Murrieta is a city in southwestern
Riverside County,
California,
United States. The population was 44,282 at the 2000 census. Population was estimated to be 97,257 in 2007,
[1] making it one of the fastest growing cities in the state. Largely residential in character, Murrieta is considered a
bedroom community, with large numbers of its residents
commuting to jobs in San Diego and Orange counties, and the more industrialized neighboring city of Temecula to the south.
Murrieta is bordered by Temecula to the South and unincorporated areas on all other sides.
Murrieta should not be confused with Rancho Murieta, which is an unincorporated community in northern California, near Sacramento.
The city's current mayor as of December 4, 2007 is Rick Gibbs.