Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 105,029. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989.Temecula is bordered by Murrieta on the northwest and the Pechanga Indian Reservation on the south, with unincorporated areas of Riverside County on all of its other borders. It is served by the Interstate 15 (Temecula Valley Freeway), Interstate 215 and California State Route 79 (Winchester Road to the northeast and Temecula Parkway to the southeast).With neighboring Murrieta, Temecula forms the southwestern anchor of the Inland Empire region. It is almost equidistant to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California. Temecula is also home to military families from nearby Camp Pendleton, MCAS Miramar, March Air Reserve Base and the Naval bases in San Diego.
Pre-1800
The area was inhabited by the Temecula natives for many hundreds of years before their first meeting with the Spanish missionaries (the people are now generally known as the Luiseños, after the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia). The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians believe their ancestors have lived in the Temecula area for more than 10,000 years. In Pechanga mythology, life on earth began in the Temecula Valley. They call it, 'Exva Temeeku', the place of the union of Sky— father, and Earth— mother ('Tuukumit'pi Tamaayowit'). The Temecula Indians ('Temeekuyam') lived at 'Temeekunga'— 'the place of the sun'.Pechanga Band of Luiseño IndiansOther popular interpretations of the name, Temecula, include 'The Sun That Shines Through The Mist' or 'Where the sun breaks through the mist'. According to the city website, 'Temecula is the only city in California to still retain its original Indian name'.The first recorded Spanish visit occurred in October 1797, with a Franciscan padre, Father Juan Norberto de Santiago, and Captain Pedro Lisalde. Father Santiago kept a journal in which he noted their seeing 'Temecula ...an Indian village'. The trip included the Lake Elsinore area and the Temecula Valley.
1800-1900
In 1798, Spanish Missionaries established the Mission of San Luis Rey de Francia and designated the Indians living in the region 'Sanluiseños', or shortened to 'Luiseños'. In the 1820s, the Mission San Antonio de Pala was built.The Mexican land grants made in the Temecula area were Rancho Temecula granted to Felix Valdez and Rancho Pauba to the east granted to Vicente Moraga in 1844. Rancho Little Temecula on fertile well watered land at the southern end of the valley, which included the village of Temecula, was made in 1845 to Luiseño Pablo Apis, one of the few former mission converts to be given a land grant. A fourth grant, known as Rancho Santa Rosa in the hills to the west of Temecula, was made to Juan Moreno in 1846.The Luiseño and Cahuilla tribes were involved in the local battles of the Mexican-American War during the following years. In January 1847 in an event known as the Pauma Massacre, Luiseño captured 11 Mexican soldiers, who had stolen some of the tribe's horses. The Californios mounted a military retaliation directed by General xx in Los Angeles. A combined force of Mexican soldiers and Cahuilla Indians killed 33 to 100 Luisenos (most estimates are 33-40 dead), in an action that became known as the Temecula Massacre.As American settlers began to move into the area after the war, friction with the native tribes increased. A Treaty was signed in the Magee Store in Temecula in 1852, but never ratified by the United States Congress. In addition, the Luisenos challenged the late land grant claims, as under Mexican law, they were supposed to be able to stay on the mission lands which they had cultivated and settled. They challenged the Apis claim to the Little Temecula Rancho by taking the case to the Land Commission. On November 15, 1853, the Board rejected the Luiseño claim. When they appealed in 1856, the court found in favor of the heirs of Pablo Apis (who had died in late 1853 or early 1854). The Luiseño of Temecula village remained on the south side of Temecula Creek until 1872 when the Apis grant was acquired by Louis Wolf. They were then evicted in 1875.When a stagecoach line started a local route from Warner Ranch to Colton in 1857, it passed through Temecula Valley. Within a year, the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line, with a route between St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, stopped at Temecula's Magee Store. On April 22, 1859, the first inland Southern California post office was established in Temecula in the Magee Store. This was the second post office in the state, the first being located in San Francisco. The Temecula post office was moved in the ensuing years. Its present locations are the seventh and eighth sites occupied. When the American Civil War put an end to the great Butterfield Overland Stage Service, transportation became a problem in the area.In 1862, Louis Wolf, a Temecula merchant and postmaster, married Ramona Place, who was mixed-race and half Indian. Author Helen Hunt Jackson spent time with Louis and Ramona Wolf in 1882 and again in 1883. Wolf's store became an inspiration for Jackson's fictional 'Hartsel's store' in her 1884 novel, Ramona.In 1882, the US established the Pechanga Indian Reservation of approximately 4,000 acres (16 km2) some 8 miles (13 km) from downtown Temecula. Also in 1882, the California Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railroad, completed construction of the section from National City to Temecula. In 1883, the line was extended to San Bernardino. In the late 1880s, a series of floods washed out the tracks and the section of the railroad through the canyon was finally abandoned. The old Temecula station was used as a barn and later demolished.In the 1890s with the operation of granite stone quarries, Temecula granite was shaped into fence and hitching posts, curb stones, courthouse steps, and building blocks. At the turn of the 20th century, Temecula gained a place of importance as a shipping point for grain and cattle.
1900-1989
In 1904 Walter L. Vail, who had come to the United States with his parents from Nova Scotia, migrated to California and with various partners began buying land in Southern California. Vail started buying ranch land in the Temecula Valley in 1905, buying 38,000 acres (154 km2) of Rancho Temecula and Rancho Pauba, along with the northern half of Rancho Little Temecula. Vail was killed by a street car in Los Angeles in 1906, and his son, Mahlon Vail, took over the family ranch. In 1914, financed by Mahlon Vail and local ranchers, the First National Bank of Temecula opened on Front Street. In 1915, the first paved, two-lane county road was built through Temecula.By 1947, the Vail Ranch contained over 87,500 acres (354 km2). In 1948, the Vail family built a dam to catch the Temecula Creek water and created Vail Lake. Through the mid-1960s the economy of the Temecula Valley centered around the Vail Ranch; the cattle business and agriculture were the stimuli for most business ventures. In 1964, the Vail Ranch was sold to Kaiser Land Development Company. A later purchase by the group brought the total area to 97,500 acres (395 km2), and the area became known as Rancho California. The I-15 corridor between Los Angeles County and San Diego was completed in the early 1980s and the subdivision land boom began. When Rancho California incorporated in December, 1989, the citizens voted to officially name their city 'Temecula'.
1990-present
The 1990s brought rapid growth to the Temecula Valley. Many families began to move to the area from San Diego and Orange County drawn by the affordable housing prices and the popular wine country. In 1999, The Promenade Mall opened in Temecula. In 2005, Temecula expanded by annexing the neighboring planned community known as Redhawk. The annexation brought the population to 90,000. After a period of rapid population growth and home construction, the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis and the resultant United States housing market correction caused a sharp rise in home foreclosures in the Temecula-Murrieta region.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.1 km2), of which, 26.3 square miles (68.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.11%) is water.
Climate
Temecula has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa). August is typically the hottest month of the year with December being the coldest month. Most precipitation occurs from November to March with February being the wettest month. Winter storms generally bring moderate precipitation, but strong winter storms are not uncommon especially during 'El Niño' years. The driest month is June. Annual precipitation is 13.25 inches. Morning marine layer is common during May and June. From July to September, Temecula experiences hot, dry weather with the occasional North American monsoonal flow that increases the humidity and brings isolated thunderstorms. Most of the storms tend to be short lived with little, if any rainfall. During late fall into winter, Temecula experiences dry, windy north-eastern Santa Ana winds. Snowfall is rare, but Temecula has experienced traces of snowfall in recent memories. A rare F1 tornado touched down in a Temecula neighborhod on February 19, 2005.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,716 people, 18,293 households, and 15,164 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,198.3 people per square mile (848.6/km²). There were 19,099 housing units at an average density of 727.4/sq mi (280.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.9% White, 3.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 7.4% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.0% of the population.There were 18,293 households out of which 52.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.1% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.2 and the average family size was 3.5.In the city the population was spread out with 34.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. The above average number of young people in Temecula was attributed to an influx of middle-class families came to buy homes in the 1990s real estate boom. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $75,335, and the median income for a family was $80,836. Males had a median income of $47,113 (2000) versus $31,608 (2000) for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,312 (2003). About 5.6% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Top Employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Temecula Valley Unified School District
The Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) has schools in Temecula, Murrieta and Winchester, California. The general boundaries extend north to Baxter Road in French Valley, south to the Riverside/San Diego county line, east to Vail Lake, and west to the Temecula city limit. The district covers approximately 148 square miles (383 km2), with an enrollment of approximately 25,000 students (Grades K-12).
Private schools
Hillcrest Academy
Linfield Christian School
Rancho Community Christian School
Temecula Prep
Van Avery Prep
Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School
Saint Ives
Saint Bernaby
Also serviced by
It also is serviced by Julian Charter School, a charter school based in the county of San Diego, in the community of Julian.
Public libraries
Grace Mellman Community Library
Temecula Public Library
Politics
In the state legislature Temecula is located in the 36th Senate District, represented by Republican Dennis Hollingsworth, and in the 64th and 66th Assembly Districts, represented by Republicans John J. Benoit and Kevin Jeffries respectively. Federally, Temecula is located in California's 49th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +10 and is represented by Republican Darrell Issa.
Public safety
The Temecula Valley area is served by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department through its regional station in the unincorporated town of French Valley, just immediately north of the City of Temecula, east of State Route 79 (also serving the town of Sedco Hills and the newly-incorporated City of Wildomar, the station is adjacent to the Riverside County Superior Court's Southwest Regional Judicial District Courthouse and Southwest Regional Detention Center, one of the four regional jails in this county).The City of Temecula contracts for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) with the Riverside County Fire Department through a cooperative agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Temecula currently has 4 fire stations with a fifth one currently under construction. ten paramedic engine companies and one truck company cover the city.
Crime
Temecula Crime Statistics (2007)Population:93,665Violent Crime:207Murder & Non-negligent Manslaughter:5Forcible Rape:12Robbery:81Aggravated Assault:109Property Crime:2,654Burglary:667Larceny-Theft:1,688Motor Vehicle Theft:299Arson:6
Wine country
More than 40 years after Richard Break and Leon Borel first planted 56 varieties of wine-making grapes in five different locations for the newly formed Rancho California Development Corporation, the Temecula Valley has become recognized as a full-fledged appellation. It has more than two dozen wineries and more than 3,500 acres (14 km2) of producing vineyards. The wine country is east of historic Old Town Temecula, with a variety of tasting rooms. The annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival is held at Lake Skinner.
Golf
Golfers can use one of the nine local golf courses including Pechanga's Journey, Redhawk, Temecula Creek Inn, Temeku Hills, CrossCreek, Pala Mesa and the SCGA Member's Course (in nearby Murrieta).
Sports
Temecula was a proposed city for a charter membership in the California Inline Hockey League. The California Inline Hockey league was a grassroots minor league inline hockey league with clubs based in the state of California but later added two teams in Nevada. The CIHL awarded the city of Temecula a club which was to be a part of the CIHL's first season in 1995. The club was named the Temecula Desert Rats and they were going to be members of the CIHL along with the San Francisco Seals, Santa Barbara Sandsharks, Los Angeles Golden Bears, High Desert (Adelanto) Rattlers, Reno Express, Carson City Mavericks and a proposed team in San Diego which like Temecula suspended operations for 1995. Temecula's reason for suspending operations was because no suitable rink was available the for the club and was the reason the club moved to Phoenix Arizona for the 1996 season. The team was going to be called the Phoenix Desert RatsTemecula is also known as the home for the Freestyle Motocross group Metal Mulisha with members such as Brian Deegan, Jeremy 'Twitch' Stenberg, and Ronnie Faisst living in or near Temecula.
Old Town Temecula
'Old Town Temecula' is a collection of historic 1890s buildings, antique stores, hotels, specialty food stores, boutiques, gift and collectible stores, and antique dealers. Old Town is also home to such events as car shows, western days and summer entertainment.Old Town is also home to the Temecula Museum which features exhibits about the local band of Native Americans and the local natural history and city development.
Pechanga Resort and Casino
In 2001, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians built the $262 million Pechanga Resort and Casino complex. Linked together in an architectural design that subtly highlights the tribe's Luiseño culture, the facility includes: an 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m2) casino, 1,200-seat bingo hall, 515,000-square-foot (47,800 m2), 13-story, 522-room hotel and 38,800-square-foot (3,600 m2) convention center, 1,200-seat showroom, 200-seat cabaret lounge, and seven restaurants. The new casino also features 2,000 slot machines, 60 card tables and 15 poker tables.In 2004, a new gaming area was completed. It is almost 400,000 square feet (40,000 m2) in area, including a new nightclub, Silk, and the Round Bar. Silk has a capacity of 1600 people and has five bars inside the club. The Round Bar features California's largest glass structure. The new casino also features a new sportsbar and restaurant, Kelseys, and five new eateries at the Festival of Foods.Pechanga Resort and Casino is Temecula Valley's largest employer, with about 7,500 people employed.
Festivals
Temecula Bluegrass Festival
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
Valley International Film and Music Festival
Valley International Jazz Festival
Children's Matsuri
Temecula Street Painting Festival
Temecula Photo Contest
Dutch American Heritage Day
Taste of the World
Temecula Rod Run - Old Town Temecula
Sister cities and schools
Temecula maintains international relations with two cities, Leidschendam-Voorburg in the Netherlands and Daisen, Tottori in Japan.Margarita Middle School is the sister school to Daisen-cho, Japan. The three high schools, Temecula Valley High School, Great Oak High School, and Chaparral High School switch off sending students to the Netherlands while they all share hosting. The Dutch students come during October and the American students go during Spring Break. Margarita Middle sends a delegation every other year during Spring Break, while Daisen sends a delegation every year during the summer. The sister cities celebrated their 13th year of cooperation this year.The city recently dedicated a Japanese Garden at the centrally located Temecula Duck Pond to honor the 10th anniversary of the city's relationship with sister city Daisen.The Temecula Duck Pond is also home to an art piece entitled Singing in the Rain. It was commissioned by the city of Leidschendam-Voorburg as a gift to the city to commemorate the resilient American spirit in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The piece depicts a mother and her children bravely pedalling a bicycle into the strong headwinds of a storm. The statue stands as a lasting tribute to the strength and courage of those who refuse to be broken by brutality and terrorism.
Proposed projects
2006, brought news that a waterpark, Splash Canyon Waterpark-Temeculawas going to be constructed in the city, nearInterstate 15and Winchester Road.
In 2006, the city approved a proposed,six-story hospital onState Route 79South at Country Glen Way, near De Portola Road. Environmental and feasibility studies are under way.
Granite Constructionproposed building a quarry north of theSan Diego Countyline. Environmental and citizen impact studies are under way.
A new civic center is under construction in the Old Town area including a community room and outdoor patio.
Notable residents
Nate Adams, Freestyle motocross rider
Merle Allin, electric bass player and the older brother of the late punk rock singer/songwriter/performance artistGG Allin
Tim Barela, comic strip author
Maurice Benard, actor, currently on General Hospital
Timmy Curran, professional surfer
Terrell Davis, retired Denver Broncos Pro Bowl running back
Brian Deegan, freestyle motocross rider and founder ofMetal Mulisha
Jason Ellis, professional vert skateboarder
Finch, post-hardcore band
Erle Stanley Gardner, author, wrote over 100 of thePerry Masonnovels at his Temecula ranch, 'Rancho del Paisano' between 1931 and his death in 1970
Christy Hemme, pro wrestler and manager
Dan Henderson,mixed martial artistandGreco-Roman wrestlingOlympian
Reed Johnson,Los Angeles Dodgersbaseball player
Jack Klugman, actor
April Matson, actress fromKyle XY
Antonio Pontarelli, rock violinist, Grand Champion of NBC's 'America's Most Talented Kids'
Lupillo Rivera, Mexican Regional Singer
Michelle Rodriguez, actress
Jason Stewart, 'J. Stew' ofThe Jim Rome Show
Lol Tolhurst, exThe Curefounder
Angel Torres, Major League baseball pitcher
Tyrese, singer and actor
Jerry Yang, 2007World Series of PokerMain Event winner
Trivia & media mentions
Temecula was the setting of a 1996 made-for-TV movie of couples visiting the area's wine country, entitledA Weekend in the Countrydirected byMartin Bergmanand co-written by Bergman andRita Rudner, with actors Rita Rudner,Christine Lahti,Jack Lemmon,Dudley Moore,Richard LewisandBetty White.
Cable networkOutdoor Channelis headquartered in Temecula.
'Beachhead', the pilot episode of the 1960s TV seriesThe Invaders, was filmed in part in Old Town Temecula and prominently featured the exterior of the historicPalomar Inn Hotel
'Temecula Sunrise' is a song on the album,Bitte Orcaby the bandDirty Projectors.
In early 2007,Tori Spellingand husband Dean McDermott announced they were starting a new show on the Oxygen network about their experience with opening and running a Bed and Breakfast in Temecula, but the B&B is actually located inFallbrook.
Temecula was the setting of the 2009 comedyThe Goods.
Ronald Reagan and Temecula
In a March 1983 speech to the U.S. Olympic Committee, President Ronald Reagan praised the community and their 'can-do' volunteer spirit: '... There are many similar stories right here in California, the folks in a rather small town, Temecula. They got together and built themselves a sports park, held fundraising barbecues and dinners. And those that didn't have money, volunteered the time and energy. And now the young people of that community have baseball diamonds for Little League and other sports events, just due to what's traditional Americanism... '. At the time of the speech, Temecula was six years away from becoming a city and many projects were completed by community leaders and volunteers who provided money, labor and equipment.Reagan also owned a 771 acres (3.1 km2) spread in nearby Tenaja where he contemplated building a ranch. He bought the land in 1968 and sold it 11 years later.On the 22nd anniversary of the speech, in 2005, the Rancho California Sports Park was named after Reagan. It was recently decided that the city would dedicate a memorial to the 40th president and place the statue in the park. The monument will depict a young family and represent the volunteers who helped build the park. Those figures will be life-size. Reagan will be 'larger than life', a short distance away. Ronald Reagan will be smiling as he looks at the family. He will be holding a cowboy hat in one hand and leaning on a shovel in the other.
