Romoland, California

History

On June 25, 1900, the first Ethanac Post Office was established across Highway 74, named after Ethan Allen Chase (an early settler to the area), with John Gaston serving as the first postmaster. In 1925, the town of Ethanac changed to "Romola Farms", developed by the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company. The developer sold off small ranches of four to five acres for the cultivation of fig trees, and grapes. The project became so popular that the Ethanac post office would be changed to Romola Farms. When the Post Office Department requested the name change, to avoid confusion with San Diego County's Ramona post office, the name was changed for a final time to Romoland. The origin of the development of the name has never been revealed.

In 1985, Leon E. Motte built the "Motte's Romola Farms" Barn off Highway 74, designed by architect Robert Morris. After building the barn from all salvaged materials, the Mottes sold produce for 10 years before leasing it out to other food vendors, such as Tom's Farms and Hamshaw Farms. In 2011, Motte's Romola Farms reopened as the Motte Historical Museum. The Motte Historical Museum is now a classic car museum and showcases the history of the surrounding valley, as well as documenting the area's agricultural roots. The "Motte's Romola Farms" Barn has always been a longtime landmark on Highway 74.

On October 1, 2008, a significant portion of Romoland became part of the then-newly incorporated City of Menifee.

Geography

Romoland is located at (33.745783, -117.174228).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 sqmi, all of it land.

As of the 2000 census, according to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 3.0 sqmi, all of it land.

However, prior to its incorporation into the city of Menifee, California, the Romoland region was considered to encompass the entire unincorporated area between Perris, Homeland, Nuevo, and Menifee. The total population prior to Menifee's incorporation in 2008 may have exceeded 100,000 residents in the 30 sqmi area. To the east, the school district extended to Green Acres, east of Homeland. Menifee and Nuevo have their own school districts. When Sun City was built, Menifee then included the Sun City area.

According to the Geographic Names Information System, the town previously had the toponyms Ethanac and Ethanac Siding.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

A census designated place under the name Romoland was defined in the 1980 U.S. Census; and then deleted after being incorporated into the city of Menifee in 2008. A new CDP under the same name consisting of area adjacent to the earlier CDP was defined in the 2010 U.S. Census.

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Romoland had a population of 2,005. The population density was 758.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Romoland was 751 (37.5%) White, 97 (4.8%) African American, 39 (1.9%) Native American, 71 (3.5%) Asian, 8 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 682 (34.0%) from other races, and 357 (17.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,173 persons (58.5%).

The whole population lived in households. There were 533 households, out of which 241 (45.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 295 (55.3%) were married-couple households, 32 (6.0%) were cohabiting couple households, 103 (19.3%) had a female householder with no partner present, and 103 (19.3%) had a male householder with no partner present. 69 households (12.9%) were one person, and 16 (3.0%) were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.76.

The age distribution was 538 people (26.8%) under the age of 18, 227 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 520 people (25.9%) aged 25 to 44, 508 people (25.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 212 people (10.6%) who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 33.7years. For every 100 females, there were 105.2 males.

There were 573 housing units at an average density of 216.7 /mi2, of which 533 (93.0%) were occupied. Of these, 407 (76.4%) were owner-occupied, and 126 (23.6%) were occupied by renters.

The Census reported that the median income in Romoland was $90,185, with 20.6% of the population living below the poverty line.

2010

At the 2010 census Romoland had a population of 1,684. The population density was 636.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Romoland was 958 (56.9%) White, 65 (3.9%) African American, 8 (0.5%) Native American, 35 (2.1%) Asian, 12 (0.7%) Pacific Islander, 514 (30.5%) from other races, and 92 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 865 people (51.4%).

The whole population lived in households, no one lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and no one was institutionalized.

There were 455 households, 232 (51.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 287 (63.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 46 (10.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 34 (7.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 27 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 6 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 61 households (13.4%) were one person and 14 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.70. There were 367 families (80.7% of households); the average family size was 4.07.

The age distribution was 502 people (29.8%) under the age of 18, 221 people (13.1%) aged 18 to 24, 395 people (23.5%) aged 25 to 44, 434 people (25.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 132 people (7.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 32.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

There were 512 housing units at an average density of 193.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 351 (77.1%) were owner-occupied and 104 (22.9%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 1,288 people (76.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 396 people (23.5%) lived in rental housing units.

Politics

In the state legislature, Romoland is located in , and in .

In the United States House of Representatives, Romoland is in .

Education

It is in the Romoland Elementary School District, and the Perris Union High School District for grades 9-12.

References

References

1. {{Cite GNIS. 1661327. Romoland
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. Gunther, Jane Davies. (1984). "Riverside County, California, Place Names: Their Origins and Their Stories". J.D. Gunther.
4. "Motte Historical Museum".
5. "Menifee Community Profile".
6. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
7. "Decennial Census by Decade".
8. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County".
9. "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County".
10. "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions".
11. "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions".
12. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California".
13. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California".
14. "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California".
15. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California".
16. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California".
17. "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California".
18. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California".
19. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California".
20. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California".
21. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California".
22. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California".
23. "Romoland CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing".
24. "Romoland CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing".
25. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Romoland CDP". U.S. Census Bureau.
26. "Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission".
27. {{Cite GovTrack. CA. 41
28. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Riverside County, CA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].