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University of California - Riverside
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University of California - Riverside - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Local Atmosphere

C+
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Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. The Mission Inn is a historic hotel in downtown Riverside. It is generally considered the center of the city and hosts a number of seasonal, holiday, and political functions, as well as other major social gatherings. Eight presidents have visited the Inn, including Ronald and Nancy Reagan, who honeymooned there, and Richard and Pat Nixon, who were married at one of the two wedding chapels.
  2. Twenty-five films have been shot, at least in part, in Riverside.
  3. The first two navel orange trees in the US were from Brazil and planted in Riverside in 1875. Virtually all navel oranges now grown in the US are offspring from these trees.
  4. The first public preview of "Gone with the Wind" was shown in the Fox Theatre in Riverside in 1939.
  5. The first prerelease screening of the controversial film "Birth of a Nation" was shown at the Loring Opera House.
  6. The March Field Air Museum in Riverside is home of the world's fastest manned airplane: the SR-71 Blackbird.
Notable Natives
  • Barry Bonds – baseball player
  • Don Imus – radio personality
  • Kellie Martin – actress
  • Reggie Miller – former NBA player
Local Slang
  • Hella: A synonym for "really," as in, "This food is hella good!"
  • So Cal: Southern California
Points of Interest
  • Benedict Castle
  • Castle Park
  • Downtown Riverside
  • Heritage House
  • Jensen Alvarado Ranch
  • Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center
  • Life Arts Center
  • March Field Air Museum
  • Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
  • Mount Rubidoux
  • Riverside Art Museum
  • Riverside County Philharmonic
  • Riverside Metropolitan Museum
  • Riverside Municipal Auditorium
  • UCR Botanical Gardens
  • UCR Sweeney Art Gallery
  • Victoria Avenue

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

While Riverside comes across as the smaller and less impressive cousin of Los Angeles, the city still has a charm all its own. Newcomers may find the historical aspects more entertaining than long-time residents, but sites like the Mission Inn keep the interest high. Riverside is a big city, almost sprawling, and there's not enough of a community to make newcomers feel especially welcome, but not uncomfortable, either. College students can usually be found sticking close to campus or in the immediate area, and those who do venture farther out are typically working in a part-time job or seeking some nighttime fun.

Outside of Riverside, Los Angeles can be an attractive option, but California's infamous traffic may cause some to seek less populated options. For sheer proximity, Moreno Valley and Corona are good choices for familiarity, but clubbers and gamblers are advised to seek districts like Orange County or Temecula. Although a viable option all year-round, Lake Arrowhead and the beach cities are especially attractive choices for retreats in the winter and summer, respectively. The Student Recreation Center actually offers group weekend getaways through the Outdoor Excursions program. Through these planned trips, students can snowboard, kayak, horseback, swim, and rock climb throughout Southern California at a discounted rate. Sometimes the center even has vouchers for amusement parks like Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Six Flags. Overall, students can find plenty of entertainment either in Riverside or its surrounding areas.

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UC Riverside Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Riverside

Pattysegura17

Sociology '14

3.1
B-

What to Do at UC Riverside!

Riverside is a deserted city, with not much to do but enough for a college student to have fun in. Right next to campus, there is the University Village, which has a movie theatre and places to dine. About 15 minutes away there are two malls, which is great for the girls! The parties are fun, but you have to stick with friends to stay safe.

Apr 30, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Riverside

iceey93

Sociology '15

3.5
B

Surrounding Riverside Area

Close to campus there are many appartments where mostly students live, but it is a little ghetto and some people have experianced being robbed. If you go up university the University Village is cool and nice, but if you keep going up the street more there is not much but random fast food places. The banck and supper market is pretty close though. You have to drive a little to get to the mall.

Mar 29, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at University of California - Riverside

luzparana

Political Science and Government '15

2.7
C+

Not Much to Do

Riverside trough my eyes isen't so fun. Thats if you do not have a car. theirs more things to do but at a distance from campus.

Mar 02, 2012

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Page 1 of 12
User rating for University of California - Riverside - Local Atmosphere is 3.5 out of 5 based on 34 user reviews.

Photos of University of California - Riverside's Local Atmosphere

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University of California - Riverside - Riverside PlazaRiverside Plaza
Photo by keyclubfreeeek
Riverside Plaza Riverside Plaza contains the closest Border's and various stores and restaurants such as the California Pizza Kitchen.
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University of California - Riverside - The UCR Bell TowerThe UCR Bell Tower
Photo by UCR1
The UCR Bell Tower Standing tall since 1966, the UCR Bell Tower is located in the center of campus in all of its glory. The 161-foot tower also plays music at noon every day.
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Photo by UCR1
University of California - Riverside - WinCoWinCo
Photo by keyclubfreeeek
WinCo WinCo is actually in Moreno Valley (a nearby city), but it is one of the cheaper options for groceries.
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Photo by keyclubfreeeek

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Canyon Crest Towne Centre
  • Fiesta Discount Mall
  • Galleria at Tyler
  • University Village
Major Sports Teams
  • Los Angeles Dodgers: MLB
  • Los Angeles Galaxy: MLS (soccer)
  • Los Angeles Kings: NHL
  • Los Angeles Lakers: NBA
City Web Sites www.ci.riverside.ca.us
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Los Angeles: : 1 hour, 15 minutes
  • San Diego: : 1 hour, 30 minutes
Did You Know?
  • In 2011, Riverside was named one of the top "Digital Cities" in the United States.
  • In 2012, Riverside was chosen for a "Smart21 Communities" award, which recognizes the top 21 tech-savvy cities worldwide. Riverside was one of only six US cities to receive the recognition.
  • Riverside is ranked as the 12th largest city in California and the sixth largest city in Southern California; it has a population of more than 300,000 residents.

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC Tyler 16
3775 Tyler St.
Riverside
(888) 262-4386

Mission Grove 18
121 E. Alessandro Blvd.
Riverside
(909) 789-8483

Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16
3535 Riverside Plaza Drive
Riverside
(951) 784-4600

Regency University Village 10
1201A University Ave.
Riverside
(909) 784-4342

Van Buren Drive-In Theatre
3035 Van Buren Blvd.
Riverside
(951) 688-2360

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Hayley Cruz
Hometown
Riverside
Major
English
Grad Year
2013

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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