Where Is the Inland Empire? Map, Counties and Cities

Where Is the Inland Empire?

The Inland Empire is the Southern California region centered on Riverside County and San Bernardino County, directly east of Los Angeles and Orange counties. The region includes 52 incorporated cities: 28 in Riverside County and 24 in San Bernardino County.

The region stretches from western cities including Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Corona, and Riverside to the Coachella Valley, High Desert, San Bernardino Mountains, Morongo Basin, and Colorado River communities.

Major Inland Empire subregions

• Western Inland Empire: Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Chino Hills, Corona, Eastvale, Fontana, Upland, and nearby cities.
• Central valleys: Riverside, San Bernardino, Redlands, Moreno Valley, Colton, Highland, Grand Terrace, and Loma Linda.
• Pass Area and San Jacinto Valley: Calimesa, Yucaipa, Beaumont, Banning, Hemet, and San Jacinto.
• Southwest Riverside County: Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Perris, and Canyon Lake.
• Coachella Valley: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, and Desert Hot Springs.
• High Desert, mountains, and Morongo Basin: Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms.
• Colorado River: Needles and Blythe.

San Bernardino County - 24 cities

Riverside County - 28 cities

Cities and unincorporated communities are different

Bloomington, Mentone, Muscoy, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs, Wrightwood, Phelan, Oak Hills, Lytle Creek, French Valley, Mead Valley, Winchester, Woodcrest, Lakeland Village, and Idyllwild are Inland Empire communities, not incorporated cities. They are governed by their counties rather than by separate city governments.

Inland Empire map questions

Where is the Inland Empire? The Inland Empire is in Southern California, directly east of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Its geographic foundation is Riverside County and San Bernardino County.

What counties make up the Inland Empire? Riverside County and San Bernardino County make up the standard two-county definition used by Inland Empire Today.

How many incorporated cities are in the Inland Empire? The region includes 52 incorporated cities: 28 in Riverside County and 24 in San Bernardino County.

Is Palm Springs part of the Inland Empire? Palm Springs is in Riverside County and is included in this regional guide. It is also part of the Coachella Valley.

Is the High Desert part of the Inland Empire? The High Desert cities in San Bernardino County are included in the broader Inland Empire, including Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, and Barstow.

What is an unincorporated community? An unincorporated community is governed by its county instead of its own city government.

County boundary source: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb.