Like many Southern California towns, Hemet was first inhabited by Native Americans-in Hemet's case, members of the Cahuilla Indian tribe. Then, in the early 1800s, the area became a cattle ranch for the Mission San Luis Rey. In 1842, the missions broke up and the land was awarded to Jose Antonio Estudillo.

Hemet may never have come to pass if it weren't for writer Helen Hunt Jackson's journey to the San Jacinto Valley in 1883. Accompanied by her interpreter, Abbot Kinney, Jackson came to gather material on local Indian tribes and their treatment for a novel. That novel, Ramona, became a bestseller and is often considered, along with Uncle Tom's Cabin, to be one of the great propaganda novels of the 19th century. However, while in the area with Jackson, Kinney met several businessmen and became interested in establishing a water reservoir and purchasing land from Estudillo to create a city.

For unknown reasons, Kinney pulled out of the deal, but in 1886, Estudillo sold 3,000 acres to three other men, who worked with others to build a dam in the mountains in order to supply water to the area. Hemet prospered in the 1890s, primarily through the dedication of two wealthy men, Edward L. Mulberry and William Whittier. A three-story brick hotel was built, along with a warehouse, opera house and businesses. Soon the Bank of Hemet was established and residents were supplied with electricity and a water filtration system.

In 1909, Hemet real estate agent T.S. Brown began calling for residents to vote to incorporate as a city. They did so on Jan. 11, 1910, and Brown became the city's first mayor. Hemet continued to grow, but residents didn't forget the town's roots. In 1923, they held the first annual Ramona pageant to honor Helen Hunt Jackson and her landmark novel. The festival is still held each spring.

A California tradition for 82 years and counting!