Covering an expanse of nearly 30,000 square miles, the Inland Empire is the Southern California region encompassing Riverside and San Bernardino counties. While technically part of the Greater Los Angeles area because of combined statistics, colloquially it isn’t regarded as such; in fact, the Inland Empire is primarily suburban in nature. Home to over 4 million people, it is the third most populous metro area in California and one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation. As of 2006, the Inland Empire held more residents than the city of Los Angeles, which contains a population of 3.83 million.

 Originally, the distinctive moniker “Inland Empire” was intended to differentiate this region from the remainder of Greater Los Angeles and Southern California’s coastal cities; but because the eminence of the region has greatly evolved, the Inland Empire name now aids in distinguishing the area for the purposes of:

-    City planning
-    Economic development
-    U.S. Census records
-    Marketing efforts

What are the boundaries of the Inland Empire? The periphery of the region is at times a matter of debate among area leaders and the business community. The simplest, and most widely accepted boundaries, are the county lines that separate Los Angeles County from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Inland Empire Cities   

Just as its boundaries are sometimes contested, the cities of the Inland Empire are occasionally called into question as well. In Riverside County, residents of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley cities may or may not regard themselves as part of the Inland Empire; similarly, San Bernardino County’s Victor Valley area is sometimes considered a sub-region by its residents.

In San Bernardino County (the largest county in the nation), the most prominent Inland Empire cities include:

 
Chino
Colton
Fontana
Grand Terrace
Highland
Loma Linda
Montclair
Ontario
Rancho Cucamonga
Redlands
Rialto
San Bernardino
Upland
Yucaipa
Yucca Valley
 

…In addition to the aforementioned Victor Valley cities, and the chain of incorporated and unincorporated communities throughout the San Bernardino Mountains.

In Riverside County, noteworthy cities encompass:

 
Banning     
Beaumont     
Canyon Lake
Corona     
Hemet     
Lake Elsinore     
Sun City/Menifee     
Moreno Valley     
Murrieta     
Norco     
Perris         
Riverside     
San Jacinto
Temecula     
Wildomar     
 

…As well as the above mentioned Coachella Valley, which includes the cities of Cathedral City, Coachella, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs.      

Inland Empire Lifestyle: Employment, Industry, and Housing

Established residents know: The Inland Empire of today is a very different place than in decades past. Many sections of the area were marked by limited development until as recently as the 1970s; but today, rural spaces are the exception to the rule. Rapid population growth has led to massive residential, commercial, and industrial development throughout both counties, and even the most remote Inland Empire communities now enjoy easy access to standard business and personal conveniences.

As is the case with the larger Southern California region, the comprehensive freeway system is the common network that provides seemingly endless portals of interconnectivity throughout the Inland Empire. Residents can, and often do, live and work in separate Inland Empire communities. Commuting to Los Angeles and Orange counties is common, and portions of Riverside County allow for ease of travel over the San Diego County line; however, inter-region commuting is a more common practice. Large employers abound throughout the Inland Empire, with key employers deriving from the manufacturing, healthcare and retail industries. Frequently, numerous civic and government employment opportunities are available as well.

While patches of rural communities remain and planned urban developments are scattered throughout some areas, Inland Empire neighborhoods are primarily suburban. New home construction and the development of housing tracts exploded in the late 1990s to early 2000s, making it possible for middle class residents to secure housing in nearly any area of the region.
Arguably, housing tracts are the most popular homebuying choice in cities such as Banning, Beaumont, Corona, Ontario, and Rancho Cucamonga.

In cities such as Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Upland, older neighborhoods are considered more desirable for the historic character of the homes, and real estate prices tend to reflect that reality. Similarly, cities like Temecula and Palm Springs boast higher real estate values in neighborhoods significant to the city heritage; however, the real estate boom led to the development of housing tracts in these cities as well, and they remain popular among middle class homebuyers and renters.

For more information about buying or renting in the Inland Empire, or to find out more information about Real Estate or Rental Property Management services, please CONTACT US today!