Murrieta is a city in southwestern Riversie County, California, United States. The population was 44,282 at the 2000 census. Population was estimated to be 97,257 in 2007, 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.