Eastvale, California, United States

🇺🇸 Eastvale is a city in north-western Riverside County, California, in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. The area transitioned from a dairy farm enclave to a developed community starting in the 1990s and was incorporated on October 1, 2010. The city's name is derived from "East Vale" as a listed school district in 1893 by the Riverside County Board of Commissioners.

City boundaries extend from Hellman Avenue to the west (the San Bernardino County line), State Route 60 to the north (also the San Bernardino County line), the Santa Ana River and Norco to the south, and Interstate 15 to the east. It is surrounded by the cities of Chino, Ontario, Jurupa Valley, Norco, and Corona.

The city is served by the Corona Norco Unified School District. According to the 2020 United States Census, Eastvale has a median household income at one of the top earning percentiles in the country at $151,615.

History Recorded history of land in the far western side of present-day Riverside County and north of the Santa Ana River begins in 1838, when Mexican Governor Juan Alvarado, of the Alta California territory, granted Rancho Jurupa (some 48 square miles) to Juan Bandini. The city of Eastvale now occupies approximately the westernmost one-quarter of former Rancho Jurupa land grant. The Mexican–American War between the United States and Mexico ended in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, by which Mexico ceded Alta California and much other Southwestern land to the US. Two years later, on September 9, 1850, California became a U.S. state.

For 65 years, between 1889 and 1954, the Fuller family owned about 6 square miles of ranch land on the north side of the Santa Ana River. Almost half of present-day Eastvale, between Schleisman Road and the river, was included within the Fuller ranch's boundaries.

Eastvale, often spelled with two words as "East Vale" in early days, was an elementary school district in Riverside County for more than 50 years, from County formation in 1893 until 1947 when the district was merged with Corona and Norco schools.

History: Recent Once a rural area, Eastvale was predominantly dairy farms and agricultural until the late 1990s. At that time, the area started to suburbanize to accommodate the influx of people coming from Orange and Los Angeles counties seeking more affordable housing.

Incorporation effort

Eastvale was one of several unincorporated areas of Riverside County that had strong community support for city incorporation. The passage of AB 1602 in the mid-2000s, a state bill that adds funds from vehicle license fees, made it easier for unincorporated areas to attain cityhood. In 2008, the communities of Menifee, Sun City and Quail Valley merged and incorporated as the City of Menifee. The law also brought renewed interest in incorporation efforts for Mira Loma and Jurupa Valley (Mira Loma, Pedley, Glen Avon, Sunnyslope, and Rubidoux).

The community of Eastvale actively attempted to incorporate from the mid-2000s through 2010. The incorporation effort was being led by the Eastvale Incorporation Committee. Other groups were also proponents of Eastvale cityhood, such as the Yes on Eastvale Cityhood Committee.

The Eastvale Incorporation Committee successfully gathered enough signatures to qualify on the June 8, 2010. "Measure A" was placed on the ballot deciding incorporation. “Measure B” would decide how the city council would be elected: at large, by district, or from district. Measure A passed with 65.8% of voters approving incorporation. Eastvale officially incorporated on October 1, 2010. Voters also decided that the city council would be elected at large. Eastvale's first city council members were Ike Bootsma, Jeff DeGrandpre, Kelly Howell, Adam Rush, and Ric Welch. The council selected Adam Rush as Eastvale's first mayor.

Geography The Los Angeles County line is approximately 8 miles north-west of Eastvale, and the Orange County line is approximately 5 miles to the southwest. The proximity of these two heavily commercialized counties, and the fact that Eastvale is roughly squared between Interstate 15 and State Routes 91, 60, and 71, has made Eastvale popular for those who commute to these counties for employment, making Eastvale a commuter town.

According to the Eastvale area plan, Eastvale has a total area of 13.1 square miles (34 km²), of which 12.5 square miles (32 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), or 4.76%, is water.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the former place of Eastvale covered an area of 11.4 square miles (30 km²), 99.65% of it land, and 0.35% of it water.

Eastvale has two postal ZIP codes, 92880 and 91752, which often use mailing addresses of Corona and Mira Loma, respectively.

Most of Eastvale, like most of western Riverside County, has the telephone area code of 951. However, according to the California Public Utilities Commission, because the 951 area code was split along telephone service areas and not strictly along county boundaries, some Eastvale residents still retain the older 909 area code.

Demographics Eastvale first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census; and as a city in the 2020 U.S. Census. As of the 2020 United States census, Eastvale had a population of 69,757. The city's racial makeup was 26.5% (18,480) White (19.5% Non-Hispanic white), 30.1% (20,983) Asian, 9.1% (6,358) Black or African American, 0.2% (208) Pacific Islander, 0.2% (650) Native American, 12.8% (11,088) of other races, and 8.1% (11,990) from two or more races. 37.5% (26,164) of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Economy: Top employers According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city include: 1 Amazon Fulfillment Center - LGB3; 2 Walmart Distribution Center; 3 Corona-Norco Unified School District; 4 Costco; 5 Ingram Micro; 6 Grainger Inc.; 7 Home Depot; 8 Komar Distribution Services; 9 Kohl's; 10 Albertsons.

City government Eastvale's first city council was elected on June 8, 2010, a few months before it was officially incorporated: Adam Rush, Ric Welch, Kelly Howell, Ike C. Bootsma, and Jeff DeGrandpre. Former mayor Jocelyn Yow is the youngest woman of color to ever serve as mayor of a California city.

Federal, State, and County government In the United States House of Representatives, Eastvale is split between California's 35th congressional district, and California's 41st congressional district.

In the California State Senate, Eastvale is in the 31st senatorial district.

In the California State Assembly, Eastvale is split between the 58th Assembly district, and the 63rd Assembly district.

In the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, Eastvale is in the Second District.

Community A committee of concerned Eastvale residents, the Eastvale Community Committee (ECC), was formed so that issues facing the growing community would be addressed. Formed in 2002, the ECC holds public meetings with county representatives, utility operators, law enforcement agencies, local school representatives, and local business owners. A group of volunteer residents publishes a summary of the meetings and other articles in the quarterly Eastvale Edition which is mailed to most residents and is also available online.

A separate project, Eastvale Events, encourages community involvement by developing and coordinating community events. Eastvale Picnic in the Park, Eastvale Holiday Showcase, and Eastvale Fall Festival are a few of the sponsored events.

Education Eastvale is a part of the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

Elementary schools • Clara Barton Elementary School • Harada Elementary School • Ronald Reagan Elementary School • Rosa Parks Elementary School • Eastvale Elementary School • Rondo School of Discovery • Academy of Innovation (in and around Eastvale); Intermediate schools • River Heights Intermediate School • Dr. Augustine Ramirez Intermediate School; High schools • Eleanor Roosevelt High School.