Rich in history, fertile land, and mild weather, the city of San Jacinto is a diverse mixture of culture and history made up of its past and present. The first native people arrived in the San Jacinto Valley thousands of years ago when hunters and gatherers settled along streams and springs of what is now known as the city of San Jacinto.

The city was named after early 13th century Saint Hyacinth and was carried through to the San Jacinto River and Mt. San Jacinto. The City’s close proximity to nature contributed significantly to the city’s tourism thanks to the natural hot springs occurring along the side of the valley, just north of the San Jacinto River. Gilman Hot Springs, Soboba Hot Springs, and Eden Hot Springs have become hot spots (literally and figuratively) that draw countless visitors each year to San Jacinto and have made the city synonymous with these natural wonders.

Located north of Hemet and south of Beaumont, San Jacinto is home to a variety of beautiful open space where families and nature enthusiasts can take in the beautiful sights of the San Jacinto Mountains. As of 2022, 1,130 acres of lands in San Jacinto have been conserved for the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) reserve assembly. The conserved lands include the San Jacinto Mountains and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Lake Perris – both featuring stunning sights and open spaces perfect for birdwatching, hiking, biking, and fresh air, not to mention the third tallest peak in southern California.

On February 26, 2016, the RCA acquired 2,793 acres of Bautista Canyon through state and federal grant funding. The acquisition is located near the San Jacinto Valley area plan in unincorporated Riverside County, and contains important biological resources, including chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian scrub, and woodland forest habitats. The MSHCP protected species found in this area include Arroyo Toad, Mountain Yellow-legged frog, Quino Checkerspot butterfly, bobcat, Los Angeles pocket mouse, and mountain lion.

The city of San Jacinto aims to protect 2,133 acres as part of the MSHCP and has received more than $10 million in Measure A funding as a permittee.