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Canyon Lake
City of Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake City Hall
Canyon Lake City Hall
Location in Riverside County and the state of California
Location in Riverside County and the state of California
Canyon Lake is located in the United States
Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County Riverside
Incorporated December 1, 1990
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
Area
 • Total 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2)
 • Land 3.92 sq mi (10.15 km2)
 • Water 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2)  15.92%
Elevation
1,384 ft (422 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,082
 • Estimate 
(2022)
11,142
 • Density 2,827.76/sq mi (1,091.82/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
92587
Area code 951
FIPS code 06-10928
GNIS feature IDs 1668254, 2409979
Canyon Lake South
Entry monument to the Canyon Lake gated community
The Canyon Lake Lodge
Canyon Lake Lodge

Canyon Lake is a city and gated community in Riverside County, California, United States, located on Canyon Lake reservoir. Canyon Lake began as a master-planned community developed by the Corona Land Company in 1968. The City of Canyon Lake was incorporated on December 1, 1990. Railroad Canyon Dam was built in 1927, and impounds the San Jacinto River to fill the reservoir, which covers 383 acres (1.55 km2) and has 14.9 miles (24.0 km) of shoreline.

History

Etymology

The city of Canyon Lake is named after the reservoir it is built around. Initially, the reservoir was known as Railroad Canyon Reservoir, or Railroad Canyon Lake, but now the reservoir and the community are referred to by the shortened form, Canyon Lake.

Early history

In 1882, the California Southern Railroad built a line from Perris to Elsinore along the east side of the San Jacinto River. The Santa Fe Railroad bought the line and joined it with their line in San Bernardino. Floods in 1884, 1916, and 1927 washed out the tracks, and the Santa Fe Railroad decided to abandon the line. Soon after the last flood, the Temescal Water Company bought the railroad right-of-way, as well as 1,000 acres (400 ha) from Henry Evans, a rancher, and another land from B.T. Kuert. Those were the two parcels that make up most of Canyon Lake today.

Construction started in 1927 to build a dam across the river to store water. It was finished in 1929. Railroad Canyon Reservoir, when built, was one of the largest freshwater lakes for fishing, hunting, and camping in Southern California. The reservoir and the surrounding area were leased as a concession from Temescal Water Company as a recreational area under the operation of the George D. Evans family from 1937 until after World War II. After the war Ray and Alpha Schekel, along with John and Darleen Kirkland, operated the resort until 1949 when the lake was drained for repairs to the floodgates.

Community development

In 1968 the Corona Land Development Company developed the new community.

Canyon Lake began as a master-planned community developed by Corona Land Company in 1968, consisting of 4,801 lots.

Geography

The city of Canyon Lake is located east of Lake Elsinore and west of Menifee, in the southern foothills of the Temescal Mountains. The mountain range is on the western edge of the Perris Block and east of the Elsinore Fault Zone.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km2) or 2,017 acres (816 ha), of which 3.9 square miles (10 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (15.92%) is water. The lake has 14.9 miles (24.0 km) of shoreline.

Reservoir

The community is named for Canyon Lake reservoir, also known as the Railroad Canyon Reservoir, which it surrounds. The reservoir, created in 1928 with the construction of the Railroad Canyon Dam, covers approximately 525 acres (212 ha), has 14.9 miles (24.0 km) of shoreline, and has a storage capacity of 11,586 acre⋅ft (14,291,000 m3). It is owned and operated by the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

The reservoir is supplied by stormwater runoff from the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. Water from the reservoir feeds the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant, which provides approximately 10% of the domestic water supply in the Lake Elsinore/Canyon Lake area.

Demographics

Demographic profile 2020 2010 2000 1990 1980
White 79.4% 89.9% 92.9% 95.8% 98.5%
—Non-Hispanic 74.7% 81.7% 87.2% 91.6% 95.5%
Black or African American 1.8% 1.2% 0.7% 1.3% 0.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 15.1% 12.3% 8.5% 5.6% 3.4%
Asian 2.4% 1.7% 1.5% 1.1% -
Native American 0.4% 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% -
Historical population
Census Pop.
1980 2,039
1990 7,938 289.3%
2000 9,952 25.4%
2010 10,561 6.1%
2020 11,082 4.9%
2022 (est.) 11,142 5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

Historically, Canyon Lake has been predominantly non-Hispanic white since its founding. However, in recent decades, more Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians have moved into the city. The proportion of non-Hispanic whites has decreased from 95.5% in 1980 to 74.7% in 2020. Canyon Lake's non-Hispanic white percentage is higher than the California statewide average (36.8%) and the national average of 60.4%.

2020

The 2020 United States Census reported that Canyon Lake had a population of 11,082.

The racial makeup of Canyon Lake was 80.0% White (74.9% Non-Hispanic White), 1.2% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.2% Asian American, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 14.2% from other races, and 8.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.9%.

21.8% of the population was under the age of 18, and 17.6% of the population was 65 years of age or older.

The 2020 census listed median income in Canyon Lake at $120,118 with 6.4% of residents living below the poverty line.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Canyon Lake had a population of 10,561. The population density was 2,260.8 inhabitants per square mile (872.9/km2). The racial makeup of Canyon Lake was 9,495 (89.9%) White (81.7% Non-Hispanic White), 128 (1.2%) Black or African American, 61 (0.6%) Native American, 190 (1.8%) Asian American, 36 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 316 (3.0%) from other races, and 335 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,303 persons (12.3%).

The Census reported that 10,552 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,935 households, out of which 1,298 (33.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,510 (63.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 341 (8.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 202 (5.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 214 (5.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 27 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 658 households (16.7%) were made up of individuals, and 311 (7.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 3,053 families (77.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.99.

The population was spread out, with 2,287 people (21.7%) under the age of 18, 835 people (7.9%) aged 18 to 24, 2,304 people (21.8%) aged 25 to 44, 3,332 people (31.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,803 people (17.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

There were 4,532 housing units at an average density of 970.2 per square mile (374.6/km2), of which 3,245 (82.5%) were owner-occupied, and 690 (17.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.1%. 8,443 people (79.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,109 people (20.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Canyon Lake had a median household income of $74,133, with 5.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,952 people, 3,643 households, and 2,939 families residing in this city. The population density was 2,485.9 inhabitants per square mile (959.8/km2). There were 4,047 housing units at an average density of 1,010.9 per square mile (390.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.9% White (87.9% Non-Hispanic White), 0.8% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. 8.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,643 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $70,106, and the median income for a family was $72,317. Males had a median income of $57,413 versus $36,016 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,646. About 3.0% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

Education

There are no public schools in Canyon Lake. K-12 students who live in Canyon Lake attend schools operated by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District (LEUSD).

Public library

The Riverside County Library System (RCLS) operates a library branch in Canyon Lake. Previously located inside the city hall, the Canyon Lake Library opened in a larger standalone location in August 2021.

Security

All gates are staffed 24 hours a day by a community patrol contracted by US Security Associates. Access is granted to outsiders by sponsorship from a property owner or renter who calls in their guests to a 24-hour answer line. Since becoming an incorporated city in 1990, Canyon Lake has its own police department (through a contract with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, out of the Lake Elsinore Station), as well as the private security services.

In recent years, specialized code enforcement officers have also maintained patrols of the approximately 20-acre (8.1 ha) parcel of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management which encompasses the eastern shore of the lake in its upper reaches. The trail running north along the eastern shore of the lake has become an inviting activity for hikers and birdwatchers, particularly in the winter months when the hills are green and temperatures lower. Canyon Lake forbids all public use of any "two-wheeled motorized vehicle" (that is, all motorcycles, mopeds, and dirt bikes) on all private streets throughout the CLPOA, but excluding the two public roads (Railroad Canyon and Goetz Roads).

Transportation

Canyon Lake is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Interstate 15 and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Interstate 215. Railroad Canyon Road is the main public road in Canyon Lake, providing direct access to the neighboring cities of Lake Elsinore and Menifee. Goetz Road connects the eastern portion of Canyon Lake to the community of Quail Valley and the city of Perris.

See also

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