Riverside (Los Angeles, Orange, Redlands: smog, travel, work)

[Linda]

I am from Germany and don´t know Riverside. Please, can somebody help me along? Which district of Riverside has the zip code 92516? Which population lives here mainly? Could I live as German without problems in this district? Please, can somebody inform me about this district? Thank you!!

[fastfilm]

I'll start, and hope that people who live there chime in to help you. Riverside County was developed from farms and ranches more than 90 years ago when Los Angeles still had trains and other public tranportation to get there. Now it doesn't, but the lingering impression is that Riverside is more closely "related" to Los Angeles than many other counties next to it. For the record, virtually all of the Southern California basin is related, because there's very little open space between the innumerable cities that make up "Los Angeles."

Riverside's population is about half Hispanic and half everything else. It has been a popular destination for those who wish to own homes but can't afford anything in Los Angeles (as few can, realistically.) As the Hispanic population grows, it tends to dominate to the point where signs in English disappear. Be prepared to speak Spanish.

The area code you gave puts you in the middle of the city proper, next to a mall! Riverside can get very, very hot in the summertime, and has more of a smog problem than a lot of Los Angeles, because the prevailing winds from the industrial sections of L.A. blow west to east, ffrom the Pacific Ocean to the deserts, towards Riverside, for all but a few weeks of the year.

As with most of So. Calif., you will need a car for personal transportation. The urban sprawl was set up for, as I wrote, trains and trolleys that don't exist anymore. If you've driven your Autobahn, you should feel right at home on our freeways, exept that people are trying to drive that way in heavy traffic!

Once you are settled whereever you are living, studying or working in Riverside, you may wish to explore other areas of the Southland. Riverside is usually not considered the best that this area has to offer. All of So.Cal. has dangerous gangs that affect all people, not just their fellow gangmembers, and you must rely on your new neighbors where you live to help you and tell you where it's really okay and safe to travel. I add this because you didn't hint that you are moving to a richer, safer area like Redlands in Riverside county.

[guitardad]

Linda,

Although there are some nice areas in the zip that you mentioned, if you need to stay within a reasonable proximity to the Arlington area, I would probably suggest the Woodcrest/Orangecrest area (92508). As previously mentioned, it can get rather hot in the summer in the area, and Woodcrest sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, which is noticably cooler during the summer, with a nice afternoon breeze. Traffic is probably going to shock you until you get used to it, and you'll definitely need a car, but there is plenty to do and see in Southern California, and the weather really is some of the best weather in the nation. Stay out of the Casa Blanca neighborhood of Riverside, that's where most of the gang stuff is. I've lived in Riverside over 20 years without a problem. Good luck.

[grobin7569]

Guitardad, what are the best (reasonable) areas to look for in Riverside?

Thanks!