About Hemet (Main)
Hemet, CA
Hemet is one of 3,400 towns and cities in the United States to be named a Tree City. Tree Cities are recognized as a community that provides assistance and public attention to the importance of urban forestry.
Located in San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, the Hemet Dam was created in 1895. It has the capacity of 14,000 acres feet of water creating Lake Hemet. Recreational activities such as fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking, and camping can be found at Lake Hemet. This lake helped the city of Hemet grow and stimulate local agriculture which includes citrus, apricots, peaches, olives, and walnuts.
With the warm climate in the area along with the availability of water supporting the local agriculture, mobile homes popped up by the 1960s. Residential development began in the area as a place for people to retire. By the 1980s, single-family homes were built and by the early 2000s, the area skyrocketed as a place of affordability for those working in neighboring cities such as Riverside and San Bernandino.
The economy of Hemet is based on four main industries: retail, health care, educational services, and government. The top employer of the city is the Hemet Unified School District.