Friday, January 14, 2011
Where "Jurupa" Came From
The name "Jurupa" is derived from the languages of two of the Native American groups who called Jurupa home. The Jurupa area lies at the intersection of the territories of four different tribes: the Gabrielino, the Cahuilla, the Serrano, and the Luiseno. Research indicates that the root of the word (Juru) is Gabrielino and is their name for what we now know as "California Sagebrush.". The "pa" ending is Serrano. They used that ending to indicate a place name. Of course, the first people to record this word were the exploers and settlers from Mexico so there has been some Spanish influence as well. However, it appears Jurupa means "Place of the California Sagebrush." So, if Jurupa becomes a city in the near future, it should adopt the California Sagebrush as the official city symbol!
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I have really enjoyed your blog. Thank you so much for recording history.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you will check back to read future posts!
ReplyDeleteSo because 'Juru' is the native american for sagebrush, does that mean jurupa should be pronounced with an English 'j' sound or the Spanish 'hu-rupa'?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is : Pronounced with spanish. .. similar to " H" in English
DeleteIt is ok to pronounce it both ways. With many centuries of this lands being inhabited by the first peoples, you will find that having both pronunciations won't change the place.
ReplyDeleteIt is ok to pronounce it both ways. With many centuries of this lands being inhabited by the first peoples, you will find that having both pronunciations won't change the place.
ReplyDeleteJurupa is a Spanish word not a native indian Name . The Gabrieleno Indians who's territory this once belong to called the area " Hurungna"
ReplyDeleteThe Place of the sage brush .
I was born in this area, and when we were teenagers back in the 50's We called it by the Native Indian name "Ju-ru-pa" Then all of a sudden people who were new to the area were pronouncing it as a Spanish word "Hu-ru-pa. To me, it will always be the Native American pronouncing
DeleteAbsolutely Correct. Locals like Myself and Native Americans that grew up in the area all pronounced it the way either of their native tongues would have dictated. It wasn't until the demographics shifted that the pronunciation changed.
DeleteThe City of Jurupa Valley was incorporated on July 1, 2011 by a group of passionate community volunteers. It is proud to be the 482nd City in California and the 28th City in Riverside County. The primary reason for incorporation was the strong desire for enhanced police services and local control over planning and zoning issues. The City covers a 44-square mile area encompassing the communities of Jurupa Hills, Mira Loma, Glen Avon, Pedley, Indian Hills, Belltown, Sunnyslope, Crestmore Heights, and Rubidoux. It borders San Bernardino County to the north, Riverside to the south and east, Eastvale and San Bernardino County to the west. Portions of the Santa Ana River traverse the southern portion of the City.
ReplyDeleteJurupa Valley is rich in history dating back hundreds of years. “Jurupa” in Jurupa Valley derives its name from the first inhabitants of the area, Native Americans who called “Hurungna” their home now known as Jurupa . The Jurupa Valley area lies at the territorial boundaries of two different Tribes, the Gabrielino Tribe and the Serrano Tribe. Over the years, there have been various interpretations of the meaning of “Jurupa”, from a greeting meaning “peace and friendship” to the first padre to visit the area, to a more widely recognized origination that “Jurupa” refers to the California Sagebrush common to the area. In 1838 the area became known as Rancho Jurupa under a land grant to Senõr Don Juan Bandini by the Mexican government. By the late 1800’s the Jurupa Valley area began to live in the shadow of the more popular City of Riverside. Much of Jurupa Valley area has what once was a Riverside mailing address. Yet, settlement of the area in and around what is now the City of Riverside actually began in the Jurupa Valley many years before Riverside’s founding.
The City of Jurupa Valley today is a mix of high and low-density residential development, rural farming and other agricultural activities, and a mix of commercial retail and industrial activity. Two primary transportation corridors traverse the Jurupa Valley area, Interstate 15 which runs north and south, and State Highway 60, which runs east and west. It has been in recent years that residential development and economic activity has increased, in particular in the areas adjacent to the I-15 and Hwy 60. The City has significant capacity for expansion of both residential and commercial development activity in the future.