinto Mountains
San Jacinto Mountains
The San Jacinto Mountains are a mountain range east of Los Angeles in southern California in the United States. The mountains are named for Saint Hyacinth . The Pacific Crest Trail runs along the spine of the range.The range extends for approximately from the San Bernardino Mountains southeast to...
, and the route to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
; to the north are the San Bernardino Valley and San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
. To the west lies neighboring Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, as well as Los Angeles
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
and Orange
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
Counties. The heavily-traveled routes of State Route 60
California State Route 60
State Route 60 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs from Interstate 10 near the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles east to I-10 in Riverside County, with overlaps at State Route 57 and Interstate 215.-Route description:...
(locally called the Moreno Valley Freeway) and Interstate 215
Interstate 215 (California)
Interstate 215 is a long north–south Interstate highway in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. It is an auxiliary route of Interstate 15 , running from Murrieta to northern San Bernardino...
both pass through the city. It lies under approach paths for Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport is an airport in an unincorporated area in Orange County, California, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana, which is also the county seat, hence the International Air Transport Association airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in...
in Orange County, LA/Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. The airport covers and has one runway. It is currently a general aviation and cargo airport located on...
.
One of the most visible geographical features in Moreno Valley, visible from almost anywhere in the city, is Box Springs Mountain
Box Springs Mountain
Box Springs Mountain, at about , is the highest peak in the Box Springs Mountains range in north-west Riverside County, California, United States. The mountain is east of downtown Riverside, and north-west of Moreno Valley, a partial border between the two large cities...
. This mountain at the northwest end of the city towers over the city, providing a concrete landmark. The face of the mountain that faces the city has a large "M" constructed upon it. This was built privately at the encouragement of the City Council, which argued it would foster unity. The letter is located on public land and is maintained entirely by charity. The letter had lights installed on December 3, 2005 to celebrate Moreno Valley's 21st anniversary of its incorporation and the completion of the repairs of heavy damage to the M, due to excessive rain the year before. The mayor at that time, Bonnie Flickinger, has said that the citizens liked it that way and that the council would try to get it to light up regularly. Between December 2, 2009 and December 6, 2009, Moreno Valley, along with Edison lit up the "M" in celebration of the city's 25th anniversary. Several Eagle Scout projects have been dedicated to maintaining the letter
Scouting in California
Scouting in California has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs related to their environments.-Early history :...
.
Climate
Moreno Valley has a mild mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
CSa). The summer temperatures average in the mid to high 90's, though many days can reach well above 100°.
- On average, the warmest month is August.
- The highest recorded temperature was 113 °F (45 °C) in 1960.
- On average, the coolest month is December.
- The lowest recorded temperature was 22 °F (-5.6 °C) in 1974.
- The maximum average precipitation occurs in December.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Moreno Valley had a population of 193,365. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,756.5 people per square mile (1,450.4/km²). The racial makeup of Moreno Valley was 80,969 (41.9%) White, 34,889 (18.0%) African American, 1,721 (0.9%) Native American, 11,867 (6.1%) Asian, 1,117 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 51,741 (26.8%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 11,061 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 105,169 persons (54.4%).
The Census reported that 192,811 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 471 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 51,592 households, out of which 28,586 (55.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 29,000 (56.2%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9,990 (19.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4,191 (8.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,627 (7.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 375 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,094 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals and 1,611 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.74. There were 43,181 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(83.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.99.
The population was spread out with 62,496 people (32.3%) under the age of 18, 23,563 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 53,726 people (27.8%) aged 25 to 44, 41,446 people (21.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 12,134 people (6.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
There were 55,559 housing units at an average density of 1,079.3 per square mile (416.7/km²), of which 33,393 (64.7%) were owner-occupied, and 18,199 (35.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%. 123,863 people (64.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 68,948 people (35.7%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
The city became a diverse ethnoburbEthnoburb
An ethnoburb is a suburban residential and business area in North America with a notable cluster of a particular ethnic minority population. The term was first coined in 1997 by Dr. Wei Li, then assistant professor of Geography and Asian American Studies at the University of Connecticut, in a...
of a variety of racial and ethnic groups, esp. Blacks, Latinos and Asians replaced the once majority White (non-Hispanic) population in the 1990s. Immigrants often come from Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
islands (esp. Cubans
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
and Puerto Ricans
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) and Samoans
Samoans
The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, sharing genetics, language, history and culture. Due to colonialism, the home islands are politically and geographically divided between the country of Samoa, official name Independent State of Samoa ; and American Samoa, an...
to reestablish themselves in older post-WWII suburban tracts in Sunnymead.
Moreno Valley has increasingly become a destination for African-American families from Los Angeles County. Between 2006-2007 alone, Moreno Valley saw a 13% increase in its black population.
Also in the same time period, Latinos became the majority of over half the MoVal's population, especially a large Mexican-American and Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
population developed in Sunnymead. There are several business strips catering to Spanish-speaking clientele and Latin American cultures.
There were 43,381 households out of which 54.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.6 and the average family size was 3.9.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...
for a household in the city was $47,387, and the median income for a family was $48,965 (these figures had risen to $55,604 and $57,385 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $38,620 versus $26,492 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,983. 14.2% of the population and 11.6% of families were below the poverty line. 18.1% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Local
Moreno Valley is an incorporated common lawCommon law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
city. It is governed by a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
. The city is divided into five districts, each of which elect a representative. The council chooses two of its own members to serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. The council also selects the city manager. The current City Council consists of:
- District 1: Jesse Molina
- District 2: Richard Stewart
- District 3: Robin Hastings
- District 4: Marcelo Co
- District 5: William H. Batey II
Richard Stewart is the current Mayor. Jesse Molina is the current Mayor Pro Tem. The current City Manager is Henry Garcia.
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $243.3 million in Revenues, $132.8 million in expenditures, $1,076.3 million in total assets, $195.3 million in total liabilities, and $293.8 million in cash and investments.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Henry Garcia |
| Assistant City Manager | Michelle Dawson |
| City Attorney | Bob Hansen |
| City Clerk | Jane Halstead |
| Community & Economic Development Director | Barry Foster |
| Financial & Administrative Services Director | Richard Teichert |
| Fire Chief | Steve Curley |
| Human Resources Director | Juris "Sonny" Morkus |
| Parks and Community Services Director | Michael McCarty |
| Police Chief | John Anderson |
| Public Works Director / City Engineer | Chris A. Vogt |
State and Federal
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Moreno Valley is located in the 37th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Bill Emmerson
Bill Emmerson
William "Bill" Emmerson is a Republican California State Senator, representing the 37th district in Riverside County, having been elected in a June 8, 2010 special election and sworn into office the next day...
, and in the 63rd, 64th, and 65th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
Districts, represented by Republicans Mike Morrell
Mike Morrell
Mike Morrell is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Republican representing the 63rd district, encompassing parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Prior to being elected to the state assembly, he was a real estate broker.- External links :* ...
, Brian Nestande
Brian Nestande
Brian Nestande is the Republican California State Assemblyman for the 64th District and was elected to the post in 2008. He is the son of former Assemblyman Bruce Nestande, who was the Republican nominee for Secretary of State in 1986....
, and Paul Cook
Paul Cook (politician)
Paul Cook has represented California's 65th Assembly district since December 2006. Prior to his election he served as a member of the Yucca Valley city council from 1998 until 2006. He is a Republican.-Military career:...
respectively. Federally, Moreno Valley is located in California's 45th congressional district
California's 45th congressional district
California's 45th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Riverside County. The district includes the communities of Palm Springs, Moreno Valley, Palm Desert, Hemet, Cathedral City, Temecula, Blythe, Rancho Mirage, Murrieta, Indio, Indian Wells,...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +3 and is represented by Republican Mary Bono Mack.
Public Safety
Moreno Valley is serviced by its own regional station of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement. The sheriff's station is currently commanded by Captain John Anderson, who also functions as Moreno Valley's Chief of Police.Moreno Valley also contracts for fire services with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is the State of California's agency responsible for fire protection in State Responsibility Areas of California as well as the administration of the state's private and public forests. It is often referred to as The California Department of...
). Six paramedic engines and two truck companies provide both medical and fire related services to the city.
American Medical Response
American Medical Response
American Medical Response, Inc. or is an American provider of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia. It employs around 17,000 personnel and has a fleet of 4,400 vehicles...
is responsible for transports to emergency departments via paramedic ambulance.
Education
Moreno Valley's primaryPrimary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
needs are fulfilled by the Moreno Valley Unified School District
Moreno Valley Unified School District
-Mission statement:Moreno Valley Unified School District's mission is to prepare all students academically and socially to become productive members of society.-Elementary:*Armada*Bear Valley*Box Springs*Butterfield*Chaparral Hills*Cloverdale*Creekside...
and the Val Verde Unified School District
Val Verde Unified School District
The Val Verde Unified School District is one of two public education governing bodies in Moreno Valley, California which stretches into Perris, California...
. The former serves approximately 35,000 students, the bulk of the city's children, and has 35 schools, including five high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s: Moreno Valley High School
Moreno Valley High School (Moreno Valley, California)
Moreno Valley High School is a High School located in Moreno Valley, California. It is part of the MVUSD.-Notable alumni:*Troy Percival, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels. In 2000 Moreno Valley High Named its baseball field after him.-External links:*...
, Canyon Springs High School
Canyon Springs High School
Canyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District....
, Valley View High School
Valley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)
Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles....
, March Mountain High School, and Vista del Lago High School. Val Verde District serves part of southern and eastern Moreno Valley, in addition to parts of Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
, Mead Valley
Mead Valley, California
Mead Valley is a census-designated place in Riverside County, California. Mead Valley sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Mead Valley's population was 18,510.-Geography:...
, and unincorporated areas. It serves about 13,000 students and maintains 12 schools; one of its high schools, Rancho Verde High School
Rancho Verde High School
Rancho Verde High School is one of two comprehensive high schools in the Val Verde UnifiedSchool District. The school is situated on 38 acres in the southern section of Moreno Valley, California. Rancho Verde represents a community of diverse social and economic backgroundscontaining both suburban...
, is located in Moreno Valley. Some private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s exist, including the local Valley Christian Academy, established in 1979, and Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
Academy.
The Riverside Community College District
Riverside Community College District
The Riverside Community College District, or RCCD, is the community college district serving Riverside, California, United States, and neighboring cities. It is part of the California Community Colleges System...
, RCCD, serves 6,500 students at their Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley College, or MVC, is a community college located in Moreno Valley, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-External links:*...
campus. The city is also the location of one of the twenty-six Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
campuses. In Neighboring Riverside, students may opt to attend RCCD's main campus, Riverside Community College
Riverside Community College
Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:...
, the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
, La Sierra University
La Sierra University
La Sierra University is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association...
or California Baptist University
California Baptist University
California Baptist University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university located in Riverside, California, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern...
. California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Bernardino, also known as Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB is a public research university and one of the twenty three general campuses of the California State University system. The main campus sits on in the suburban University District of , United States, with...
is another popular school for city high school graduates.
Economy
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March Air Reserve Base March Air Reserve Base March Joint Air Reserve Base is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force Headquarters and the 452d Air Mobility Wing , the largest air mobility wing of the 4th Air Force... |
9,000 |
| 2 | Moreno Valley Unified School District Moreno Valley Unified School District -Mission statement:Moreno Valley Unified School District's mission is to prepare all students academically and socially to become productive members of society.-Elementary:*Armada*Bear Valley*Box Springs*Butterfield*Chaparral Hills*Cloverdale*Creekside... |
3,752 |
| 3 | Riverside County Regional Medical Center Riverside County Regional Medical Center The Riverside County Regional Medical Center, or RCRMC, is a public hospital in Moreno Valley, California, United States, operated by the County of Riverside. It is classified as a Level II Adult & Pediatric Trauma Center.... |
2,215 |
| 4 | Moreno Valley Mall Moreno Valley Mall The Moreno Valley Mall at Towngate is a shopping mall located on the former site of the Riverside International Raceway in Moreno Valley, California.In the early years competition for tenants divided prospects between competing developers... |
1,669 |
| 5 | City of Moreno Valley | 1,183 |
| 6 | Riverside Community College Riverside Community College Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:... |
1,038 |
| 7 | Val Verde Unified School District Val Verde Unified School District The Val Verde Unified School District is one of two public education governing bodies in Moreno Valley, California which stretches into Perris, California... |
734 |
| 8 | Walgreens Walgreens Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded... |
650 |
| 9 | Ross Stores | 600 |
| 10 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
465 |
Hospitals
There are two hospitals in Moreno Valley:- Kaiser PermanenteKaiser PermanenteKaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...
Community Hospital, formerly Moreno Valley Community Hospital, is a General Acute Care HospitalHospitalA hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
with Basic Emergency Services as of 2008. Kaiser Permanente officially acquired the Moreno Valley Community Hospital and took complete control in July 2008. Current Kaiser Permanente members began receiving notification of the purchase in March 2008. Moreno Valley residents will not feel the effects of the acquisition immediately, as Kaiser Permanente members were asked to continue using the nearby Riverside facility and the Moreno Valley Clinic for hospital services while the transition process is completed. Kaiser Permanente is planning to increase the size and capacity of the new hospital by adding a new 80+ patient tower and expanding the main facility, as well as increasing the size of the emergency and operating rooms. - Riverside County Regional Medical Center is a General Acute Care HospitalHospitalA hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
with Basic Emergency Services and a Level II Trauma CenterTrauma centerA trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
.
Notable residents
- Mike Cosgrove: Drummer for Alien Ant FarmAlien Ant FarmAlien Ant Farm is an American alternative rock band that formed in Riverside, California, in 1995. Their name comes from an idea original guitarist Terry Corso had about aliens and the earth: "I was daydreaming at my dull desk job with my feet up, and I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't it be cool if...
- Greg DobbsGreg DobbsGregory Stuart Dobbs is a Major League Baseball infielder. Dobbs is primarily a third baseman, but can also field the corner outfield positions and first base.-Early career:...
: Thirdbaseman for Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
graduated from Canyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District....
(1996) - DeNique FordDeNique FordDeNique Ford is a professional Arena Football defensive back for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. Ford is a 2007 graduate of Eastern Washington University.-Early Years:...
: Professional Arena football player. - Bobby KieltyBobby KieltyRobert Micheal Kielty is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-College :...
: professional baseball player with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, graduated from Canyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District.... - Ryan MadsonRyan MadsonRyan Michael Madson , nicknamed "Mad Dog", is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a currently a free agent...
: Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitcher graduated from Valley View High SchoolValley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles....
in 1998 - Andre McGeeAndre McGeeAndre McGee is an American professional basketball player of Phoenix Hagen. McGee's family has a history of playing college basketball. His father Anthony McGee played basketball at Long Beach State...
: College basketball player for the University of LouisvilleUniversity of LouisvilleThe University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, (Jersey Number 33), graduated from Canyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District....
(2005) - Dryden Mitchell: Singer for Alien Ant FarmAlien Ant FarmAlien Ant Farm is an American alternative rock band that formed in Riverside, California, in 1995. Their name comes from an idea original guitarist Terry Corso had about aliens and the earth: "I was daydreaming at my dull desk job with my feet up, and I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't it be cool if...
- Olivia O'LovelyOlivia O'lovelyOlivia O'Lovely is a American pornographic actress hailing from Moreno Valley, California. Her ethnic background is Italian, Spanish, Chilean, and French....
: Pornographic actress - Jasmine ByrneJasmine ByrneJasmine Byrne is an American pornographic actress, model and dominatrix. Byrne was born in Riverside, California to Mexican parents from Los Angeles. Her first film was Young Tight Latinas 6...
: Pornographic actress, graduated from Rancho Verde High SchoolRancho Verde High SchoolRancho Verde High School is one of two comprehensive high schools in the Val Verde UnifiedSchool District. The school is situated on 38 acres in the southern section of Moreno Valley, California. Rancho Verde represents a community of diverse social and economic backgroundscontaining both suburban...
. (2003) - Troy PercivalTroy PercivalTroy Eugene Percival is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He gained fame as a closer. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1995-2009 for four different teams, pitching primarily with the California/Anaheim Angels...
: Former Anaheim AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
All-Star Pitcher, World Series Champion, attended Moreno Valley High SchoolMoreno Valley High School (Moreno Valley, California)Moreno Valley High School is a High School located in Moreno Valley, California. It is part of the MVUSD.-Notable alumni:*Troy Percival, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels. In 2000 Moreno Valley High Named its baseball field after him.-External links:*... - Terrelle SmithTerrelle SmithTerrelle Vernon Smith is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
: Fullback for Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
graduated from Canyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District....
(1996) - Kyle TurleyKyle TurleyKyle John Turley is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League, and current American recording artist. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.In addition to the...
: Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
star graduated from Valley View High SchoolValley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles.... - Derrick WardDerrick WardDerrick LaRon Ward is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Fresno State University and Ottawa University...
: New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back graduated from Valley View High SchoolValley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles.... - Charlotte MorganCharlotte Morgan (softball player)Charlotte Lee Morgan is a professional softball player signed with the USSSA Pride based out of Kissimmee, Florida. She is an alumnus of the Alabama Crimson Tide and was the first pick in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, beginning her career with The USSSA Florida Pride, which is part...
, softball player. Played for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was drafted first overall in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft - Daniel Carroll: Outfielder in the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization, graduated Valley View High SchoolValley View High School (Moreno Valley, California)Valley View High School is a high school located in Moreno Valley, California and is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District. The official school colors are red, white, and black. The school's mascot name is the eagles....
in 2007, selected in the third round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball DraftThe 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007... - D'Aundre ReedD'Aundre ReedD'Aundre Reed is an American football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings with the 215th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft.-External links:*...
: 2011 NFL Draftee to the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, graduated from Rancho Verde High SchoolRancho Verde High SchoolRancho Verde High School is one of two comprehensive high schools in the Val Verde UnifiedSchool District. The school is situated on 38 acres in the southern section of Moreno Valley, California. Rancho Verde represents a community of diverse social and economic backgroundscontaining both suburban...
in 2006.