Cherry Valley, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherry Valley, California
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Location in Riverside County and the state of California
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 Cherry Valley, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.02 sq mi (20.77 km2) |
| • Land | 8.02 sq mi (20.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 2,821 ft (860 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,509 |
| • Density | 811.60/sq mi (313.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
92223
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| Area code(s) | 951 |
| FIPS code | 06-12916 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1660476, 2408019 |
Cherry Valley is a special kind of community in Riverside County, California. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a place with a name and people, but it's not officially a city. In 2020, about 6,509 people lived there.
Cherry Valley is located at the very northwest end of the San Gorgonio Pass. The area got its name because many cherry trees were planted there a long time ago. While most of these trees have been replaced by homes, you can still spot a few in people's backyards.
Contents
History of Cherry Valley
In the early 1800s, this area was known as Rancho San Gorgonio. It was an outpost for the San Gabriel Mission. A large part of the land was given to Paulino Weaver by the Spanish government.
In 1853, Paulino Weaver sold some of his land to Dr. Isaac William Smith. Dr. Smith loved the natural beauty of the area. He bought 1,000 acres for $1,000 and started Smith Ranch. This ranch is now known as Highland Springs Ranch & Inn. The original house where Dr. Smith lived was near where the swimming pool is today.
In 1862, Smith's ranch became "Smith Station." It was an important stop for stagecoaches. These were like old-time buses that carried passengers and mail. From 1864 to 1866, the route through Highland Springs was the only way to travel between Southern California and the eastern parts of the country. Even a young Wyatt Earp, a famous lawman, drove a stagecoach route that stopped at Smith Station in 1865.
Smith Station slowly grew into a busy hotel. In 1884, a company from Los Angeles bought the property. They built a big three-story hotel called Highland Home. This is where the first cherry trees were planted, which helped give the area its name.
In 1927, Fred and William Hirsch bought the old Smith place. They renamed it Highland Springs Resort. They turned it into a health resort. Fred Hirsch believed in healthy eating and natural remedies. The resort's restaurant served only vegetarian food. Hirsch even grew many of the fruits and vegetables served there. He also grew grapes and had a small vineyard. The resort became known as "The Last Resort" because many sick people who couldn't get better with regular medicine found health there. From 1941 to 1945, during World War 2, the site was used as a large medical treatment center called Cherry Valley Hospital.
Geography and Climate
Cherry Valley is located at 33°58′29″N 116°58′13″W / 33.97472°N 116.97028°W. It sits about 2,980 feet (860 meters) above sea level. This makes it the highest point on the San Gorgonio Pass. This pass is a natural pathway between San Bernardino and Palm Springs.
The community covers an area of about 8.1 square miles (20.77 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Climate in Cherry Valley
Cherry Valley has a "hot-summer Mediterranean climate." This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It's similar to the climate found around the Mediterranean Sea.
People of Cherry Valley
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 5,891 | — | |
| 2010 | 6,362 | 8.0% | |
| 2020 | 6,509 | 2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the population of Cherry Valley was 6,509 people. The community has grown over the years. In 2000, there were 5,891 people, and in 2010, there were 6,362 people.
Most people in Cherry Valley live in homes. In 2010, about 97.5% of the population lived in households. Many people own their homes in Cherry Valley.
Cherry Valley tried to become an official city in the 1990s and early 2000s, but it was not successful.
Things to Do
Parks and Recreation
Parks and fun activities in Cherry Valley are managed by the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District. They help provide places for people to play and relax.
Places to Visit
- The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens is a special place to visit. It has beautiful art and objects from Europe and Asia, dating from the late 1500s to the early 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Cherry Valley (California) para niños
