Why Hemet
Hemet is a city situated in the San Jacinto Valley within Riverside County, California, positioned approximately 80 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Encompassing nearly 29 square miles, the community shares the valley floor with the adjacent city of San Jacinto to its north. The surrounding terrain is defined by the dry landscapes of the Santa Rosa Hills and the San Jacinto Mountains, bordered to the south by Diamond Valley Lake and Polly Butte.
Prior to Spanish colonization, the region was inhabited by the indigenous Soboba and Cahuilla peoples. The land was later utilized for mission cattle ranching and designated as a Mexican land grant in 1842. Following American annexation, developers founded water and land companies in the late 19th century and completed the Hemet Dam in 1895. The resulting reservoir, Lake Hemet, delivered vital irrigation to the arid region, enabling the valley to flourish as an agricultural hub for crops such as citrus, peaches, olives, and walnuts. Incorporated in 1910, the town later hosted an Army Air Force flight training academy during World War II, which was subsequently redeveloped into the Hemet-Ryan Airport.
Visitors to the city can explore several local cultural venues and historical sites. Hemet is well known as the home of the Ramona Pageant, California's official outdoor play, which has been performed since 1923 in the Ramona Bowl, a natural amphitheater set in the nearby foothills. In the downtown district, the Hemet Museum displays regional history, including historic photographs, agricultural tools, and Cahuilla basketry. Additionally, the Historic Hemet Theatre, constructed in 1921, serves as a community landmark maintained by a local non-profit foundation.
To the south near Diamond Valley Lake, the Western Science Center displays major archaeological and paleontological discoveries from the area, including Ice Age fossils such as a Columbian mammoth and a large western mastodon. Recognized for two decades as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, Hemet experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by mild winter weather and exceptionally hot, dry summers.
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