Jurupa Incorporation circa 1948

In January 1948 the Riverside Enterprise  reported that the West Riverside Township Chamber of Commerce held their regular meeting. At that meeting a committee was formed consisting of J.M. Dorr, Archie Parks, R.E. Wright, Charles While, Jonny Allan, B. Ramek, Carl Peterson, and Louis Maretti. The purpose of that committee? To investigate the steps needed to incorporate as a city.

This is one of those "what if?" moments in Jurupa history. What if we had become a city by, say, 1950? What would have been different in our area now if we had decided to take the bull by the horns and control our own destiny? I am going to make some wild guesses but here goes!

I think Mira Loma would have a library. Back in the day, before the internet, access to information was through local libraries. I think a city would have made sure that its entire population had resonable access to a library.   

There would be no such thing as the Jurupa Parks District because the City would have dealt with parks services. No parks district, no nasty lawsuit with the JCSD!  

I think we would have more horse trails because horses have long been an important part of this community and as things were developed I think horse trails would have been developed with them.

I think Flabob Airport would have developed into more of an economic hub as the city recognized its worth and developed the property around it with complementary uses.

Last but not least, my husband thinks that, instead of warehouses, Mira Loma would be home to the LA area NFL team and stadium. Hey, a man can dream, can't he?    

So, fellow Jurupians, what do you think would be different in our fair community if we had become a city in 1950? No city of Bell comparisons!  Just a fun excercise in "what if." Leave your comments, I would like to see them!