Known to many as "wine country" due to its large variety of wineries, the city of Temecula is one of the biggest and fastest growing cities in California's Riverside County. The city is very quiet and safe, and is home to a varied scenic view. Breathtaking mountain vistas, tall oaks and sycamores plus large grassy hills make up the general landscape of the area, creating a truly beautiful topography.

Like most cities in America, Temecula began as nothing more than an area of wild land. It was originally occupied by ancestors of the Temecula Indians, for whom the city is named. It is said that the word originated from the Luiseño Indian language and originally meant "Place of Sun," though another popular interpretation says that it means "Where the sun breaks through the mist."

The ancestors of the Temecula Indians were the first people to occupy the area, and they can be traced back to the area as early as 900 A.D. It wasn't until 1797 that Europeans began to explore the area, led by one Spanish priest by the name of Father Juan Norberto de Santiago. Other Spanish priests occupied the area and they started to build a small town and churches. This was the true beginning of Temecula as it is known today.

Eventually Mexico and Spain withdrew from California, and American settlers began to explore the area in greater detail. Few people came to the small town until 1858, when the Butterfield Overland stagecoach line began to travel through Temecula. The coach brought people from all over the country to Temecula, and it began to take form as a more thriving community. The coach line stopped coming through the town in the late 1860's due to the Civil War, and it was then that the town's growth stopped, as both the lack of transportation and the war kept people away from Temecula.

The town was revitalized in 1882 due to the addition of a rail road line. The city once again began to boom, and many people moved in and new businesses were built. The town grew until the late 1880's, when the railroad line was destroyed by a flood. Once again Temecula paused in its growth. The pace began to slowly build in the early 20th century, led in part by the Vail family and their success in cattle ranching. The Vail family's ranch continued to grow, and it remained Temecula's lifeblood until the mid-sixties, when the ranch was sold to a large company.

While the rest of the world was moving on, Temecula remained an Old West town, complete with cowboys and saloons. This began to change in the late 1960's and early 1970's, as real estate became a driving factor in the area's economy and the town began to grow once again. New stores and restaurants began to open, but growth remained slow. The town became known as Rancho California at some point during this time in history.

In the early 1980's an interstate opened up through the town, and this began to bring more and more people to Temecula, eventually making the town large enough to be called a city. Before then, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan praised the community of Temecula for their unity in building a baseball field, which helped put the town "on the map" in the general public's consciousness.

In 1989, just one decade later, Temecula had grown rapidly. In 1980, the estimated population was less than 2,000 and by 1990 it was more than 27,000. From that time since, the city has never stopped growing and blossoming. Throughout the 90's the city grew by thirty thousand people, and by 2005 that number had grown to 90,000.

It is this growth that makes Temecula such an affluent and prosperous place today. Due to this constant expansion the local economy is always on the rise, as are employment opportunities. Businesses have been extremely successful in the area within the last two decades, with new additions in everything from cattle ranches to shopping centers. As mentioned before, the city has become know for its wineries, all 19 of which have also experienced incredible success. The city has also become rather popular among tourists over the last ten years, due to the area's dozen or so golf courses, hot air balloon rides, old town antique stores, nature preserve and Pechanga hotel and casino.

Temecula has also become a great place to purchase real estate, as homes and properties in the area are in constant demand. The inherent value found in local real estate makes living in Temecula somewhat less expensive than many other parts of California, which has certainly helped the growth of the city. All sorts of property and real estate can be bought in the city, from condominiums to ranch houses, and everything in-between. Whether you would prefer to live in the heart of the city or on its country outskirts, you are sure to secure the property that is right for you.

Though the original growth of Temecula was linked to transportation, people now flock to the city for its reputation as being a safe and friendly place to live. Along with the nearby city of Murrieta, Temecula is one of the safest cities in all of California that has such a large population. Though the population spans more than 100,000 people, very little crime happens in the city. This is largely due to the fact that though Temecula has grown to be over 45 times its original size, it has retained its original small-town spirit, a pleasant characteristic that is common of many of the cities in the Inland Empire.

But there is of course more to Temecula than its rich history, growing economy, small town mentality and overall safety. Due to the close proximity of the ocean and mountains, the city normally receives many cooling breezes, which makes the Temecula climate much more comfortable to live in than other hotter parts of California. This good weather is certainly a contributing factor in the city's success. Another key is the overall sense of community that the city displays on a regular basis. People are normally friendly and hospitable, which makes quite the impression on those who are new to the city.

Once you set foot on the friendly and scenic properties of Temecula, you will know why so many others have decided to create a home in this charming "wine country". For information on purchasing property in Temecula, contact Scott and Barbara Walker at 951-253-4050. Discover what homes and ranches await you in beautiful Temecula, California.