Inland Empire (California)

For residents of Southern California, the Inland Empire is a popular informal name for a region located at the eastern end of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. The Inland Empire is centered on the oldest cities in the region: (in no particular order) Ontario, San Bernardino, Redlands, Upland, and Riverside. These cities were established at about the end of the 19th century and were major centers of agriculture including citrus, dairy, and wine-making. The name "Inland Empire" was first used in the 1950s to distinguish the region from the communities of the Los Angeles area, and the City of Los Angeles itself.

Related Topics:
Southern California - Ontario - San Bernardino - Redlands - Upland - Riverside - 1950s - Los Angeles

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The "Inland" part of the name is derived from the region's location about 50 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean (from Huntington Beach) and east of downtown Los Angeles. There is no definite defined physical boundary between the L.A. area and the Inland Empire, though the San Gabriel mountains act as a partial border. Between the Los Angeles area and the Inland Empire there was limited development (if any) and so, until about the 1970's, this relatively open, rural space between two 'developed' regions served as a convenient boundary. However, since then rapidly growing population and, therefore, residential, commercial, and industrial development, has led to cities being established in this rural, 'intermediate' area. Interconnectivity provided by a vast automobile-oriented transportation network, including perhaps one of the most comprehensive freeway systems in the United States, has further eroded any real or perceived boundary. The best boundary might simply be considered to be the county line that separates Los Angeles County and San Bernardino/Riverside Counties. Also, the vegetation and climate changes from the coastal to desert regions can act as boundary, though a less precisely defined one than the county lines.

Related Topics:
Huntington Beach - San Gabriel mountains

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More recently, the name has also been used to distinguish the area from the coastal communities of Orange County which are located to the west of the Inland Empire and south of Los Angeles County. However, because of the Santa Ana Mountains, the boundary between Orange County and the Inland Empire is more clear and obvious.

Related Topics:
Orange County - Los Angeles County

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