Norco

Luiseño people were the first inhabitants of the area. The city's name joins the words North and Corona. It comes from the North Corona Land Company.

The community held its grand opening on Mother's Day, May 13, 1923. It was incorporated as a city on December 28, 1964.

Horsetown USA is the city's motto, and Norco describes itself as a horse community. The city began promoting itself under that name in 2006 and received a federal trademark for it.

The look of the town follows from that. The city charter says the architecture should reflect a desired Western theme, described as rural, informal, traditional, rustic, low-profile and equestrian oriented. There are few sidewalks. Horse trails and hitching rails are common. Local groups include the Norco Horsemen's Association and the Norco Junior Horsemen's Association.

Norco became a charter city in 2003, partly to protect the right to keep animals. Since 2017 the city has also been home to Circle D Ranch, the horse training and housing facility used by Disneyland, which employs 60 people.

The Norco Fair is held every year over Labor Day weekend. It includes a rodeo, pageants and a pet parade. A Labor Day Parade runs down 6th Street.

Check the city's own website for this year's dates and schedule before planning a visit.

The city's 2025 annual financial report lists its biggest employers by number of workers. They are the Naval Surface Warfare Center with 2,077, the Corona-Norco Unified School District with 1,281, the California Rehabilitation Center with 1,034 and Norco College with 499.

Smaller employers on the same list include Target with 179, Quick Crete Products with 142, WinCo Foods with 128, the City of Norco with 123, E-Z Up Instant Shelters with 114 and Hemborg Ford with 106. The list is dominated by government, education and a few retail and manufacturing names.

Interstate 15 runs through the city. It connects Norco to San Diego to the south and to Ontario and Las Vegas to the north.

Riverside Transit Agency Route 3 runs north to Eastvale and south to the Corona Transit Center, which is about one mile south of the city limits. Metrolink rail service to Los Angeles and Orange County is available at the Corona-North Main station, on the 91/Perris Valley Line and the Inland Empire-Orange County Line.

The Corona-Norco Unified School District serves the city, and the district is one of its largest employers. Norco High School and Norco College are both in the city.