Murrieta is a city in southwestern
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a County (United States), county located in the Southern California, southern portion of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, its population was 2,418,185, making it the fourth-most ...
, United States. The population of Murrieta was 110,949 as of the
2020 census.
Murrieta experienced a 133.7% population increase between 2000 and 2010, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the state during that period. Largely residential in character, Murrieta is typically characterized as a
bedroom community
A commuter town is a populated area that is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial. Routine travel from home to work and back is called commuting, which is where the term comes from. A commuter town may be called by many o ...
. Murrieta is bordered by the city of
Temecula to the south, the cities of
Menifee and
Wildomar to the north, and the unincorporated community of
French Valley to the east. Murrieta is located in the center of the
Los Angeles-San Diego mega-region. Murrieta is named for Juan Murrieta, a
Californio
Californios (singular Californio) are Californians of Spaniards, Spanish descent, especially those descended from settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries before California was annexed by the United States. California's Spanish language in C ...
ranchero who founded the town.
History
The
Luiseño people founded the village of Avaa7ax or 'Avaa'ax where Murrieta stands today.
For most of its history, Murrieta was not heavily populated. On June 9, 1873, Domingo Pujol, Francisco Sanjurjo, and Juan and Ezequiel Murrieta purchased the
Rancho Pauba and
Rancho Temecula Mexican land grants, comprising in the area. Ezequiel returned to Spain and turned the land over to his younger brother, Juan Murrieta (1844–1936), who brought 7,000 sheep to the valley in 1873, using the meadows to feed his sheep. The partnership dissolved in 1876 and Ezequiel and Juan Murrieta retained 15,000 acres of the northern half of the Temecula Rancho. Ezequiel and Juan Murrieta granted a right-of-way, one hundred feet wide to the
California Southern Railroad
The California Southern Railroad was a subsidiary railroad of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe) in Southern California. It was organized July 10, 1880, and chartered on October 23, 1880, to build a rail connection between wha ...
through the Temecula Rancho on April 28, 1882, so that the railroad could be constructed through the valley.
In 1884, the Temecula Land and Water Company purchased about 14,500 acres from Juan Murrieta and mapped a townsite along the California Southern Railroad. Others discovered the valley after the construction of a depot in 1887 that connected Murrieta to the
Southern California Railroad's transcontinental route. By 1890, some 800 people lived in Murrieta.
Today much of the site (about 50 acres) is home to a Bible college and conference center, owned by
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Costa may refer to:
Biology
* Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy
* Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus
* Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral
* Costa (entomology), the leading edge o ...
, which has invested millions of dollars into restoring and rebuilding the old resort rooms. When the trains stopped in 1935, tourists—the lifeblood of the town—were much harder to come by. The boom that Murrieta had experienced due to the train and the hot springs gradually died, leaving Murrieta as a small country town.
Although
US Route 395 had passed through Murrieta, it was not until
Interstate 15 was built in the early 1980s that another boom began to take hold. By the late 1980s,
suburban
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area. They are oftentimes where most of a metropolitan areas jobs are located with some being predominantly residential. They can either be denser or less densely populated ...
neighborhoods were being constructed, and people began moving to the Murrieta area from cities and towns in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...
and
Orange counties, as well as other parts of
Riverside County.
In 1990, residents began a campaign for city status which resulted in the incorporation of the City of Murrieta on July 1, 1991. By then the population was 24,000, a major increase from 2,200 in 1980. Between 1991 and 2007, the city's population further increased to an estimated 97,257 residents, and the city's population was 103,466, making it the largest city in southwestern Riverside County at that time.
In July 2014, Murrieta garnered national attention following days of citizen protests of detained immigrants.
Murrieta residents successfully blocked busloads of illegal immigrant detainees. They were en route to a temporary relocation and detention facility, which the federal government had planned to establish in the town.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which 99.89% of it is land and 0.11% is covered by water.
Murrieta Creek runs southeasterly through the Murrieta Valley.
Warm Springs Creek is a tributary of Murrieta Creek that also passes through the city.
Climate
Murrieta has a
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate ( ), also called a dry summer climate, described by Köppen and Trewartha as ''Cs'', is a temperate climate type that occurs in the lower mid-latitudes (normally 30 to 44 north and south latitude). Such climates typic ...
or dry-summer subtropical (
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Csa''). Murrieta has an average of 263 sunshine days and 35 days with measurable precipitation annually.
Demographics
2020
2010

The
2010 United States census reported that Murrieta had a population of 103,466. The population density was . The racial makeup of Murrieta was 72,137 (69.7%) White (55.7% non-Hispanic White), 5,601 (5.4%) African American, 741 (0.7%) Native American, 9,556 (9.2%) Asian, 391 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 8,695 (8.4%) from
other races, and 6,345 (6.1%) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 26,792 persons (25.9%). The census reported 103,037 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 291 people (0.3%) lived in noninstitutionalized group quarters, and 138 people (0.1%) were institutionalized.
Of the 32,749 households, 48.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 62.8% were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,814 (11.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 1,642 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present, with 1,626 (5.0%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 192 (0.6%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. About 5,208 households (15.9%) were made up of individuals, and 2,248 (6.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15. There were 26,033
families (79.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.51.
The population was distributed as 31,471 people (30.4%) under the age of 18, 9,891 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 28,144 people (27.2%) aged 25 to 44, 23,555 people (22.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 10,405 people (10.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The 35,294 housing units averaged 1,050.0 per square mile (405.4/km), of which 23,110 (70.6%) were owner-occupied and 9,639 (29.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%; 73,518 people (71.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,519 people (28.5%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the census
of 2000, 44,282 people, 14,320 households, and 11,699 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 14,921 housing units averaged 525.6 per square mile (202.9/km). The
racial makeup of the city was 81.6% White, 3.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 6.0% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 17.5% of the population.
Of the 14,320 households, 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were not families. About 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.1 and the average family size was 3.4; 33.7% of the population of the city was under the age of 18, 6.4% were from 18 to 24, 30.8% were from 25 to 44, 17.6% were from 45 to 64, and 11.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $78,883, and the median income for a family was $90,930. Men had a median income of $49,107 versus $32,468 for women. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $23,290. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Crime
Murrieta was the safest city in Riverside County in 2012, and in 2009, Murrieta was listed as the second-safest city (over 100,000 in population) in the United States, behind
Irvine, California
Irvine () is a Planned community, planned city in central Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was named in 1888 for the landowner James Irvine. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the ...
.
Economy
Top employers
According to the city's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Arts and culture
The Town Square is the location of the Murrieta Police Department, Murrieta Public Library, City Hall, a senior center, and $2 million veterans memorial.
Parks and recreation
There are 52 parks in the city of Murrieta, including one community pool, one skate park, three sports parks, two dog parks, two disc golf courses, an equestrian park, and various natural areas.
Bear Creek Golf and Country Club was designed by
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus (; born January 21, 1940), nicknamed "the Golden Bear", is an American retired professional golfer and List of golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, golf course designer. He is widely considered to be one of the greate ...
, and Presidents
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...
and
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
have played there. The Golf Club at Rancho California was designed by
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Murrieta is also the site of the last operating
Mulligan Family Fun Center location, an
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
specializing in
miniature golf.
Government
In the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, Murrieta is in . In the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
, California is represented by Democrats
Alex Padilla
Alejandro Padilla (born March 22, 1973) is an American politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from California, a seat he has held since 2021. A member of the Democrati ...
and
Adam Schiff
Adam Bennett Schiff (born June 22, 1960) is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United States senator from California, a seat he has held since 2024. A m ...
.
In the
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of California, consisting of the California State Assembly (lower house with 80 members) and the California State Senate (upper house with 40 members). ...
, Murrieta is in , and in .
In the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Murrieta is in the Third District, represented by
Chuck Washington.
Education
The majority of the city of Murrieta is served by the
Murrieta Valley Unified School District
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District is the public school system in the city of Murrieta, California. It is the third largest public school district in Riverside County.
High schools
*Murrieta Mesa High School
*Murrieta Valley High Scho ...
(MVUSD). A portion is in the
Menifee Union School District and the
Perris Union High School District for grades 9–12.
[ ]
Text list
/ref>
The Murrieta district contains eleven elementary (K–5) schools, four middle (6–8) schools, three comprehensive high (9–12) schools (Murrieta Valley High School
Murrieta Valley High School (MVHS), colloquially known as MV or Murrieta, opened in 1990 as the first four-year comprehensive high school in Murrieta, California, United States. The school is nestled at the base of the Santa Rosa Plateau, at the ...
, Vista Murrieta High School
Vista Murrieta High School (VMHS) is a comprehensive, four-year high school located in Murrieta, California, United States. It is operated by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. It opened in August 2003, relieving the overcrowding at Mur ...
, Murrieta Mesa High School
Murrieta Mesa High School (MMHS) is a comprehensive, four-year high school located in Murrieta, California, United States. It is operated by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District is the publi ...
), one continuation school (Creekside High School), and one independent study school.
Calvary Chapel Bible College operated at the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort site from 1994 until 2022. Its affiliated private comprehensive (K-9) school at Calvary Chapel Murrieta also serves the Murrieta community. There had been a senior high school in the Calvary Chapel Murrieta system, but it closed in 2019. Mt. San Jacinto College is the nearest community college (with locations in Temecula and Menifee) and the University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside (UCR or UC Riverside) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Riverside, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of Cali ...
(UCR) is the nearest public university. The city is also home to a University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix (UoPX) is a Private university, private For-profit higher education in the United States, for-profit university headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 1976, the university confers certificates and degrees at the Ac ...
learning center and an Azusa Pacific University satellite campus.
Media
The area of southwest Riverside County is served by television station Channel 27, broadcast from a hilltop in Murrieta.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Murrieta is served by two major Interstate highways: I-15 runs through the western portion of the city while I-215 runs through the eastern portion. Historic U.S. Route 395 (Jefferson Avenue/Ivy Street/Washington Avenue) passes through the city's downtown, and State Route 79 (Winchester Road) defines much of the city's eastern border.
The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)'s Routes 23, 61, 205, and 206 provide bus transit to Murrieta.
The French Valley Airport, used for general aviation, is located just east of the city limits.
The city may become host to the high-speed rail
High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport network utilising trains that run significantly faster than those of traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated railway track, tracks. While there is ...
(HSR) that voters approved in 2008 with Prop 1A. The proposed HSR station is projected to handle 8,000 daily riders. The program-level HSR route alignment has placed this station near the I-15 and I-215 freeway interchange.
Public safety
The Murrieta Fire Department was an all-volunteer fire department for 38 years. In 1987, it became a municipal fire protection district. It has been the city's secondary paramedic service provider since 2000, AMR is the primary paramedic service provider. As of 2022, the department has five stations throughout the city, and operates a primary fleet of four type-1 engines, one quint-style truck, and two type-6 engines.
The Murrieta Police Department was founded in 1992. As of 2022, the department had about 100 sworn officers and approximately 50 support staff.
Hospitals
Murrieta is served by two hospitals: Loma Linda University Medical Center and Rancho Springs Medical Center.
Notable people
* Ambyr Childers, actress, raised in Murrieta
* Charlotte Rose Craig, Taekwondo Olympic Medalist in 2008
* Lindsay Davenport, professional tennis player and Olympic gold medalist, graduated from Murrieta Valley High School
Murrieta Valley High School (MVHS), colloquially known as MV or Murrieta, opened in 1990 as the first four-year comprehensive high school in Murrieta, California, United States. The school is nestled at the base of the Santa Rosa Plateau, at the ...
in 1994
* Meghan Dizon, professional pickleball player
* Rickie Fowler
Rick Yutaka Fowler (born December 13, 1988) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He was the number one World Amateur Golf Ranking, ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008. On January 24, 2016, he ...
, professional golfer
* Tyler Glenn and Christopher Allen of Neon Trees
* Javelin Guidry, professional football player
* Ben Jackson, professional Major League Gaming
Major League Gaming Corp. (MLG) was a professional esports organization based in New York City. Founded in 2002 by Sundance DiGiovanni and Mike Sepso, MLG held official video game tournaments throughout the United States and Canada. The ''Boos ...
player, originally from Murrieta
* Floyd Landis, disgraced cyclist, disqualified participant of the 2006 Tour de France, lives in Murrieta with his family when not racing or training
* Michael Norman, sprinter and Olympic Gold Medalist, ran track and graduated from Vista Murrieta High School
Vista Murrieta High School (VMHS) is a comprehensive, four-year high school located in Murrieta, California, United States. It is operated by the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. It opened in August 2003, relieving the overcrowding at Mur ...
* Ryan Navarro, American football player, raised in Murrieta and played football at Vista Murrieta High School
* Inbee Park, professional golfer, winner of five LPGA major championships
* Tom Pernice Jr., professional golfer and two-time winner on the PGA Tour
The PGA Tour (stylized as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champion ...
, lives in Murrieta
* Olivia Rodrigo, singer-songwriter and actress
* Kelly Seyarto, firefighter and politician, former mayor of Murrieta, member of the California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
from the District 67
* Tyler Wade, Major League Baseball player
* Tyree Washington, track athlete, world record holder in the 4×400 m relay and five-event IAAF World Championship gold medalist (1997, 2003 world; 2006 – world indoor)
* Patrick Wisdom, Major League Baseball player
See also
* Murrieta Hogbacks
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control
1991 establishments in California
Cities in Riverside County, California
Elsinore Trough
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1991