Inland Empire

The Inland Empire is a province located in southwestern Sierra which encompasses most of the as well as portions of the. It is the fourth most populous and the fifth largest province in the Kingdom. The Inland Empire's capital and largest city is Riverside, which serves as the central hub for the province's economy, education, population, and politics. The official 2010 census population was 6,307,895. The province is the 12th province to be admitted into the Kingdom, and was formally incorporated on October 22, 1888 after sections of the Gold Coast and Central Valley were partitioned.

The province was named for its vast and expansive geography, which reflected the widespread availability of cheap land offered by the federal and local governments. Historically, the region supported and sustained a large indigenous population that included the, the , the , and the before European exploration and settlement. Due to its largely desert composition, it received insignificant attention and development under the Spanish colonial and Mexican systems as the area was unsuitable for the Spanish missionary system. As a consequence, the Inland Empire remained very sparsely inhabited well into the late 19th-century under the Kingdom of Sierra. Before it became a province, the Inland Empire was administered as the easternmost, interior region of the Gold Coast and Central Valley respectively, and was primarily allocated to established ranches and families.

The establishment of transcontinental railroad systems and telegraph lines spurred economic development in the province significantly and generated a large population boom. The development of a robust immigration system and the importation of citrus crops, particularly the and  varieties, encouraged thousands of farmers to emigrate to the province, and spawned the establishment of numerous communities along the southwestern section of the Inland Empire. The commercial success and viability of citrus farming made the Inland Empire a major center for citrus production. Further diversification in the economy including rice farming and dairy production strengthened the province's economic growth. Continued development into the 20th century with the Interprovincial and K.S. National Highway systems facilitated the means for real-estate developers to develop hundreds of suburban neighborhoods and communities in order to meet consumer demand for affordable housing outside Porciúncula.

The Inland Empire is considered a part of the Southwest Corridor. It shares borders with nine neighboring provinces–the most in the country–which are: Orange, Gold Coast, and Kings to the west; Central Valley and Clark to the north; Mohave and Maricopa to the east; and Laguna and Imperial to the south. It and Imperial are the only Southwest Corridor provinces which do not have a coastline in the Pacific Ocean, and are completely landlocked.

Much of the Inland Empire features a desert climate, characterized with very hot summers and mild winters. The dominates nearly all of the province. It features a number of mountain ranges, some of which supports pine forests and even snow at higher elevations, including the and the. The is the highest peak in the province, at 11,503 feet (3,506 m). The commercially and geographically significant defines a section of the Inland Empire's eastern boundaries. The, another major river, originates and flows out of the Inland Empire towards Orange.

Since the Sierran Cultural Revolution and, the Inland Empire continues to enjoy one of the fastest growing population rates in all of Anglo-America and one of the highest GDP per capita in the Kingdom. The province is a major center for the logistics, defense, transportation, education, information technology, mining, government services, and real estate industries. In addition, it is a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation and other significant venues. Although it suffered a period of increased gang violence and production during the 1970s and 1980s, the province has made significant improvements in public health, public safety, and economic inequality issues. The Inland Empire has the 5th highest median average income and has ranked high on a number of metrics measuring overall health, happiness, economic success, lifestyle, and spirituality. Residents from the Inland Empire are called Inlanders.

Etymology
The name "Inland Empire" was first documented in 1843 by several local newspapers that used the term to refer to the province's area. With other regions naming themselves appeasing names such as the "Gold Coast" or "Orange", developers in the area adopted the name in order to capitalize on the region's unique geographic features and economic potential. Since the westernmost parts of Inland Empire is 60 miles shy from the, the name "Inland" reflects its location. "Empire" was likely used to illustrate the sense that the vast amount of land available in the region was ready for economic and urban development, one that would lead to a highly successful area. When the province was admitted into the Kingdom on November 28, 1858, the official name of the province would read the "Province of the Inland Empire". Since then, the Inland Empire has always been officially and colloquially written and spoken with the article "the" preceding immediately before it.

Nicknames
The official provincial nickname is "The Navel Province", which features prominently on provincial vehicle registration plates, welcome signs, government websites, and tourism advertisements. The nickname highlights the major significance of the, which played a significant role in the Inland Empire's historic citrus industry, which was one of the world's largest and was nearly single-handedly responsible for the province's initial economic development and population growth. The province's relatively mild climate and advanced irrigation system allowed the cultivation of oranges in wide-scale orange groves and ranches, and contributed to the meteoric rise of the province during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The orange has become a prominent symbol that has represented the Inland Empire as a whole. King Lewis I, during a visit to Riverside in 1925 remarked, "Without the navel orange, the Empire would have remained nothing more than barren desert."

The "Yellow-Blue" is a popular unofficial nickname for the province. It first came into usage during the 1940s, in reference to the Inland Empire's simply-designed two-band flag, which features the colors, yellow and blue. The flag appeared on the license plates of vehicles registered there and reflected the rapid population growth the province experienced. The prevalence of Inland Empire-registered cars driving throughout Sierra's automobile-dominated society made the province all the more apparent, and residents from the provinces were sometimes derogatorily referred to as the "Yellow Blues". Since most residents were former citizens of the Gold Coast and Orange, which suffered from urban crowding, the term reflected a growing sense and awareness of a provincial identity for the Inland Empire.

Other nicknames for the province include "The Desert Province", "The Empire", "The Land of Sand and Snow", "The Joshua Tree Province", and "The Come-There Province".

The official provincial motto is : "Contendunt excellentiam", which means "Strive for excellence".

Overview
The Inland Empire is located in the southwestern interior region of Sierra. It shares its northernmost boundary with Central Valley, which runs along a line just above and parallel to the, before running diagonally from northwest to southeast with Clark along the historic California–Nevada regional line. The historic confluence of the defines the eastern border between the Inland Empire and the neighboring provinces of Mohave and Maricopa. The southern border generally follows across near the halfway point of the and  between the Inland Empire and its southern neighbors, Imperial and Laguna. The guides most of the border between the province and Orange, while the majority of the border with the Gold Coast follows a varied, alternating line that uses  as a reference point and divider, with the exception of the, which extends towards the southwestern extremity of the Mount Baldy line, near the valley separating the aforementioned hills and the start of the Santa Ana Mountains. With a total area of 27,298 square miles (70,699 km$2$), the Inland Empire is larger than and, but slightly smaller than. It is the 7th largest province in Sierra. , at 11,503 feet (3,506 m) is the highest point in the province, while at –236 feet (–71.9 m)  is the lowest point.

Topography and terrain
The Inland Empire is almost entirely within the, which features interlinked and isolated mountain ranges which punctuate the landscape and are scattered throughout the area. The Mojave Desert is divided into two main regions, based on elevation: the, which includes the desert areas between the elevations of 2,000 feet and 4,000 feet (609.6 m to 1,219.2 m), and the , which includes the desert areas below 2,000 feet. Generally speaking, the High Desert dominates the Inland Empire region to the north of the, whereas the Low Desert includes the Mojave Desert sections to the southeast of the San Bernardino Mountains, as well as portions of the (itself a subsection of the larger ) in the province. The two areas are distinguished by based on differences in latitude, elevation, climate, local fauna, and. At the southwestern base of the Inland Empire is the Riverside–San Bernardino–San Antonio metropolitan area where there are a series of valleys, basins, and hills. Over three-fourths of the province's population lives in this area, and features one of the fastest growing regions in the entire North American continent. It is dominated by two major mountain ranges: the and the, which are predominantly localized as the San Bernardino Mountains and the  respectively. A small section of the straddle the westernmost end of the province near the city of. Between the southern base of the San Bernardino Mountains and eastern base of the Santa Ana Mountains lies, the , and the , three areas where the province's populations are centered in. Other significant geographic features within this section of the province include, , the , and the (including the province's second highest peak, , with a height of 10,834 feet, or 3,302 meters). The ski resort communities of and  lie within the San Bernardino Mountains, and sees heavy snowfall during the wintertime. The geological composition of the southwestern Inland Empire is dominated by, which originated from the ancient  that formed the , and characteristic of the Peninsular Ranges geomorphic province it falls under. Several protected areas and forests in this region include the and the.

East of the Riverside–San Bernardino–San Antonio metropolitan area is, a desert valley which extends from the eastern base of the San Bernardino Mountains to the northern shore of , and is bounded from the rest of the Mojave Desert from the to the east. The valley itself is the northernmost section of the interprovincial, a large  which extends further south into Laguna, Imperial, and Pacífico Norte. Significant communities in this area include and Pawnee, which lies just north of the San Jacinto Mountains. The is a major protected area within this region, and lies just north of the Coachella Valley metropolitan area. Elevations throughout the valley vary (between 1,600 feet to 250 feet below sea level), while the surrounding mountains peak at around 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and average between 5,000 and 7,000 feet (1,500 to 2,000 m). serves as the most prominent between the Inland Empire core cities and Coachella Valley. Due to the region's topography and geography, the area is a large, as all precipitation drains into the , where the Salton Sea lies, or other geographic depressions, rather than the ocean. Occupying the central region near the southern border of the Inland Empire are the, , and the , which serve as transitional barriers between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, as well as the province and its neighbors, Laguna and Imperial. The sparsely populated area nonetheless supports a very diverse community of local fauna and flora, and features numerous canyons, ravines, rivers, and rock formations throughout the length of the border. The is the region to the east of Coachella Valley and extends into the neighboring provinces of Clark, Mohave, Maricopa, and Imperial. It encompasses all the desert and valley floor, as well associated riparian environments subject to the natural influence of the lower part of the southbound Colorado River. The region includes the, a mountain range, which straddles the Colorado River, and is notable for its distinct pale green formations on its western side and jagged, bright red volcanic rock formations on its eastern side. Other ranges include the and the, which all meet near the tri-provincial intersection at.

North of the San Bernardino Mountains, beyond is, where the population is centered around the city of. Victor Valley sits at the southwestern edge of the extensive Mojave Desert and is bordered by the Gold Coast's. Further north, towards and the Fort Irwin Royal Army National Training Center, the elevation gradually rises, reaching to elevations as high as 4,000 feet on some parts of the High Desert floor. The northern half of the Inland Empire is dominated by the Mojave Desert and lies at the rim of the geological depression, and is accentuated with a polypous network of low-lying but rugged hills, valleys, and sand dunes. The is the largest field of  sand deposits in the province and lie within the, just east of the traffic junction community of  near. The northern Inland Empire is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the Kingdom and is one of the most geographically isolated sections in the mainland, surpassed only by the northern Nevadan provinces of Eureka and Washumko. The section of the Mojave Desert near Interprovincial 3, which links the Southwest Corridor with Clark's Las Vegas metropolitan area is reputable for its high number of abandoned, roadside s.

The Inland Empire is a geologically active region subject to frequent s and other ground disturbances. The infamous, a prominent boundary between the and  s, runs through the Inland Empire. A number of smaller, minor faults branch out from this fault, and several independently running faults exist, most of which are concentrated in the southwestern Inland Empire. Although there are no active volcanoes in the province, the fault system has produced a network of hot springs and other geothermal hot spots, most of which are concentrated around Coachella Valley. The San Andreas Fault system is a significant source of the earthquake activity in the region and has been responsible for several major earthquakes, including the 2017 Pawnee earthquake, which caused extensive damage and casualties throughout the Southwest Corridor.

Climate
With the exception of the southwestern section of the province, the Inland Empire features an arid (: BSh), although this varies depending on elevation, altitude, and geographical locale. The arid climate is largely the result of the Inland Empire's insular location near the, relative distance away from the , and the produced by the  and coastal mountains such as the. The Mojave Desert is one of the hottest and driest places in North America, often receiving less than 13 inches (330 mm) of rain each year, and reaching peak temperatures surpassing 120 °F (49 °C) between late July and early August. The, especially at the lowest elevations, can experience temperatures reaching 130 °F (38 °C) during late summer afternoons, with nighttime lows of 75 °F (24 °C) to 86 °F (30 °C). Springs and autumns are generally milder, and the province receives most of its rainfall between the months of October and March. During winter, the daytime temperatures throughout the desert can range from 68 °F (20 °C) to 88 °F (31 °C), while corresponding nights range from 46 °F (8 °C) to 65 °F (18 °C). The Inland Empire's primary source of rainwater almost exclusively comes from the Pacific Northwest storm systems which travel southward towards the Inland Empire along s. Moisture from the and the  brings occasional -patterned rainfall to the desert areas of the Inland Empire during the late summer months. Rainfall can vary year to year depending on global climate conditions, including and  which can produce drier or wetter than average years respectively.

In the southwestern Inland Empire, where the majority of the province's inhabitants live, the climate is much milder, featuring a predominantly (: Csa). Although there are some variations, generally, the region experiences hot, dry summers, and mild, relatively wet winters. Temperature highs during the summer often average around 90 °F (32 °C), but can exceed 100 °F (38 °C) during some afternoons, though with low humidity. Although the southwestern Inland Empire is also subject to the seasonally restricted time window for precipitation, it receives comparatively more than the desert regions, usually averaging around 10 inches of rain. February is often the wettest month of the year while August is the driest. This region is also subject to local weather phenomena including, a which covers much of the Greater Porciúncula Area during some summer mornings, and the , strong, dry  winds which originate from the  and are infamously known for starting or feeding large s in the area. s and s are also common, with the latter often happening after recent wildfires.

Although snowfall is rare on lower elevations, there are common during the wintertime in higher elevations (usually above 5,000 feet, but possible at elevations as low as 3,000 feet) on the mountains and in the High Desert. The San Bernardino Mountains often receives much more precipitation, in the form of snow, compared to the lower-lying parts of the province, and can receive as much as 40 inches in the form of rain or snowpack, which is important to the region's year-long water supply. Rain and snow that fall during the winter months are stored and transported in an extensive system of reservoirs, aqueducts, aquifers, and canals.

Flora and fauna
The Inland Empire features a highly diverse community of plants, and the native flora is well adapted to extremely hot and dry conditions typical for and desert environments. The Inland Empire is divided into a few distinct floristic provinces, which are determined by climate, topography, altitude, and local geography. In the Mojave Desert, most natural vegetation, with the exception of shrub and grass, is spread out in a uniform fashion across the desert floor to compensate the limited availability of water. In the southwestern Inland Empire, plant growth there are suited for the mild, relatively dry Mediterranean climate. Notable species of flora including the endemically ubiquitous ' (Joshua tree), ' (Creosote bush), ' (Brittle bush), ' (allscale saltbush), ' (Buckhorn cholla), and ' (triangle bursage), cover the extensive semiarid valleys and hills of the province, and are well-suited and hardy plants capable of withstanding the desert's extreme conditions. Other plants include the ' (Sierra sagebrush), ' (Fremont's cottonwood), the ' (coyote willow), and the ' (blue oak). The Inland Empire is known for its desert wildflowers, which bloom annually across the desert valley floors on certain locations during the late spring months after the last spring showers pass. Some notable desert wildflower and shrub species include ' (Mojave aster), ' (blackbrush), ' (desert lily), ' (desert chicory), ' (desert-sand verbana), ' (desert larkspur), ' (blue dick), and ' (bristly fiddleneck).

The Inland Empire is also home to a diverse community of animals, including native, endemic species, that are adapted and well-suited for the dry, arid environment on the desert landscape. Among these include the ' (Stephens' kangaroo rat), the ' (Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard), the  (kit fox), and the Suricata suricatta serra (Sierran meerkat). Other major terrestrial species in the Inland Empire include the, , , , and  squirrels, , , , , and. The historic but now  once inhabited the mountainous areas in the southwestern Inland Empire before they were hunted to extinction by the early 20th century by settlers. Since them, there have been coordinated efforts by conservation groups and the local government to reintroduce the grizzly bear to these historic habitats. Native avian species such as the official provincial bird, ' (Anna's hummingbird), ' (Greater roadrunner), ' (Gambel's quail), the ' (Western scrub jay), and the  (cactus wren) add to the biodiversity of the province.

The Inland Empire has over 20 national parks, provincial parks, and other protected areas dedicated to the preservation and protection of the province's unique wildlife and ecosystems. The and  are some of the Kingdom's most iconic and largest federally protected desert areas, and attracts millions of visitors annually. The includes the Inland Empire's largest conifer pine forests, which are nestled along the range's slopes and subalpine valleys.

Pre-Sierran period
Prior to European exploration and settlement in the region, present-day Inland Empire was inhabited by (also known as ), the  and the  Indians. The majority of the native population resided in the more hospitable southwestern corner of the province near the and the. Human settlement in the Inland Empire dates as far back as 3,500 years ago. The earliest known Amerindians to inhabit the region were likely -speaking peoples from Clark who moved southwest into the Southwest Corridor, including the Inland Empire, in search of food and water. The descendants of these early Uto-Aztecans were the ancestors of today's Serranos, Cahuillas, and. It has been hypothesized that prior to even these peoples, -speaking tribes existed in the southernmost fringes of the Inland Empire, before being displaced completely by the Uto-Aztecans. The indigenous tribes lived in societies, who made use of the local resources provided in nature. Archeological discoveries have revealed a history of ash and charcoal use, grinding stones, fire pits, and basket-weaving among the Uto-Aztecans. The territorial extent of the indigenous peoples in the Inland Empire prior to European contact included all of and the foothills of the, extending just northeast of the  in the , as well as portions of the  around the  and.

In Coachella Valley, the Cahuilla had permanent settlements in water-filled canyons near present-day and Pawnee. The Cahuilla demonstrated a sophisticated understanding and utility of irrigation skills and techniques. They used irrigation to preserve and transport water to their homes, and also built dams to prevent flash floods during the winters. s and s have also been found near these historical Cahuilla settlements on canyon rock walls.

Interactions between the indigenous peoples and Europeans did not begin until the late 18th century, when the Spaniards began exploring modern-day Sierra. , a Spanish explorer, led the first known and confirmed European exploration of the region in 1774. In search for an adequate land route connecting southern Mexico to, de Anza transversed through modern-day and crossed the  en route to , further up north in the modern-day province of Central Valley. At the time of de Anza's arrival, several thousand Amerindians inhabited the region, including the, who called themselves the Yuhaviatam, or "People of the Pines" in their native tongue. The Spanish name Serranos meant "People of the Mountains", in reference to their refuge in the San Bernardino Mountains. Additional expeditions continued under Spanish purview, including those made by friar  in the same year as de Anza. It was possible that Spanish military commander and later Lieutenant Governor of the Spanish Californias entered the San Bernardino Valley earlier than de Anza in 1772. The first European settlements in the province was a church at the village of in 1810. The church was commissioned and founded by Father, who was affiliated with from the Gold Coast named the La Politana-based church in honor of. The Franciscans from this church later established, a mission farm () near , in 1819, to support the local indigenous population and clergymen. The estancia included a small Indian rancheria made of adobe buildings, named Guachama, supported by an irrigation ditch system.

In the same year of 1819, a -based estancia affiliated with the -based was founded, which was later granted to Leandro Serrano, the  of. Development and settlement of the land under Spanish rule was comparatively minimal to the coastal regions in the Gold Coast, Orange, and Laguna. The land was regarded as unsuitable for the establishment of missions due to its arid landscape, relative geographic isolation from the ocean, and the smaller indigenous population. Instead, the land was more suited for allocating individual s to Spanish soldiers and colonists for grazing and herding through the form of land grants. Rancho owners were allowed to develop their property lands as they pleased, and were encouraged to use it to the fullest extent. Several settlements with mixed populations of Europeans, Amerindians, and mestizos emerged from these ranchos, and a network of ranchos provided some economic activity that supplemented the busier coast. Goods were exchanged between the Inland Empire ranchos and coastal southern Alta California coast, and there has been documentation of an established presence of Channeliers and Sierran Creoles in the Inland Empire, who were involved in the local economy during Spanish rule.

In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain and gained control over all of Spain's territorial possessions in Sierra, including the Inland Empire. The power of the and the religious orders that presided over the missions lost substantial control over their mission lands, before the local friars were completely disenfranchised of their ownership over church property following the passage of the. The move towards secularization across the Mexican Alta California was fueled by Mexican suspicion of Spanish influence over the Spanish missions, as most missions remained loyal to the. The Mexican government continued the Spanish colonial operation of offering massive land grants to civilians, and awarded Rancho San Bernardino to, who sought to colonize and expand it alongside 27 other settlers. After Lugo's initial colonization efforts failed to materialize, he requested new land grants from the Mexican government on behalf of his sons,, José Maria Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and José del Carmen Lugo's friend, in 1841. This ambitious plan was approved and proved successful as Lugo offered his land to willing settlers. Among those who benefited from Lugo's colonization scheme were former New Spanish colonists and their s who hailed from the Mexican province of. This group was led by Don Lorenzo Trujillo and included Anglo-American colonists William Workman,, and near the Indian village of La Politana. After two years, some of these colonists, including Trujillo and his family, moved southward and founded the settlement , which is located in present-day, just north of Riverside.

In 1843, another party of colonists, this time led by Don José Tomas Salazar, arrived to La Politana, and included Anglo-American men and. Salazar's party moved closer to the, about a mile northeast of La Politana, and founded the town of. In order to maintain La Politana, the Lugos hired Cahuilla tribesmen under the leadership of, to settle there. During this time, the area came under the threat of the and the, a band of American and Australian bandits who raided and harassed people there including La Politana. Under orders of the local justice of peace and the Lugos, the Cahuilla men pursued and killed all but one of the Irving Gang members, after the gang refused to surrender. Miscommunication and rumors led many to believe the Cahuilla tribesmen involved were leading an "Indian insurrection" against white settlers, which damaged the reputation of Juan Antonio and his men among the local white population. Following the incident, the inhabitants of La Politana relocated to, a rancheria near by the. The new settlement was later absorbed by the future town of Banning.

During the Mexican administration of the Inland Empire, the Inland Empire slowly saw the arrival of Anglo-American settlers en route to Porciúncula who followed the. In 1826,, an American hunter and explorer, led the first known party of Americans through the Mojave Desert, and crossed over the San Bernardino Mountains along the over. was another American frontiersman who led an expedition through the Inland Empire in 1830 through, which had become an established, commonly used throughway for other Anglo-Americans traveling into southern Alta California. The continuous flow of Anglo-American settlers into Mexican territory would lead to tensions that led to the outburst of the Mexican-American War and consequently, the birth of the California Republic, and later ultimately the Kingdom of Sierra and the Inland Empire. There was a significant Anglo-American minority present in the Inland Empire prior to the war's outbreak, alongside the few hundred Mexican and Californio colonists who lived around San Bernardino Valley and Temescal Mountains, where their ranchos averaged around 18,900 acres (76 km$2$) each in size. The Anglo-Americans and some Californio settlers in the Inland Empire pledged their allegiance to the Bear Flag Revolt and the self-proclaimed California Republic in northern Sierra, and took up arms in evicting the Mexican authorities from the land. Small, minor skirmishes between the Anglo-Americans/Californio rebels and Californios loyal to the Mexican government took place in the Inland Empire, although they were mainly bloodless, before the Mexican and pro-Mexican Californio forces completely surrendered control over the region following the signage of the in January 1847.

One of the earliest Anglo-American settlements in the region that was established following the war was a small town of pioneers from the modern-day Deseret who crossed, down to the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains near  in 1851. The Mormon colony purchased (40,000 acres or 160 km$2$ for $77,000 with $7,000 down payment) from the Lugo Family and San Bernardino County was founded shortly thereafter in 1853 as one of the historical counties of the Gold Coast. Captain, the military commander of the , was ordered by to station his troops at the southern end of Cajon Pass for the purpose of protecting the Mormon-occupied San Bernardino.

Church leader saw Southern Sierra as a supply source for the Deseret and wanted a link between Salt Lake City and St. Pierre-Chah. Nearly 500 Mormons traveled from the Deseret to San Bernardino, and arrived in 1851. The Mormons built Fort San Bernardino on the rancho land, and several buildings, including some stores, a multi-purpose council house, homes, and farms were constructed. The settlers laid down a road system and two schools, and applied for incorporation in 1854. At the time of incorporation, the town had ballooned to a population of 1,200 residents, 900 of whom were Mormons. In 1857, a year before California was reformed as the Kingdom of Sierra, the majority of San Bernardino's Mormons were recalled to the Deseret, due to a myriad of issues the Church faced including persecution, conflict, and apostasy back on the home front. The Mormons in California were thus called upon to return to help defend the Church from these threats, although a small number remained in San Bernardino. The depopulation derailed the local economy but those who remained were able to keep the city under control, and avoided de-incorporation.

Early Sierran period
Under the California Republic, the Inland Empire formed constituent parts of both the Gold Coast and Central Valley, with all areas south of the San Bernardino Mountains going to the former and all the rest going to the latter. The region was divided according to the surveys of Colonel Henry Washington, a state surveyor and future administrator of the Royal Surveyors' Corps, who created the, for California's official maps. In the Gold Coast, its portion of the Inland Empire was organized under one county, San Bernardino County, with San Bernardino designated as the county seat. During the first official census in 1850, there was a total of 8,381 people living in San Bernardino County. Meanwhile, the Central Valley portion of the Inland Empire, which covered large swaths of the Mojave Desert, remained virtually uninhabited and undisturbed by human activity.

In 1858, the Californian states were reorganized as provinces under the Kingdom of Sierra, but the pre-kingdom borders were preserved in the transfer of regime. In the 1860 census, the first under the Kingdom, there was a total of 39,810 people living in the Inland Empire area, with about two-thirds of them living in San Bernardino or nearby communities. The discovery of gold in encouraged further emigration into the San Bernardino Valley, and several boomtowns emerged, including, which swelled to 1,500 in 1860. In 1867, when Kings was formed, there were talks within the Sierran Parliament to cede the Central Valley section of the Inland Empire to the new province, but it failed to reach the House floor. During the War of Contingency, the Sierran federal government established several military depots and stations in the Inland Empire including Fort Baxter near. The government developed a contingency plan in case the United Commonwealth chose to invade Sierra and viewed as the Inland Empire as a main line of defense from the sensitive center of Sierran operations around the capital areas of Porciúncula.

In 1870,, an Anglo-American and  worker from  emigrated to the Inland Empire, escaping the political volatile situation of the United Commonwealth in the post-Contingency period. He, alongside a group of Superior colonists, and members of the founded the city of Riverside near the Santa Ana River and. The small community planted by North continued to grow as more and more Anglo-American emigrants arrived from the east in search of employment and new lives. In 1873,, a Scottish-American and  commissioned by the Ministry of Finance's Bureau of Agriculture, introduced three  trees from. Saunders, seeking prospective growers, looked to his friend,, a local and  activist, to plant and cultivate the oranges. Two of the three oranges Tibbets received survived and yielded oranges which inspired Saunders to continue experimenting with the oranges. After trial and error, Saunders created the, a cultivar of oranges that was seedless and sweet. The oranges would not be publicly advertised until 1879 when it was first displayed at a national fair in Porciúncula. The trees, which were successfully grown, proved popular due to its seedlessness, texture, size, and taste. The commercial success of the Washington navel orange orchids encouraged farmers throughout the region to grow the citrus fruits in the province. The Inland Empire's rapidly expanded, causing an economic boom akin to the 1849 Gold Rush. Tens of thousands of acres of desert land was converted into orange groves through carefully engineered irrigation systems. The size, scale, and pace of the Inland Empire's development was considered one of the agricultural marvels of the time, and received well over $300 million direct and indirect investment from the Sierran government and other countries. Investors and urban developers also worked to enlarge existing communities such as Riverside and San Bernardino as well as new communities including, , and. The unprecedented growth in the agricultural industry continued to thrive despite the outbreak of the Sierran Civil War in 1874. Fearing a possible Republican insurrection in the Inland Empire, the Sierran Crown Armed Forces reinforced its presence in the region and established additional bases to keep it firmly under government control. The majority of Inland Empire male residents participated in the war effort, forming several battalions including the 72nd Infantry Battalion (Bernardino Boys).

Following the end of the war in 1877, the Sierran government awarded war veterans with land grants, similar to those done under Spanish and Mexican rule, in an effort to boost economic production in the Inland Empire. The towns of San Bernardino, Riverside, and others benefitted greatly from this federally subsidized program, and tens of thousands of families settled in the area. In addition, established farming families from Northern Sierra, on a mass exodus from the war-torn Styxie, emigrated to the Inland Empire because the province offered similar agricultural opportunities as the Central Valley did.

The completion of the and the  in 1885, coupled with the development of refrigerated train cars and other inventions (including  and modern fruit packing), expanded the economic and logistical opportunities of the Inland Empire substantially. The Ministry of Interior's Office of Agriculture divested hundreds of thousands of dollars into agricultural research for the Inland Empire's citrus industry and dedicated entire projects to improve the efficiency of the industry. The Inland Empire became a major trading link between Porciúncula and the Anglo-American East Coast, and contributed to the growing national economy. In recognition of the Inland Empire's rising importance, residents in San Bernardino County petitioned to become their own province, a bid which proved successful. In 1888, Parliament passed a motion to partition San Bernardino County and the southern half of Inyo County from the Gold Coast and Central Valley respectively, officially creating the province of the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire government designated Riverside as its capital and the new province divided itself into four counties: Mojave, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Valle Vista. By the 1890s, the Inland Empire had become a major hub for agriculture and logistics, and transported millions of dollars worth of goods between the Greater Porciúncula Area and the rest of Anglo-America.

Although the development of the citrus industry served to displace wheat as the principal crop grown in Sierra and in the Inland Empire, other industries emerged during the 1890s, especially the dairy industry, with hundreds of farms setting up in communities like. Thousands of Chinese and Han laborers were employed in the railroad and agricultural industries, and several Asian communities began appearing across the Inland Empire. Their presence ranged from wary tolerance to outright hostility depending on the area, but became one of the largest concentrations outside the Bay Area and Porciúncula by the start of the Sierran Cultural Revolution.

Early 20th century
The Inland Empire's population approached a quarter of a million at the start of the 20th century, and continued to increase at unprecedented rates during the Sierran Cultural Revolution. Continued development on the railroad industry and agricultural business led to new communities expanding in Coachella Valley. The resort community of Palm Springs attracted thousands of tourists for its health spas and natural hot springs, and became a symbol of the Inland Empire's image as a pleasant, sunny paradise. Overcrowding in the Gold Coast and Orange pressured Sierrans to emigrate to the Inland Empire which offered cheap and widely available housing. The thriving communities of San Bernardino, San Antonio, and Riverside continued to expand as their local economies diversified, which included local mining in the mountains, retail, government services, educational research, and manufacturing. The emergence of Hollywood in the Gold Coast also saw the Inland Empire used as a shooting location for various silent films, including the 1912 Midnight Wind and 1916 The Faded Sun, which featured shots and scenes showcasing the natural landscape of the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains in the Inland Empire.

The province underwent massive change during the Sierran Cultural Revolution. Becoming the fourth most populous province in the Kingdom by 1920, it became a hotbed for the intellectualism movement surrounding the Pacific School, and was the home of numerous prominent Revolution figures including Mark Culler, Francis Chih, and Walter B. Feng. The province became increasingly multi-ethnic in composition, as whites, Asians, Hispanics, blacks and Creoles made their home around the Santa Ana River-based communities. The establishment of the in 1907 paved the way for new advances in horticulture that allowed the viable cultivation of rice and other water-sensitive crops in the Inland Empire and other parts of Sierra.

Contemporary era
Following, the Inland Empire moved away from its citrus farming in favor of real estate and , an economic development that has characterized the province and persists in the province in the present-day. The continued development of the freeway system alongside the ballooning growth of jobs in the Gold Coast and Orange fueled people to settle in the Inland Empire's new homes and neighborhoods. Today, the province's economy mostly specializes in tourism, warehousing, retail, and logistics although Riverside has become a growing financial center in recent years.

Demographics
The Sierra Royal Bureau of Census estimates that the population of the Inland Empire in June 2015 is 6,556,008. In the 2010 census, 6,307,895 people were counted as citizens of the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire's population growth have generally been s from neighboring provinces, particularly the Gold Coast and Orange where the cost-of-living is increasing. The province, which is famous for its tract housing, provides an attractive real estate market with large amounts of expendable land. Some immigrant groups, particularly those from and  have arrived to the Inland Empire with similar reasons to domestic migrants. About 22% of the population were foreign-born.

The Inland Empire consistently ranks as one of the "greatest places" to live in the Kingdom according to polls with an average of 76% of respondents rating their areas favorably. According to a majority of respondents, the climate, housing, and community area are common reasons for the rating. However, the province has also earned its recognition as the second most province in the Kingdom (where 30.8% of the province are obese or ), after the Gold Coast. In fact, one of the province's largest cities, Pawnee, is ranked the fourth most obese city in the country. Other negative indicators include the concern of the province's notorious and crime.

The fifth most populous province in the Kingdom after the Gold Coast, Laguna, Orange, and Maricopa, the Inland Empire is home to three of the 20 largest cities in Sierra: Riverside (4th), San Bernardino (13th), and Palm Springs (20th).

Racial and ancestral makeup

 * 61.8% (3,898,279)
 * 40.4% (2,548,389)
 * 11.8% / (744,331)
 * 7.5% (473,092)
 * 18.9% Other or (1,192,194)
 * 43.9% of any race (2,769,165)

The Inland Empire has the highest concentration of Sierran, the fourth largest Hispanic and Asian populations, the second largest concentration of blacks, and the third largest non-Hispanic white population.

Culture
Due to its intermediary location and large presence of Hispanic people, the culture of the Inland Empire is heavily influenced by Sierran and culture. Its association with suburbia and citrus farming have also contributed to the culture and understanding of the province. An ideal location for families, youth, and the elderly, the Inland Empire is often portrayed as a getaway destination and a land for opportunity and freedom from the confines of the urban life.

The Inland Empire, home to a bustling, growing population, has allowed the arts and innovation to flourish in the province. The province includes over 35 museums, theaters, and art centers including the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, the, the , the , and the.

The province is also known for its prevailing culture and influence on local Sierran music. Various bands and individuals originate from the Inland Empire and the worldwide famous is held annually.

Home to the and the, the Inland Empire offers residents and tourists alike the option for , , , recreational driving, and dirt bike riding. During the winter, destinations such as offer  and. , although illegal in the province, is permitted at casinos in Indian reservations including the  and. The Inland Empire's is frequently traveled by Sierrans in the southwestern region including the province itself to travel to  in the neighboring province of Clark.

Religion
About 78% of Inland Empire residents identify themselves as with 39% as  or, 36% , 2% , and 1% another denomination or church. The largest religious Christian denomination by number of adherents is the with 36% of the province. The Church's local body is represented by the. The next largest churches are the independent Evangelical churches,, , , s.

The next largest group are the (which includes, , , and ) who comprise of 14% of the population. The largest non-Christian religion is Canaanism at 3% with the Sanctuary of Isachul accounting for more than 80% of the Canaanite population. accounts for 2% of the Inland Empire residents and the remaining 2% include, , , and others.

Languages
The official languages of the province include the nine languages recognized nationally (,, , , , , , , and Serran), thus requiring all official government documents in the province to be published with all of the aforementioned languages.

Approximately 68% of the population (4,289,368) spoke English as their at home. The second most commonly spoken language at home was Spanish. The Inland Empire has the second largest concentration of, , and ; and the third largest concentration of , , , and ; the fifth largest of Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese speakers in the country.

Economy


Due to the large expanse of unoccupied, cheap land, its location between Porciúncula and Las Vegas/Phoenix, and access to transportation links, the Inland Empire has prospered in the industry. Much of the Kingdom's largest companies base their logistical and distributive operations in the Inland Empire. The distribution centers act as intermediaries between goods received in the Gold Coast's seaports and buyers from eastern Sierra, Brazoria, Wabash, and the. The Inland Empire's shipping sector accounts for over 80% of the movement and distribution of goods and products.

The Inland Empire has historically relied primarily on citrus farming but following, citrus fields were plowed in favor of urban housing. As more agricultural jobs moved to Central Valley and Imperial, the became the dominant agriculturally-related sector in the province. The dairy industry is especially prominent in and. The Inland Empire still produces about 10% of the province's total agricultural produce however with much of the crop being s,, s, s, s, and.

Although the Inland Empire has generally consisted of and s, where residents would reside in the province but work outside, cities such as Riverside have begun developing a local services and financial sector. Aided by local retailing, public utilities, and liberal business laws, local corporations and businesses have been encouraged to start business in the province. A relatively new entry to the national financial sector, the Inland Empire has attracted the attention of emerging banks, hedge funds, and insurance firms interested in branching out or migrating from the traditional sector established in the Gold Coast and Laguna.

Energy
The chief provider in electricity in the province is the Southern Sierran Electricity Corporation (SSEC) while water is managed and provided by the Tri-Provincial Water Authority District. Much of the province's electricity is powered by s or s with other sources of electricity such as s stemming from outside provinces. Water is almost entirely supplied by the through an elaborate water aqueduct system, although a large portion of this water is reserved for the more populous Gold Coast-Orange-Laguna metropolitan area.

Rail
The Inland Empire's public rail and transit system is provided by Sierrail under the management and supervision of the Inland Empire Provincial Department of Transportation. Together, the, , provide  service in the province, allowing residents to commute from the province to the Gold Coast and Orange.

Airports
The (RION) in  is the province's primary  in the immediate area and a secondary airport in the Greater Porciúncula metropolitan area. Two other airports outside the province: the (LAX; Porciúncula) and the  (QAA; ). The former is located in the Gold Coast while the latter is located in Orange.

Several smaller commercial and airports are available in the area is the  (PSP; ),  (SBD; ),  (CNO; ),  (RAL; Riverside),  (VCV; ),   (APV, ), the  (DAG; ),  (RBF; ),  (CCB; ),  (AJO; ),  (RIR; ),  (FVA; ),  (HER; ),  (NED; ),  (REI; ), and  (L67; ).

Water
Water, a highly contested and essential resource, has been the source of ongoing political contention within the province and among other provinces. The Inland Empire has had several notable water trade disputes with other provinces, especially Maricopa and the Gold Coast over the usage of the Colorado River and the apportionment of water. As with most of the country, there are periodic s and water shortages that further complicate the already tepid and tense dispute over water rights. The Colorado River Irrigation System is the province's main source of water although other water sources such as and  contribute to water consumption as well. The Inland Empire is also home to part of Sierra's largest lake, the, a saltwater basin. The sea was accidentally created by Sierran engineers in 1905 when they were developing the Colorado River Irrigation System. Since 1994, the Inland Empire and Imperial have worked together in reducing the salinity of the lake, and the amount of waste dumped into it. Two man-made outflows, the Cortez River, and the Chocolate Canal, were created to pump excess water out towards and the  across the Trans-Peninsular Delta.

Government and politics
As a province, the Inland Empire features its own semi- form of government with its own constitution, as well as three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Led by an elected, the current governor of the Inland Empire is Carlitos Pacheco (R), who was elected in 2012. Other elected executive officers include Lieutenant Governor Henry McFarley, Secretary of State Doug Green, Treasurer Julia Dominguez, Provincial Attorney Obadiah Freedman, Provincial Auditor Christina Sharp, and Provincial Superintendent Rosalina Schultz. All provincial-level elected executive officials serve renewable four-year terms. Like all of other Sierran provinces, the Inland Empire is a subject of the Crown, and the Monarch is represented in the province through the Lord or Lady Superintendent, who fulfills all the roles of the Monarch when the latter is out of the province or otherwise unable to execute their role and responsibilities. The current Lord Superintendent is Sir Kent Burton, who was appointed by Angelina I on March 13, 1987.

The Inland Empire Provincial Legislature is and is one of five provinces in the Kingdom to have this political feature. Composed of 30 members, its members are officially known as Senators and all are elected every two years. The province also allows for provincial-wide s with several citizen-introduced bills included along ballot tickets every electoral year.

The judicial system of the Inland Empire is unified with the Supreme Court as the highest court in the province. Using the English, the Inland Empire legal system also incorporates elements from Spanish common law. Inferior courts include the Superior Courts which act as courts of appeal, and the county/municipal courts. is legal in the province with as the only legal method of execution since 1999.

The province has traditionally leaned towards the right and more sympathetic to positions compared to its coastal neighbors. It has been a large political base for both the Royalist and Libertarian parties. Since 1945, the province has consistently voted for a Royalist prime ministerial candidate.

Education
The scope of education is a provincial issue and is managed by the Inland Empire Department of Educational Services. There are 29 institutions including  (UIR), the, and the. The province has a number of religiously-affiliated universities as well including the and  Universities  and the.

Nine school districts consisting of a collective total of 97 schools are distributed throughout the province with a body of 300,000 students and 28,000 teachers, staff, and faculty. The Inland Empire ranks one of the lowest in terms of test scores, college graduation, and bachelor's degree completion—a fact that has made education a top priority in the province. An elaborate financial aid and grant system is funded to support economically disadvantaged families and students seeking to attend college within the province.

Sports
As the most populous province without a single sports team, the Inland Empire nonetheless has a number of minor league and collegiate-level sports teams. In recent years, efforts to form a professional-level sports team have grown stronger, especially among the baseball-loving community in the province. A source of pride, the Inland Empire has produced over 30 individuals in the past 20 years who have played in professional baseball teams throughout.

The Inland Empire is also home to the, based in , where it hosts the  and the Von Holt 500. Two other racetracks, the and the  have ultimately been closed down due to lack of funding and public support.

, which is ideal in the Inland Empire due to its abundance of golf courses and presence of professional golf clubs, has been the primary sport of choice among residents. The golfing community is especially prominent in. In fact, the city has the most golf courses per capita and in total in the entire Kingdom, where it hosts the 's and King's Royal Palm Tourney.