Father Santiago kept a journal in which he noted seeing 'Temecula. The first recorded Spanish visit occurred in October 1797, with a Franciscan padre, Father Juan Norberto de Santiago, and Captain Pedro Lisalde. Other popular interpretations of the name include 'The sun that shines through the mist' or 'Where the sun breaks through the mist'. The Temecula Indians ('Temeekuyam') lived at 'Temeekunga', or 'the place of the sun'. They call it ''Éxva Temeéku', the place of the union of Sky-father, and Earth-mother ('Tuukumit'pi Tamaayowit'). In Pechanga history, life on Earth began in the Temecula Valley. The Pechanga Band of Luiseño believe their ancestors have lived in the Temecula area for more than 10,000 years, though ethnologists think they arrived at a more recent date. Seven bands of Luiseño Indians inhabited the Temecula valley pre-contact: the Pechanga, La Jolla, Soboba, Pala, Rincon, Pauma, and San Luis Rey bands (presently, all of the bands except the San Luis Rey are federally recognized tribes). The area was inhabited by the Temecula Indians for hundreds of years before their contact with the Spanish missionaries (the people are now generally known as the Luiseños, after the nearby Mission San Luis Rey de Francia). ( November 2008) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. This section possibly contains original research. Temecula is also the principal city of the Temecula–Murrieta– Menifee, CA urban area, which had a population of 528,991 as of the 2020 census. Temecula is bordered by the city of Murrieta to the north and the Pechanga Indian Reservation and San Diego County to the south.

Although Temecula is geographically closer to downtown San Diego than downtown Los Angeles, it is considered part of the Greater Los Angeles area. The city of Temecula, forming the southwestern anchor of the Inland Empire region, is approximately 58 miles (93 km) north of downtown San Diego and 85 miles (137 km) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is a tourist and resort destination, with the Temecula Valley Wine Country, Old Town Temecula, the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, the Temecula Valley International Film Festival, championship golf courses, and resort accommodations contributing to the city's economic profile.

The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. Temecula ( / t ə ˈ m ɛ k j ʊ l ə/ Spanish: Temécula, Luiseño: Temeekunga) is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States.

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