Corona-Norco Can Only Dream of Losing that Special Inland Empire Identity

It's not that it was done for Corona's benefit on purpose, but it is no secret that local residents have tried to take undue advantage of the fact that the phone company has released them from the 909 scarlet area code they wore on their phone numbers. And I speak exclusively of Corona and surrounding neighborhoods, butting up against the edge of Orange County like nosy little sisters dragged along to the dance because mom made big sister take us. While it's true that Riverside is also now 9-5-1, not only does Riverside pretty much define the IE no matter what area code identifies it, my impression is that Riverside is actually somewhat self-deprecatingly proud of its Inland Empire status and has no notion of shedding it.

But Corona-Norco (and Corona residents will forgive me for lumping them together with my neighborhood, or maybe they won't, but our High School football team is way better than any that they have managed to scrape up, so la-di-da...) is not so resigned. We struggle against that Inland Empire vibe that has caused local mayors to speak out in protest of prime-time soap opera depictions and OC teens to sneer behind the backs of immigrant night-life seekers. But it is to no avail. We will not shed the association, no matter how high housing prices get.

There are several factors that contribute to the futility of our efforts to be seen as more OC than IE. But the number one factor I think is an east OC conspiracy.

91 freeway traffic.

For those not familiar with the experience, driving from anywhere east of Yorba Linda to any point west in the a.m., or back in the p.m., is merely a wishful notion. You'd do better to wait for FEMA to airlift you from the top of your motionless vehicle and take you to a IE refugee center. It's faster to hike.