California

Riverside

2,418,185

2020 population

1900

first census record

census records

About Riverside

Riverside, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 17,897. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,418,185.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Camp Wright – California Column Muster, and 100 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	2,418,185
2010	2,189,641
2000	1,545,387
1990	1,170,413
1980	663,166
1970	459,074
1960	306,191
1950	170,046
1940	105,524
1930	81,024
1920	50,297
1910	34,696
1900	17,897

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Riverside

Military engagements that took place in Riverside, California.

Camp Wright – California Column Muster

1862

Historic places in Riverside

National Register of Historic Places listings in Riverside, California.

Pearlman Mountain Cabin

Idyllwild

First Congregational Church of Riverside

Williams, E. Stewart and Mari, House

Palm Springs Tramway Valley Station

Palm Springs

Palm Springs Unified School District Educational Administrative Center

Palm Springs

Santa Fe Federal Savings and Loan Association

Palm Springs

Coachella Valley Savings No. 2

Palm Springs

Barker Dam

Twentynine Palms

Martinez Canyon Rockhouse

North Palm Springs

Corona High School

Corona

Ryan House and Lost Horse Well

Twentynine Palms

Blythe Intaglios

Blythe

San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse

Jensen, Cornelius, Ranch

Rubidoux

Elrod, Arthur, House

Palm Springs

Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo Museum

Desert Hot Springs

Edris House

Palm Springs

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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

Los Angeles Madera Marin Mariposa Mendocino Merced Modoc Mono Monterey Napa Nevada Orange Placer Plumas Sacramento San Benito San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco San Joaquin

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Everything a full report reveals about Riverside County, California

This page charts the census history of Riverside County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Riverside

When does Riverside first appear in the US census?

Riverside, California first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 17,897.

What is the population of Riverside?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Riverside had a recorded population of 2,418,185.

Were any battles fought in Riverside?

1 documented military engagement took place in Riverside, including Camp Wright – California Column Muster.

How many historic places are in Riverside?

100 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Riverside, California.

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