The City of Perris, steeped in history and known for its skydiving, the Lake Perris State Recreation Area, the Southern California Railway Museum, and more, has a rich past that dates back to the early 1800s. The time when Spanish miners, upon discovering gold deposits, attracted a wave of prospectors to the area. The region’s moderate climate, fertile soil, and expansive flat lands have always been a draw for agriculture.

Named after Fred T. Perris, a Chief Engineer of the California Southern Railroad (CSRR), the area was touted as being conveniently located between the northern and southern parts of the Perris Valley. In 1886, the town of Perris was officially named a station on the Transcontinental route of the Santa Fe railroad bringing more people and commerce.

As of 2023, Perris has taken significant steps towards conservation. A total of 182 acres of land has been set aside for the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan reserve.  The City, as a permittee of the MSHCP, aims to conserve 1,071 acres of habitat for native animal and plant species.

Thanks to the MSHCP streamlined permitting process, the City was able to benefit from vital infrastructure projects, including the Perris Valley Line, which brought Metrolink service to the Perris area, the I-215 Placentia Avenue Interchange project, and the I-215 Central widening just to name a few.

The RCA was created in 2004 to implement the MSHCP, one of the largest such plans in the nation. In addition to protecting 146 native animal and plant species, the MSHCP streamlines the environmental permitting process for needed infrastructure like transportation and housing in the western Riverside County.