Local guidesLake Elsinore & Perris ValleyPerris
Perris
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, about 71 miles east-southeast of Los Angeles, with a population of 78,700 at the 2020 census.
Where is Perris, and what is it like?
Perris is in Riverside County, about 71 miles east-southeast of Los Angeles and 81 miles north of San Diego. The 2020 census counted 78,700 people. The city sits at an elevation of 1,453 feet (443 m) and covers 31.64 square miles, of which only 0.11 square miles is water.
The climate is Mediterranean, with long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Average annual rainfall is 10.42 inches, and most of it falls in winter. Snow is negligible. The city uses a council-manager form of government.
How did Perris begin?
Native Americans lived in the hills around the valley. Spanish and Mexican miners later found gold there. The modern town came with the railroad. The California Southern Railroad ran between Barstow and San Diego, and Perris grew up around a new depot on that line.
A land title dispute at nearby Pinacate pushed most residents to move about two miles north along the tracks. They founded Perris in 1885. The city is named for Fred T. Perris, the railroad's chief engineer.
Perris was first part of San Diego County. It moved to the new Riverside County in 1892, and the city incorporated on May 26, 1911. The Perris Depot has been documented in the Historic American Buildings Survey held by the Library of Congress.
What is Perris known for?
Skydiving is the best-known activity. Perris Valley Airport is privately owned and has a runway of 5,100 feet. Perris Valley Skydiving operates from there, and the area has been nicknamed the skydiving capital of America.
The Southern California Railway Museum has more than 200 streetcars, locomotives and other rolling stock. The Southern California Fair has been held at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds since 1987. Rock Castle stands on a hill above the town.
The Farmer Boys restaurant chain was founded in Perris in 1981. In 2005 the National Archives opened a regional records facility for its Pacific Region in the city.
What businesses and employers are in Perris?
Distribution centers, retail and schools are the largest employers. They include Ross Stores, the Val Verde Unified School District, the Perris Union High School District, the Lowe's Distribution Center and the Home Depot Distribution Center.
The Perris Elementary School District has 701 employees, NFI Industries 612, the Eastern Municipal Water District 600, the Walmart Supercenter 430 and CR and R Waste 238.
How do you get around Perris?
Interstate 215 runs north and south through the city, from Murrieta to San Bernardino. State Route 74 runs west toward Lake Elsinore and Orange County, and east toward the San Jacinto and Coachella valleys.
Rail service returned in June 2016, when the Metrolink 91 Perris Valley Line was extended from Riverside to Perris. It has two stops, Perris Downtown and Perris South.
What schools does Perris have?
Several districts serve the city in whole or in part. They are Perris Elementary, Perris Union High, Romoland Elementary, Menifee Union and Val Verde Unified.
Perris High School was established in 1887 and was the city's first public school. It moved to a new site in 1961. Citrus Hill High School and Orange Vista High School are in the Val Verde district. The middle schools are Pinacate, Lakeside, Perris and Tomas Rivera, and the city has ten elementary schools.
What is there to do in Perris?
Lake Perris State Recreation Area covers over 8,800 acres. It offers boating, camping, fishing, swimming, and hiking, biking and horseback trails. The Lake Perris Fairgrounds host the Southern California Fair.
Rail fans visit the railway museum, and skydivers come to the airport. Both are described above.
Find a local business in Perris
Perris is covered by the Lake Elsinore & Perris Valley guide. Start with the businesses in Perris itself, or look across the whole guide by what they do.
Businesses in PerrisQuestions about Perris
- What county is Perris in?
- Perris is in Riverside County, California. It was part of San Diego County until 1892.
- How many people live in Perris?
- The 2020 census counted 78,700 people.
- Who is Perris named after?
- It is named for Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad.
- Is there train service in Perris?
- Yes. The Metrolink 91 Perris Valley Line reached Perris in June 2016, with stops at Perris Downtown and Perris South.
- What is the Southern California Railway Museum?
- It is a museum in Perris with more than 200 streetcars, locomotives and other rolling stock.
- When was Perris incorporated?
- Perris incorporated on May 26, 1911.
- Is there a local business directory for Perris?
- Yes. Perris is covered by the Lake Elsinore & Perris Valley guide from Local Business America. It lists local businesses in Perris and the towns around it, and it is free to read.
- How do I list my business in Perris?
- Open the Lake Elsinore & Perris Valley guide and choose Claim your listing. If your business is not there yet, choose List your business. Claiming is free, and a person checks each claim.
- What does a business listing in Perris cost?
- Every business has a free listing with opening hours, a map and a link to your website. Essentials is $19 a month and adds a photo gallery, an enquiry form and your Google reviews. Premium is $39 a month and adds a boost to the top of your category and a do-follow link to your website.