Sun City, Menifee, California facts for kids
Sun City is a neighborhood in the city of Menifee, California in Riverside County, California. It used to be its own separate community. On October 1, 2008, Sun City joined with nearby areas like Quail Valley and Menifee to form the new City of Menifee.
In 2000, when Sun City was still a separate place, about 17,773 people lived there. It is located right next to Interstate 215, just south of Perris. As of 2022, about 26,987 people live in Sun City.
Sun City is a special kind of community designed for people over 55 years old. It covers about four square miles. It has a public golf course, two recreation centers with tennis courts, and swimming pools. There's also a shopping area with supermarkets and restaurants. The idea for Sun City started in 1960. It was the second retirement community created by Del Webb, a famous builder. Construction began in December 1961. This Sun City in Southern California was one of four "Sun Cities" that Del Webb personally helped design.
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A Look Back: Sun City's History
Sun City began in an area known as the Perris Valley. This valley got its name in 1885 when the town of Perris was founded. A new railroad connected Perris to cities like Barstow and San Diego. For a long time, the valley was mostly quiet farmland.
In 1957, a land developer named Richard Rand bought a large ranch. He hoped to build a community called Ransdale, but his plans didn't go very far.
Then, in 1959, Del Webb arrived. He had a new idea for communities where older people could stay active. His first "Sun City" in Arizona was very successful. So, he looked for more land in Southern California. He wanted a sunny place that was about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles. Webb bought many large pieces of land from Rand and other farmers. He ended up buying 14,000 acres!
Key Moments in Sun City's Growth
- 1961: Work began in December to prepare the land for Sun City. The goal was to open by June 1962.
- 1962: The Kings Inn motel and restaurant was built. When Sun City opened in June, the main Civic Center was ready. Model homes were built, and the golf course was almost ready for play. About 100,000 visitors came, and 272 homes were sold in just three days! A shopping center opened nearby in July. The first church, United Church Sun City, also opened. An outdoor theater was built too.
- 1963: The town's first gas station opened. The Kings Inn added more rooms. The Cherry Hills Golf Course opened for play.
- 1964: About 3,500 people were living in Sun City. A bank was built in the shopping center. The shopping center also started to get bigger. A second gas station opened.
- 1965: Another bank, Bank of America, opened. The new part of the shopping center was finished. A major road, McCall Boulevard, was built. The United Church Sun City built its own church building.
- 1966: McCall Boulevard was extended further east. Two new gas stations were built. The only Catholic church, St. Vincent Ferrer, opened.
- 1967: U.S. Highway 395 was improved and became a freeway. Bradley Road was also extended. A retirement community called Sun City Gardens was built. A medical building opened nearby. The first mobile home park, Bel Air Mobile Estates, began construction.
- 1968: The current Sun City Post Office was built. A 7-Eleven store opened. Two more gas stations opened.
- 1969: The entire Sun City Civic Association, including its swimming pool and outdoor theater, was completed.
- 1970: The population reached 5,519 people.
- 1971: The first homes on the east side of U.S. Highway 395 were built.
- 1974: Del Webb, the founder of Sun City, passed away.
- 1975: A second golf course, the North Golf Course, opened. A new shopping plaza, the Bel Air Strip Plaza, was built.
- 1976: Another bank, United California Bank, opened.
- 1980: The population grew to 8,460 people.
- 1990: The population reached 14,390.
- 1994: The Sun City Library moved into a larger building.
Where is Sun City?
Sun City is located at 33°42′29″N 117°11′56″W / 33.708°N 117.199°W.
The area of Sun City is about 7.8 square miles (20.2 square kilometers). It's all land, with no large bodies of water inside its boundaries.
Sun City's Weather
The climate in Sun City is called "dry-summer subtropical," which is also known as a "Mediterranean climate." This means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Sun City, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
69 (21) |
72 (22) |
79 (26) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
95 (35) |
85 (29) |
76 (24) |
69 (21) |
83 (28) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36 (2) |
39 (4) |
41 (5) |
44 (7) |
50 (10) |
54 (12) |
59 (15) |
59 (15) |
57 (14) |
49 (9) |
40 (4) |
34 (1) |
48 (9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.7 (69) |
3.2 (81) |
2 (51) |
0.7 (18) |
0.3 (7.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.2 (5.1) |
0.2 (5.1) |
0.2 (5.1) |
0.7 (18) |
1 (25) |
11.2 (280) |
| Source: Weatherchannel | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Sun City?
Sun City has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 5,519 | — | |
| 1980 | 8,460 | 53.3% | |
| 1990 | 14,390 | 70.1% | |
| 2000 | 17,773 | 23.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, when Sun City was counted as a separate community, there were 17,773 people living there. Most people in Sun City are older adults, especially those 65 years and older. In fact, more than half of the population was 65 or older at that time. Sun City is known for having many senior citizens.
Most of the homes in Sun City are owned by the people who live in them. The median value of a home with a mortgage was about $342,650.
