The City of Menifee is located in southwestern Riverside County approximately 30 miles southeast of the
City of Riverside, California. The city encompasses approximately 50 square miles with an overall population
of 85,385.
Interstate 215 traverses north and south through the center of Menifee, with existing community commercial areas located primarily along Newport, Bradley, and McCall Roads off of I-215.
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
cities of:
To the east and northeast, the city border sunincorporated county territory.
Early Inhabitants
The area was originally inhabited by the Luiseno and Pechanga Indian tribes, and in the 1700s, the area fell under the rule of the Spanish empire. The area was eventually annexed into the United States from Mexico in 1850 under California's statehood.
Farming activity beginning in the mid-1800s was concentrated in the Menifee area. Mining activity began in the early 1880s with the discovery of a significant quartz lode by miner Luther Menifee Wilson. Menifee derived its name from that mining operation.
Early Development
Early development of the City of Menifee began with Sun City in the early 1960s as the concept of an active retirement community that was envisioned by Del Webb, a major building contractor from Phoenix, Arizona.
Sun City is centrally located within the City of Menifee with a mix of residential and commercial activity.
The Menifee area began to grow further in 1989 with the master-planned community of Menifee Lakes and
continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in California. Quail Valley is a semi-rural residential community in the northwestern section of the city, and Romoland is a residential and commercial community
located in the northeastern section of the city.
Schools
Elementary and middle school education in the City of Menifee are provided by the Menifee Union School District and the
Romoland School District. High school education is provided by the
Perris Union High School District. The City of Menifee is also home to
Mount San Jacinto Community College.
The Menifee campus serves the Temecula, Murrieta,
and Menifee area.
Incorporation of the City
On June 3, 2008, the residents of the communities encompassing the City of Menifee voted to incorporate Menifee into Riverside County's
26th city. The new City of Menifee was officially established on October 1, 2008.