History | City Of Menifee

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About Menifee

The City of Menifee is located in southwestern Riverside County, approximately 30 miles southeast of the City of Riverside, California. The city covers approximately 50 square miles and has a population of 91,902.

Interstate 215 runs north to south through the center of Menifee, with community commercial areas located primarily along Newport, Bradley, and McCall Roads.

Surrounding Communities

The City of Menifee includes the communities of Sun City, Quail Valley, and portions of Romoland. The city is generally bordered on the north, west, and south by the following cities:

• Canyon Lake
• Lake Elsinore
• Murrieta

• Perris
• Wildomar

To the east and northeast, the city borders unincorporated county territory.

History of Menifee Roads

In the 1940s, many of the Menifee roads that you see today were given family names. These names can be traced back to early settlers who owned property in specific locations. The list of Menifee roads has a unique history and remains a part of the city's culture today.

Learn more about the history of Menifee's roads.

Early Inhabitants

The area was originally inhabited by the Luiseno and Pechanga Indian tribes. In the 1700s, the land fell under the rule of the Spanish empire before being annexed by the United States in 1850 as part of California’s statehood.

Farming activity began in the mid-1800s, while mining operations started in the early 1880s with the discovery of a significant quartz lode by miner Luther Menifee Wilson. The city’s name derives from this mining operation.

Early Development

The early development of Menifee began in the 1960s with Sun City, an active retirement community envisioned by Del Webb, a major building contractor from Phoenix, Arizona. Sun City remains centrally located within Menifee and features a mix of residential and commercial activity.

Growth continued in 1989 with the master-planned community of Menifee Lakes, making Menifee one of California’s fastest-growing cities. Other notable areas include Quail Valley, a semi-rural residential community in the northwest, and Romoland, a residential and commercial district in the northeast.

Schools

Educational services in Menifee are provided by multiple school districts:

• Menifee Union School District – Elementary & middle schools
• Romoland School District – Elementary & middle schools
• Perris Union High School District – High schools

The city is also home to Mt. San Jacinto College, which serves Menifee, Temecula, and Murrieta.

Incorporation of the City

On June 3, 2008, residents voted to incorporate Menifee as Riverside County’s 26th city. The City of Menifee was officially established on October 1, 2008.

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13. State of the City
14. History of Menifee Roads
15. Senate Bill (SB1)
16. Quality of Life Measure DD

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