Compared to more mundane areas in this great country, one has to admit it would be swell to live in a place where street lane markings were invented, where casino gambling became legal, the primary crop is dates and there’s a place called Chocolate Mountain. And, oh yeah, Judy Garland lived there.

Of course, it has to be in California. It’s Riverside County, to be exact. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside, which is the county seat. From the rolling hills of Temecula to the palm tree-lined streets of the Coachella Valley, Riverside County offers an interesting story, diverse geography and something for just about everyone.

When, in the early 1980s, Riverside County made efforts to shut down bingo halls run by the Mission Indians, the tribes joined forces and took the case all the way to the US Supreme Court. The court ruled in the tribes’ favor, and Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in 1988. The tribes now operate large casinos in Riverside County.

The county is mostly desert in its central and eastern areas, and is a Mediterranean climate in its western portion. Its warm year-round climate makes the region ideal for the production of tropical fruits such as mangoes, figs and dates.

Riverside County is bordered by Orange County to the west, San Bernardino County to the north, and San Diego County and Imperial County to the south. It covers 7,208 square miles in the southern part of California, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the border with Arizona.

The county has been home to a number of Hollywood stars since the 1930s. In addition to the aforementioned Judy Garland, residents have included Bing Crosby, Humphrey Bogart, John Barrymore, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Dakota Fanning.