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Ontario, California

Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County in the U.S. state of California, 35 mi east of downtown Los Angeles and 23 mi west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, it lies just east of Los Angeles County and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. As of the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 175,265.

The city is home to the Ontario International Airport, which is the 15th-busiest airport in the United States by cargo carried. Ontario handles the mass of freight traffic between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the rest of the country.

It takes its name from the Ontario Model Colony development established in 1882 by the Canadian engineer George Chaffey and his brothers William Chaffey and Charles Chaffey. They named the settlement after their home province of Ontario.

Tovaangar (before 1771)
Ontario was inhabited by the Tongva people for over 1,000 years. Their country is now known as Tovaangar. The Ontario area was connected to the village of Cucamonga, whose location is not now precisely known.

The Spanish Empire's New Spain Portolá expedition found and named the Santa Ana River in 1769. They also explored the Cucamonga area.

Spanish Empire (1771–1822)
In 1771, Franciscans from New Spain settled nearby, and established the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founding what is today San Gabriel. They enslaved the Tongva people. The area was now part of the New Spain Province of Las Californias. Juan Bautista de Anza is said to have passed through the area on his 1774 expedition, which created a land route between the province of Sonora and San Gabriel. An Ontario city park and a middle school now bear his name. The route became known as the El Camino Real.

In 1804, the northern part of Las Californias became the new province of Nueva California.

In 1810, the San Gabriel Franciscans took over the Tongva village of Kaawchama (in today's west Redlands), replacing it with the Guachama rancheria. This included a chapel devoted to San Bernardino (beginning the association of the saint with the area). The rancheria was destroyed by the Serrano in 1812, and was rebuilt nearby as the San Bernardino de Sena estancia in 1819.

Mexico (1822–1847)
In 1822, word of the Mexican triumph in the Mexican War of Independence reached Nueva California, and the lands previously controlled by the Spanish Empire passed to the custody of the Mexican government.

In 1824, the province of Nueva California was renamed Alta California.

In 1826, American explorer Jedediah Smith passed through what is now Upland on the first known overland journey from the east coast to the west coast of North America. He used Native American trails that he helped establish as the California Trail. (This later became the National Old Trails Road, Route 66, and today's Foothill Boulevard.)

Use of the San Gabriel mission's Rancho Cucamonga was in 1839 granted to Tiburcio Tapia by Alta Californian governor Juan Bautista Alvarado as part of the secularization of California land holdings. This emancipated the Tongva enslaved there.

The name Mount San Antonio was probably bestowed by Antonio Maria Lugo, owner of Rancho San Antonio near present-day Compton circa 1840, in honor of his patron saint, Anthony of Padua.

In 1845, Rancho Cucamonga was inherited by Tapia's daughter, Maria Prudhomme, and her husband Leon Prudhomme.

1800s
In January 1847, the area became controlled by the United States following the conquest of California as part of the Mexican-American War, and was formalised by the Treaty of Cahuenga. Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, the United States recognised the existing land tenure, and took formal control of the land. It ruled it under a military administration until a new civilian body was established in December 1849, which became the state of California in September 1850. In February 1850, the interim California government established Los Angeles County. (The earlier Los Angeles municipal government did not cover today's Ontario.)

The new Californian administration soon began a war of extermination against the Tongva, which came to be known as being part of the California genocide. 1850's Act for the Government and Protection of Indians ensured that slavery of the people it covered remained legal.

San Bernardino County was founded in 1853, following the establishment of a new Mormon settlement. A road was built between San Bernardino and Los Angeles that year, passing through Rancho Cucamonga.

Rancho Cucamonga was sold in 1858 to John Rains.

Slavery of Native Americans became illegal in California in 1865.

John Rain's heirs sold Rancho Cucamonga in 1870 to an Isaias Hellman-led syndicate, the "Cucamonga Company". 20 years after the initial application, the California government formally converted the title of the rancho to freehold in 1872.

In 1881, the Chaffey brothers, George and William, purchased a parcel of Hellman's Rancho Cucamonga land, and rights to Mount San Antonio water. The brothers established a settlement they named "Ontario" in honor of the province of Ontario in Canada, where they were from.

The land was sometimes referred to the "San Antonio lands", as they included half the water rights to Mount San Antonio (colloquially known as "Mount Baldy"). They engineered a drainage system channelling water from the foothills of the mountain down to the flatter lands below that performed the dual functions of allowing farmers to water their crops and preventing the floods that periodically afflict them.

They also created the main thoroughfare of Euclid Avenue (California Highway 83), with its distinctive wide lanes and grassy median. A mule-drawn passenger tramway was used from 1887 to 1895 on the central reservation the Avenue, operated by the Ontario and San Antonio Heights Railroad Company.

The San Antonio Water Company was incorporated in October 1882. Since then it has served the area that is today Ontario, Upland and San Antonio Heights, and to a lesser extent Montclair.

In 1885, the Chaffey brothers opened a campus of the University of Southern California. This included a secondary school.

Also in 1885, the Ontario Record newspaper was founded. (It would later be known as The Daily Report.)

The new "Model Colony" (called so because it offered the perfect balance between agriculture and the urban comforts of schools, churches, and commerce) was originally conceived as a dry town, early deeds containing clauses forbidding the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages within the town. Ontario attracted farmers (primarily growing citrus) and ailing Easterners seeking a drier climate (often to treat tuberculosis). To impress visitors and potential settlers with the "abundance" of water in Ontario, a fountain was placed at the Southern Pacific railway station. It was turned on when passenger trains were approaching and frugally turned off again after their departure. The original "Chaffey fountain", a simple spigot surrounded by a ring of white stones, was later replaced by the more ornate "Frankish Fountain", an art nouveau creation now located outside the Ontario Museum of History and Art. Agriculture was vital to the early economy, and many street names recall this legacy. The Sunkist plant remains as a living vestige of the citrus era.

The Chaffey brothers left in 1886 to found the Australian irrigation settlements of Mildura and Renmark, selling their Ontario assets to the Ontario Land & Improvement Company. Its president was Charles Frankish. He founded the Ontario State Bank in 1887, the settlement's first bank.

Central Ontario was incorporated as a city in 1891. The San Antonio Electric Light & Power Company was organized in 1891 to provide electricity to Ontario, Pomona and Redlands. The Graber Olive House was established in 1894, and is now the longest operating olive packing business in the United States.

In 1895, the Ontario Electric Company was established by Charles Frankish. In its first year it took over the mule-cars, and replaced them with electrical powered vehicles.

1900s
The City of Ontario's territory was greatly expanded in 1900.

Tens of thousands of European immigrants came to work in agriculture. In the early 1900s, the first Filipinos and Japanese farm laborers arrived, and later many came to own plant nurseries.

In 1901, the original college closed, and a new Ontario High School replaced it. This soon became Chaffey College, and offered college courses as well as high school education.

Ontario was declared a "model colony" by an act of Congress in 1903.

North Ontario broke away from the city in 1906, calling itself Upland.

In 1912, the streetcar line became the Upland–Ontario Line of Pacific Electric. It was closed in 1928.

In 1929, the city of Ontario established the Ontario Municipal Airport. This is now the Ontario International Airport, and is the largest employer in the city.

AM radio station KOCS began in 1946, which was followed by sister station KOCS-FM in 1947. The stations initially operated as part of The Daily Report, and would go on to change their name, format and ownership many times.

In 1960, the higher education part of Chaffey College moved to nearby Rancho Cucamonga.

From 1970 to 1980, the Ontario Motor Speedway hosted motor racing events including the California 500, and music events like California Jam.

The Cardenas supermarket chain began in Ontario in 1981.

The Daily Report merged with the nearby Progress Bulletin to become the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in 1990.

An Ontario station of the Metrolink rail service opened in 1993 (it later became known as "Ontario – East").

Large shopping mall Ontario Mills opened to the public on November 14, 1996, on the old Ontario Motor Speedway parking lot.

On December 13, 1996, AMC Theatres opened AMC Ontario Mills 30 in Ontario, which it billed as the "world's largest theater". Three months later, Edwards Theaters opened the Edwards Ontario Palace 22 across the street. Ontario now had 52 screens on the one site, more than any other location in the United States. The opening of that many screens in the Inland Empire came about as the culmination of a lifelong rivalry between AMC's Stanley Durwood and Edwards Theaters' James Edwards. Edwards was infuriated when he learned Durwood had beaten him to a deal with Ontario Mills, and later told him, "I had to teach you a lesson".

The Ontario Convention Centre opened in 1997.

In 1999, the large agricultural area in the south of Ontario (the "ag preserve") was re-zoned for residential and commercial use. This area was now described as the "New Model Colony", before being renamed Ontario Ranch, and finally New Haven.

2000s
The University of La Verne opened a law-focused campus in Ontario in 2001.

In 2008, the Ontario Community Events Center opened. It hosts a number of professional minor-league indoor sports teams.

AM radio station KSPA went off the air in 2020.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 50.0 sqmi. Of that, 49.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi is water. The total area is 0.13% water.

Climate
The climate of Ontario is influenced by BSh semi-arid conditions, with hot summers and mild winters. Santa Ana Winds hit the area frequently in autumn and winter. Extremes range from 118 °F down to 25 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ontario has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.

Demographics
The most common country of origin in Ontario besides the United States is Mexico. 19.04% of Ontario's population is Mexican-born. The other most common countries of origin outside the United States in Ontario are the Philippines, El Salvador, Guatemala, Vietnam, Korea, China, Honduras, Thailand and Peru. The most common spoken languages in Ontario besides English are Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, other Pacific Island language, Korean, Portuguese, Urdu and Arabic. Roman Catholicism is the most practiced religion. German, Irish, English, Italian and Dutch are the most common ancestries.

2020
The U.S. Census accounts for race by two methodologies. "Race alone" and "Race alone less Hispanics" where Hispanics are delineated separately as if a separate race.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 24.15% (42,332) White alone, 6.30% (11,045) Black alone, 2.39% (4,184) Native American alone, 9.27% (16,243) Asian alone, 0.31% (549) Pacific Islander alone, 38.04% (66,663) Other Race alone, and 19.54% (24,249) Multiracial or Mixed Race.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial and ethnic makeup (where Hispanics are excluded from the racial counts and placed in their own category) was 13.69% (23,997) White alone (non-Hispanic), 5.90% (10,336) Black alone (non-Hispanic), 0.23% (409) Native American alone (non-Hispanic), 8.95% (15,693) Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.24% (415) Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.53% (933) Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), 2.03% (3,554) Multiracial or Mixed Race (non-Hispanic), and 68.43% (119,928) Hispanic or Latino.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Ontario had a population of 163,924. The population density was 3,278.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Ontario was 83,683 (51.0%) White (18.2% Non-Hispanic White), 10,561 (6.4%) African American, 1,686 (1.0%) Native American, 8,453 (5.2%) Asian, 514 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 51,373 (31.3%) from other races, and 7,654 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 113,085 persons (69.0%).

The Census reported that 163,166 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 411 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 347 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 44,931 households, out of which 23,076 (51.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23,789 (52.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7,916 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,890 (8.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,470 (7.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 384 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,741 households (15.0%) were made up of individuals, and 2,101 (4.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.63. There were 35,595 families (79.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.98.

The population was spread out, with 49,443 people (30.2%) under the age of 18, 19,296 people (11.8%) aged 18 to 24, 49,428 people (30.2%) aged 25 to 44, 34,703 people (21.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,054 people (6.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

There were 47,449 housing units at an average density of 948.9 /mi2, of which 24,832 (55.3%) were owner-occupied, and 20,099 (44.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 90,864 people (55.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 72,302 people (44.1%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Ontario had a median household income of $54,249, with 18.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,007 people, 43,525 households, and 34,689 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,173.9 PD/sqmi. There were 45,182 housing units at an average density of 907.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 47.8% White, 7.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 3.9% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 34.1% from other races and 5.3% were from two or more races. 59.9% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 43,525 households, out of which 49.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.6 and the average family size was 4.0.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.4% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,452, and the median income for a family was $44,031. Males had a median income of $31,664 versus $26,069 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,244. 15.5% of the population and 12.2% of families were below the poverty line. 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy

In the years following Ontario's founding, the economy was driven by its reputation as a health resort. Shortly thereafter, citrus farmers began taking advantage of Ontario's rocky soil to plant lemon and orange groves. Agricultural opportunities also attracted vintners and olive growers. The Graber Olive House, which continues to produce olives, is a city historical landmark and one of the oldest institutions in Ontario. Dairy farming is also prevalent, as it continues to be in neighboring Chino. Much of southern Ontario still contains dairy farms and other agricultural farms. However, the area is currently under planning to be developed into a mixed-use area of residential homes, industrial and business parks, and town centers, collectively known as the New Model Colony.

A major pre-war industry was the city's General Electric plant that produced clothing irons. During and after World War II, Ontario experienced a housing boom common to many suburbs. The expansion of the Southern California defense industry attracted many settlers to the city. With California's aerospace industry concentrated in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the Ontario International Airport was used as a pilot training center. Today, Ontario still has a manufacturing industry, the most notable of which are Maglite, which produces flashlights. Manufacturing has waned, and Ontario's economy is dominated by service industries and warehousing. Major distribution centers are operated by companies such as AutoZone, Cardinal Health, MBM, Genuine Parts/NAPA, and Nordstrom.

Ontario is also home to Niagara Bottling, The Icee Company, clothing companies Famous Stars and Straps and Shiekh Shoes, Scripto U.S.A., and to Phoenix Motorcars, who employs over 150 employees in Ontario.

Top employers
According to the city's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Tourism
The Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau implemented a tourism marketing district and adopted an aggressive five-year strategic plan focusing on marketing initiatives to bring visitors to the region, build brand and destination awareness while enhancing the local economy.

Arts and culture
Ontario is home to three museums, the Ontario Museum of History and Art, the Chaffey Community Museum of Art, and the Ontario Police Museum.

Built in 1925, The Granada Theatre was leased to West Coast Junior Theater. By the 1940s, the theater had become part of the Fox West Coast Theater chain. The Granada Theatre was designed by architect L.A. Smith.

Ontario is also the home to the second largest consumer Quilt Show in the United States, Road to California. The quilt show books over 2,400 room nights and has a recorded attendance of over 40,000 attendees.

The Ontario post office contains two oil on canvas murals, The Dream depicting founder Chaffey with surveyors and The Reality which shows a view of the completed Euclid Avenue, painted by WPA muralist Nellie Geraldine Best in 1942.

Since 1959, Ontario has placed three-dimensional nativity scenes on the median of Euclid Avenue during the Christmas season. The scenes, featuring statues by the sculptor Rudolph Vargas, were challenged in 1998 as a violation of church-state separation under the California Constitution by an atheist resident, but the dispute was resolved when private organizations began funding the storage and labor involved in the set-up and maintenance of the scenery in its entirety. To support the nativity scenes the Ontario Chamber of Commerce started a craft fair called "Christmas on Euclid".

The All-States Picnic, an Independence Day celebration, began in 1939 to recognize the varied origins of the city's residents. Picnic tables lined the median of Euclid Avenue from Hawthorne to E Street, with signs for each of the country's 48 states. The picnic was suspended during World War II, but when it resumed in 1948, it attracted 120,000 people. A 1941 Ripley's Believe It or Not! cartoon listed Ontario's picnic table as the "world's longest". As native Californians came to outnumber the out-of-state-born, the celebration waned in popularity until it was discontinued in 1981. It was revived in 1991 as a celebration of civic pride.

Sports

The Toyota Arena is a multipurpose arena which opened in late 2008. It is owned by Ontario, but is operated by SMG Worldwide. It is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose arena, the largest enclosed arena in the Inland Empire. Over 125 events are held annually featuring sporting competitions, concerts, and family shows.

The arena had been the home of the Ontario Reign, a former team in the ECHL, that called the arena home from 2008 to 2015. The Los Angeles Kings' affiliate played at the 9,736-seat Toyota Arena. In their debut season of 2008–09, they were second in the league in attendance, averaging 5856 fans per game. The Reign led the ECHL in average attendance in every subsequent year.

In January 2015, the American Hockey League, a minor league above the ECHL, announced that it was forming a new Pacific Division and would be replacing the ECHL Ontario Reign with a relocated team. The Kings relocated the Manchester Monarchs, a franchise they had owned and operated since 2012, and became the Ontario Reign beginning with the 2015–16 AHL season.

The Ontario Motor Speedway was located in Ontario, and held races for USAC, Formula One, NHRA, and NASCAR. It was demolished in 1980 after the Chevron Land Company bought the property.

Local government
The city is governed by a five-member council.

According to the 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $399.4 million in revenues, $305.3 million in expenditures, $1,606.0 million in total assets, $317.6 million in total liabilities, and $412.4 million in cash and investments.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Ontario is in, and in the 52nd Assembly District by Democrat Freddie Rodriguez.

In the United States House of Representatives, Ontario is in.

Education
Ontario has five school districts: Ontario/Montclair Elementary, Mt View Elementary, Cucamonga Elementary, Chino Unified and Chaffey Joint Union in the City borders. There are also several private schools throughout the city as well as two private military schools. Ontario also has nine trade schools. The University of La Verne College of Law is located in downtown Ontario. National University, Argosy University, San Joaquin Valley College and Chapman University have a satellite campus near the Ontario Mills mall. Ontario Christian is located there. Gateway Seminary has a campus in Ontario.

Transportation
The Ontario International Airport provides domestic and international air travel. Because of the many manufacturing companies and warehouses in the city, the airport also serves as a major hub for freight, especially for FedEx and UPS.

Because Ontario is a major hub for passengers and freight, the city is also served by several major freeways. Interstate 10 and the Pomona Freeway (State Route 60) run east–west through the city. Interstate 10 is north of the Ontario airport while the Pomona freeway is south of the airport. Interstate 15 runs in the north–south directions at the eastern side of the city. State Route 83, also known as Euclid Avenue, also runs in the north–south direction at the western side of the city.

The Amtrak station is serviced by the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle lines. The Amtrak Thruway 19 provides twice daily connections from this station to/from Bakersfield to the north, and San Bernardino to the east, with several stops in between.

The Ontario-East Metrolink station is located off of Haven Avenue. It connects Ontario with much of the Greater Los Angeles area, Orange County, and the San Fernando Valley.

Public bus transportation is provided by Omnitrans. Additional bus and rail connections to Los Angeles and elsewhere are available at the nearby Montclair station. A bus rapid transit line known as the sbX Purple Line is currently being constructed, which will run through the city.

Cemeteries
The Bellevue Memorial Park is located on West G Street. Spanish–American War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Frank Fulton Ross is buried there, as is George Chaffey, one of the two founders of the city.

Shopping
Ontario Mills is a major shopping mall in Ontario, while Cardenas, a supermarket chain specializing in Latin American cuisine, was founded in and is based in Ontario.

Notable people

 * Hobie Alter, pioneer surfboard maker and catamaran builder
 * Jeff Ayres, basketball player, NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs
 * Rod Barajas, MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and six other MLB teams
 * Madge Bellamy, actress
 * Jim Brulte, politician
 * Jason Bowles, stock car racing driver
 * Eudora Stone Bumstead (1860–1892), poet, hymnwriter
 * Henry Bumstead, Academy Award-winning cinematic art director and designer
 * Beverly Cleary, author and Newbery Medal-winning novelist (1984), The Luckiest Girl and memoir My Own Two Feet
 * Andy Clyde, actor, married in Ontario in 1932
 * Del Crandall, MLB player and manager, 11-time All-Star, member of 1957 World Series champion Braves
 * William De Los Santos, poet, screenwriter and film director
 * Joseph Dippolito, former underboss of the Dragna crime family
 * Landon Donovan, former Los Angeles Galaxy and USMNT player; born in Ontario, raised in Redlands
 * Prince Fielder, baseball player for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Detroit Tigers
 * José Carrera García, professional footballer
 * Ana Patricia González, winner of Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010 (Our Latin Beauty 2010) and currently appearing on ¡Despierta América!
 * Bill Graber, pole vaulter
 * Robert Graettinger, composer
 * Cle Kooiman, soccer player
 * Ryan Lane, actor
 * Nick Leyva, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1991)
 * Christina "T" Lopez, singer, actress; former member of Latin girl dance-pop band Soluna
 * Sam Maloof, furniture designer and woodworker
 * Shelly Martinez, professional wrestler
 * Anthony Muñoz, 1998 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
 * Al Newman, former MLB player
 * Douglas Northway, Olympic bronze medalist, swimming
 * Joan O'Brien, actress, graduate of Chaffey Union High School District
 * Charles Phoenix, pop culture humorist, historian, author and chef
 * Antonio Pierce, football player
 * Sol Ruca, professional wrestler
 * Joey Scarbury, singer
 * Robert Shaw, conductor
 * Mike Sweeney, MLB player for the Kansas City Royals, attended Ontario High School and led 1991 baseball team to undefeated record and state title
 * Bobby Wagner, football player, attended Colony High School; middle Linebacker for the Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks
 * Joseph Wambaugh, author
 * Frank Zappa, musician, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Sister cities
Ontario has five sister cities around the world. They are:
 * 🇨🇦 Brockville, Ontario, Canada (since 1977)
 * 🇲🇽 Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Mexico (since 1982)
 * 🇲🇽 Mocorito, Sinaloa, Mexico (since 1982)
 * 🇲🇽 Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico (since 1988)
 * 🇨🇭 Winterthur, Canton of Zürich, Switzerland
 * 🇨🇳 Jieyang, China

title: Ontario, California


text:
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Rancho Cucamonga is a city located just south of the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest in San Bernardino County, California, United States. About 37 mi east of Downtown Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga is the 28th most populous city in California. The city's seal, which centers on a cluster of grapes, alludes to the city's agricultural history including wine-making. The city's proximity to major transportation hubs, airports, and highways has attracted the business of several large corporations, including Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Big Lots, Mercury Insurance Group, Southern California Edison, and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals.

The city had a population of 174,453 according to the 2020 United States Census.

The Jack Benny Program popularized the city's name, in particular the word "Cucamonga".

History
By 1200 AD, Kukamongan Native Americans had established a village settlement in the area around present-day Red Hill, near the city's western border, where Red Hill Country Club stands today. Kukamonga derives its name from a Tongva word meaning "sandy place." Anthropologists have determined that this cluster of settlers likely belonged to the Tongva people or Kich people, at one time one of the largest concentrations of Native American peoples on the North American continent. In the 18th century, following an expedition led by Gaspar de Portola, the land was incorporated into the Mission System established by Father Junipero Serra and his group of soldiers and Franciscan friars. After a half century of political jockeying in the region, the land finally came under the control of Juan Bautista Alvarado, governor of Mexico. On March 3, 1839, Alvarado granted 13,000 acres of land in the area called "Cucamonga" to Tubercio Tapia, a first-generation Spanish native of Los Angeles, successful merchant, and notorious smuggler. Tapia went on to establish the first winery in California on his newly deeded land. Rancho Cucamonga was purchased by John Rains and his wife in 1858. The Rains family's home, Casa de Rancho Cucamonga, was completed in 1860 and now appears on the National Register of Historic Places.

During the ensuing years the town prospered and grew. In 1887, irrigation tunnels were dug into Cucamonga Canyon by Chinese laborers and the Santa Fe Railroad was extended through the area. Among the town's economic mainstays was agriculture, including olives, peaches, citrus, and, most notably, vineyards. In 1913, the Pacific Electric Railway was extended through Rancho Cucamonga in an effort to improve crop transportation. Several landmarks in existence today pay tribute to the city's multicultural founding. In particular, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel remains as a relic of the area's Mexican agriculture laborers while the Chinatown House stands as a reminder of the Chinese immigrants who labored in constructing the area's infrastructure.

In 1977, the unincorporated communities of Alta Loma, Cucamonga, and Etiwanda voted to incorporate, forming the city of Rancho Cucamonga.

Grapeland
The former community of Grapeland, first settled in 1869, lay roughly between today's Victoria Groves Park and Central Park. There was a schoolhouse which also doubled as a church. In 1890 an irrigation district was formed and $200,000 in bonds were sold to pay for improvements. The Sierra Vista reservoir was built in 1886-87 by J.L. Scofield as the focal point of a network of irrigation pipes. The system was unused, however, because the bond issue was declared illegal. "Orchards and vineyards began to die," The Daily Report newspaper reported in a retrospective. "Residents moved out. The post office closed in 1905. Homes, buildings were destroyed or abandoned." The reservoir remained unused until 1956, when the Fontana Union Water Company filled it with 5 million gallons of water. The local school district was merged with the Etiwanda district in 1901. In 1957 the settlement was practically deserted, but there were still rabbit-proof stone walls marking boundaries of previous citrus orchards.

Geography
Rancho Cucamonga is part of the Inland Empire and San Bernardino County, a region that lies inland from the Pacific coast and directly east of Los Angeles County. Rancho Cucamonga is located about 37 mi east of Los Angeles, bordered by Upland to its west, Ontario to its south, the San Gabriel Mountains to its north and I-15 and Fontana to its east. Situated on an alluvial plain with a wildland–urban interface, bears occasionally wander through. Views of Cucamonga Peak, one of the tallest peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains, are available. The city has a total area of 39.9 sqmi, 99.95% of which is land and 0.05% water.

Climate
The city's climate is classified as hot-summer Mediterranean, or Csa, under the Köppen climate classification system. Summers are long and hot, and winters are generally comfortable with occasionally chilly days. Yearly precipitation is 17.68 in and the city experiences an average of 287 sunny days per year, compared to a national average of 205 days.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Rancho Cucamonga had a population of 165,269. The population density was 4,145.2 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Rancho Cucamonga was 102,401 (62.0%) White (42.7% Non-Hispanic White), 15,246 (9.2%) African American, 1,134 (0.7%) Native American, 17,208 (10.4%) Asian, 443 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 19,878 (12.0%) from other races, and 8,959 (5.4%) from two or more races. There were 57,688 residents of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, of any race (34.9%).

The census reported that 162,145 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 136 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2,988 (1.8%) were institutionalized.

Out of a total of 54,383 households, 23,055 (42.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 30,533 (56.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7,514 (13.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 3,257 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present, as well as 2,995 (5.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 425 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 9,956 households (18.3%) were made up of individuals, and 2,679 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98. Over the 41,304 families (76.0% of all households), the average family size was 2.90.

The age distribution of the city was as follows: 42,550 people (25.7%) under the age of 18, 17,365 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 48,600 people (29.4%) aged 25 to 44, 43,710 people (26.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 13,044 people (7.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

There were 56,618 housing units at an average density of 1,420.1 /sqmi, of which 35,250 (64.8%) were owner-occupied, and 19,133 (35.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 110,570 people (66.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 51,575 people (31.2%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Rancho Cucamonga had a median household income of $77,835, with 6.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the 2000 census, there were 127,743 people, 40,863 households, and 31,832 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,317.0/km$2$ (3,411.4/mi2). There were 42,134 housing units at an average density of 434.4/km$2$ (1,125.2/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 66.53% White, 9.00% Asian, 0.67% Native American, 5.99% African American, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 13.25% from other races, and 5.41% from a biracial or multiracial background. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.78% of the population.

There were 40,863 households, of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18. 60.2% of households consist of a married couple living together. 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present. 22.1% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were single-person and 4.1% had a person of 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city, the population spread was as follows: 29.9% were under the age of 18, 9.9% were from 18 to 24, 33.2% were from 25 to 44, 21.0% were from 45 to 64, and 6.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $78,428 and the median income for a family was $91,240. Males had a median income of $50,288 versus $40,952 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,702. About 4.9% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

While most of the city's land area is devoted to residential areas, Rancho Cucamonga, like its neighbors Ontario and Fontana, is a major center for the logistics industry in Southern California. This is due to its proximity to two interstate highways and Ontario International Airport, and the space afforded by the large tracts of former agricultural land in the southern section of the city.

In the area around Milliken Avenue, between Archibald and Etiwanda Avenues, Foothill Boulevard, and Fourth Street, about seven square miles of land are primarily occupied by numerous massive distribution centers, and even more, smaller manufacturing companies. This area is ringed by office parks, mostly along Haven Avenue, and shopping strips, such as the Terra Vista Town Center (part of a nearly two-square-mile master-planned community in the center of the city), and malls, such as Victoria Gardens, and the Ontario Mills, across Fourth Street in Ontario.

The city is also home to a CMC Steel (formerly Gerdau, formerly TAMCO Steel) minimill, the only producer of long steel in California. This mill recycles ferrous scrap, such as junked cars and appliances, to produce rebar.

The city hosts LoanMart Field (formerly known as The Epicenter), a minor-league baseball stadium, home of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. The Quakes' mascot, Tremor, is a "Rallysaurus."

Victoria Gardens
Victoria Gardens is a lifestyle center near the eastern end of the city, at the intersection of Foothill and Day Creek Boulevards. Since the city had never developed a traditional commercial downtown like neighboring cities Ontario and Upland had, efforts were made in the design of Victoria Gardens to bring elements of more traditional and urban town design to what had historically been a suburban city. While retaining many characteristics of traditional shopping malls, such as large anchor stores, a food court, and vast parking lots and garages, the smaller stores are arranged as city blocks in a grid of two-lane streets, featuring lush landscaping and metered "teaser parking" in front of the stores, which open onto the sidewalk. There are two "Main Streets", which run from west to east across the center. Running from north to south between them is a pedestrian axis leading from one of the Macy's anchor stores, through a "town square" between a pair of mixed-use office buildings, to the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, which contains the Lewis Playhouse (a 570-seat theater) and a branch of the city library. The east side of the development has Southern California's first Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World superstore; the 180000 sqft facility includes a Tracker Boat Center and the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. There are restaurants throughout the center, both well-known chains and unique eateries. The center also features a 12-screen movie theater.

Top employers
According to the city's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are:

Local government
Rancho Cucamonga is a General Law City, incorporated in 1977 under the "Council-Manager" form of local government. The four-member Council, plus the Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer, are all elected at-large by the voters of the city. The Council then appoints the City Manager, who acts as the administrative head of the city government and is responsible for the day-to-day operations, code enforcement, and the fiscal soundness of the municipal government. The council itself serves as a local legislative body. The city's elections, which are plurality, are held on a Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years.

L. Dennis Michael has been the city's mayor since 2011, with John Gillison as the city manager.

According to a city Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $278.3 million in revenues, $243.6 million in expenditures, $1,400.7 million in total assets, $492.1 million in total liabilities, and $583.3 million in cash and investments.

Politics
In the California State Legislature, Rancho Cucamonga is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Rancho Cucamonga is in.

Law enforcement
Since incorporation in 1977, law enforcement services in Rancho Cucamonga City have been provided through a contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Rancho Cucamonga is also home to the Foothill Communities San Bernardino County Courthouse, which is housed in a building adjacent to the Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, in a government complex located at Haven Avenue and Civic Center Drive in the city. The Civic Center houses the Rancho Cucamonga city hall, the city police department, and other local government offices.

Schools
Rancho Cucamonga has multiple public K–12 schools, operating under several different school districts, within its borders: Alta Loma School District, Central School District, Cucamonga School District, Etiwanda School District, and Chaffey Joint Union High School District. Private schools include United Christian Academy. In addition, Rancho Cucamonga is the home to Chaffey College and satellite campuses of the University of La Verne, Cambridge College, University of Redlands, Everest College, and University of Phoenix, as well as the automotive trade school.

High Schools
 * Alta Loma High School
 * Etiwanda High School
 * Los Osos High School
 * Rancho Cucamonga High School

Libraries
The city of Rancho Cucamonga has two public libraries, with a combined total of over 200,000 volumes. The library at 7368 Archibald Avenue opened in 1994 and was remodeled in the summer of 2008. The Paul A. Biane library at 12505 Cultural Center Drive at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center opened in August 2006. In 2013, the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library was a recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Services, the nation's highest honor that can be bestowed on a library or museum.

Transportation
Rancho Cucamonga is served by Omnitrans bus service, train service from Metrolink's Rancho Cucamonga station on the San Bernardino Line, and nearby Ontario International Airport, one of four major Los Angeles-area passenger airports with multiple daily flights by most domestic carriers as well as a major shipping hub for companies like UPS and FedEx.

Rancho Cucamonga has been identified as the initial western end-point of the Brightline West High Speed Rail (HSR) project to connect Southern California with Las Vegas. On December 5, 2023, it was announced that the project would be awarded a grant of USD3 Billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Interstate 15 (I-15) and State Route 210 (SR-210) run through Rancho Cucamonga as well as the historic U.S. Route 66 (as Foothill Boulevard).

I-15 sits atop an elevated berm, and cuts a curve through the southeastern part of the city, isolating a mostly industrial area, a small shopping center, and several housing tracts from the larger part of the city. Further north, I-15 forms part of the northeastern border with neighboring Fontana before entering the Cajon Pass through the San Gabriel Mountains. I-15 provides connectivity with the High Desert, Nevada, and points north for the Inland Empire and much of Southern California.

SR-210 runs nearly straight east–west through the northern part of the city, roughly bisecting the residential communities of Alta Loma and Etiwanda, providing connection (in addition to I-10 and SR-60) from the San Gabriel Valley and points west to the San Bernardino area.

Utilities
Rancho Cucamonga receives natural gas from the Southern California Gas Company. The city's water supply and sewage are managed by the Cucamonga Valley Water District. Garbage collection is by Burrtec Disposal, phone service is from Frontier Communications and cable TV is provided by Charter Communications.

Electric power in Rancho Cucamonga is provided by Southern California Edison and the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility, and the city is also home to the Reliant Energy Etiwanda Generating Station, on Etiwanda Avenue. This facility, one of five Reliant stations in California, is a natural gas-fired power plant, which began operation in 1963. At 640 MW net capacity, it is Reliant's second-highest-capacity plant on the West Coast. It utilizes four steam turbine generators; of which units three and four remained active after turbines one and two, as well as a combustion turbine, were retired in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Several systems are in place to control gas emissions, and annually, over 900000000 USgal of recycled water are used for cooling.

On November 29, 2011, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency installed the first wind turbine in Rancho Cucamonga.

Stormwater
Rancho Cucamonga's location at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains has necessitated the use of numerous control channels and basins to reduce the seasonal flood danger from the several streams descending from the range. Some of the city's roads are known for flooding. Hermosa Avenue, in particular, now features many high curbs and extra-large storm drain grates.

Notable people

 * The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Professional Wrestlers. Current tag-team in All Elite Wrestling
 * C. J. Stroud, Quarterback. 2023 NFL draft #2 Pick for the Houston Texans
 * Nichkhun, singer, songwriter, actor and model. Member of the boy band 2PM
 * Frank Zappa, musician who lived in and worked in Cucamonga during the early 1960s. He bought the Pal Recording Studio from a friend, Paul Buff, and renamed it "Studio Z". The studio closed in 1964 when the building was demolished in order to widen Archibald Avenue. ("Cucamonga" is also the name of a long-lived radio show on Radio 1, Belgium, as an obscure reference to Zappa.)

In popular culture
The name "Cucamonga" became well known to fans of Jack Benny's popular radio program, in which an announcer, voiced by Mel Blanc, would call out: "Train leaving on track five for Anaheim, Azusa and Cu-camonga!" This running gag became so well known that it eventually led to a statue of Benny in Cucamonga.

The city is the primary setting of the TV series Workaholics and the feature film Next Friday. Further mention of the city was made in the Netflix series Unsolved.

The city was claimed as the location where the "Flamin' Hot" flavor of Cheetos was created in the 1980s at the Frito-Lay factory.

Cucamonga is referenced in the Grateful Dead song "Pride of Cucamonga" on the album From the Mars Hotel, and in "Cucamonga" on Frank Zappa's album Bongo Fury.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Rancho Cucamonga, California


text:
Redlands, California

Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately 45 mi northwest of Palm Springs and 63 mi east of Los Angeles.

History
The area now occupied by Redlands was previously part of the territory of the Morongo and Aguas Calientes tribes of Cahuilla people. Explorations such as those of Pedro Fages and Francisco Garcés sought to extend Catholic influence to the indigenous people and the dominion of the Spanish crown into the area in the 1770s. The Tongva village of Kaawchama, located just to the west of present-day Redlands, was visited by Fr. Francisco Dumetz in 1810, and was the reason the site was chosen for a mission outpost. Dumetz reached the village on May 20, the feast day of Saint Bernardino of Siena, and thus named the region the San Bernardino Valley. The Franciscan friars from Mission San Gabriel established the San Bernardino Asistencia in 1819 and embarked on the usual program of training the native tribes to raise crops and encouraging permanent settlements. By 1820, a ditch, known as a zanja, was dug by conscripted native labor for the friars from Mill Creek to the Asistencia. In 1822, word of the Mexican triumph in the War of Independence reached the inland area, and lands previously claimed by Spain passed to the custody of the Mexican government.

Lugonia
In 1842, the Lugo family bought the Rancho San Bernardino Mexican land grant and this became the first fixed settler civilization in the area. The area northwest of current Redlands, astride the Santa Ana River, would become known as Lugonia. The region was part of Alta California, a Mexican federal province until 1848, when it became part of the United States after the Mexican-American War. By 1850, California as a US state was established. The area received its first Anglo inhabitants in the form of several hundred Mormon pioneers, who purchased the entire Rancho San Bernardino, founded nearby San Bernardino, and established a prosperous farming community watered by the many lakes and streams of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Mormon community left wholesale in 1857, recalled to Utah by Brigham Young during the tensions with the US federal government that ultimately led to the brief Utah War. Benjamin Barton purchased 1000 acre from the Latter-Day Saints and planted extensive vineyards and built a winery.

"The first settler on the site of the present Redlands is recorded to have erected a hut at the corner of what is now Cajon St. and Cypress Ave.; he was a sheep herder, and the year, 1865," reported Ira L. Swett in "Tractions of the Orange Empire." Lugonia attracted settlers including, Barry Roberts in 1869, followed a year later by the Craw and Glover families. "The first school teacher in Lugonia, George W. Beattie, arrived in 1874—shortly followed by the town's first negro settler, Israel Beal."

Railroads & Cityhood
In the 1880s, the arrival of the Southern Pacific and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroads, connecting Southern California to San Francisco and Salt Lake triggered a land boom, with speculators such as John W. North flooding the area now known as the Inland Empire. North and others saw the area, with its hot, dry climate and ready access to water as an ideal center for citrus production. The city of Redlands was soon established by Frank E. Brown, a civil engineer, and E. G. Judson, a New York stock broker, to provide a center (along with North's nearby settlement at Riverside) for the burgeoning citrus industry. They named their city "Redlands" after the color of the adobe soil. So large had the area grown by 1888 that it was decided to incorporate. "A red-letter day in the Annals of Redlands," pronounced Scipio Craig, editor of The Citrograph newspaper, of the November 26 incorporation. The original community of Lugonia was absorbed at this time. The newspaper was first published in July 1887 by The Citrograph Printing Company, which remains in 2023 as both Redlands' oldest business and the longest-operating printing company in California. E. G. Judson served as the first mayor of Redlands.

The Redlands Street Railway Company was incorporated on March 22, 1888, acquiring on June 5 a franchise from the San Bernardino County Supervisors dating to December 1887, conveying the right to construct, operate and maintain for a term of 50 years a line of street railways in Redlands, Terracina and vicinity. The initial operations began in June 1889 with a single-track line operating two-mule-team cars, the first street railway company of several to provide service to the community. Electrification and new rails replaced mules in 1899, with electrical operation beginning in December. Most Redlands street railways would pass to the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company in a consolidation on June 3, 1903, and thence to the Pacific Electric in the "Great Merger" of Huntington properties under new ownership by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company on February 8, 1911. Henry E. Huntington, nephew of late Southern Pacific president Collis P. Huntington, had gained control of the 4 mi streetcar line of the Redlands Central Railway Company in 1908.

The Pacific Electric Railway (PE) completed an interurban connection between Los Angeles and San Bernardino in 1914, providing a convenient, speedy connection to the fast-growing city of Los Angeles and its new port at San Pedro, bringing greater prosperity to the town and a new role as a vacation destination for wealthy Angelenos. Redlands was the eastern terminus of the "Big Red Car" system. At its peak, PE operated five local routes in Redlands, with streetcars running to Smiley Heights and on Orange, Olive, and Citrus Avenues. Pacific Electric's interurban service to Redlands was abandoned on July 20, 1936, with 2.07 mi of track into the city lifted, although PE and Southern Pacific (parent company of PE) provided freight service as far as the Sunkist packing plant at Redlands Heights on San Bernardino Avenue into at least the 1970s. The Smiley Heights line was abandoned at this time, as well. Bus service operated by the Motor Transit Company, a subsidiary of Pacific Electric, began on July 20. This also affected mail delivery in Redlands as "Approximately 80 percent of our mail from all directions arrives on the 5 a.m. electric car," explained Postmaster James B. Stone. "This dispatch is sorted and morning deliveries started by 8:30 a.m. on most routes. The post office department has temporarily arranged for this mail to be brought in by the Santa Fe train at 6:05 a.m. As this arrival is an hour later, our service will be one hour later." The abandoned Pacific Electric La Quinta trestle over the Santa Ana River stood immediately south of San Bernardino International Airport into the 2010s but was removed when an Amazon facility was built adjacent to the site.

Electricity
"History was made in the electrical industry July 27, 1892, when a franchise was granted to the Electric Light & Power Co., which was incorporated Oct. 6 and began building a powerhouse in Mill Creek canyon. Thus the groundwork was laid for the world's first (three)-phase transmission line, which brought electricity to Redlands and later became a unit in the Southern California Edison Co." The 250 kilowatt AC Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant was designed by Almirian Decker. Electric arc lamps were first illuminated over Redlands streets on August 5, 1893. George B. Ellis, one of seven men who spearheaded the undertaking, is largely credited with originating the plan.

"The first line was extended from the Mill Creek powerhouse to East Citrus avenue, thence to Redlands and to Mr. Ellis' Terracina hotel. By September the company was advertising power for sale to the public. The firm boasted of ability to supply current enough for 55 arc lamps, and 1,500 homes." Engineer O. H. Ensign was "largely responsible for the success of the undertaking." When gas lighting became available in Redlands in 1900, many homes already had electricity.

"The same group of men in 1894 organized the Southern California Power Co. Later it was merged with the Edison Electric Co., of Los Angeles, a forerunner of the Southern California Edison Co."

Citrus
In the spring of 1882, Mr. E. J. Waite of Wisconsin planted the first orange grove in the city. For almost 75 years, the city was the center of the largest navel orange-producing region in the world. By the late 1930s, Redlands was a fruit-packing center surrounded by more than 15000 acre of citrus groves. The city produced more than 4,200 railcars of navel oranges and 1,300 cars of Valencia oranges during the 1937–38 growing season. During the 1930s and 1940s, labor activists campaigned in the canneries and packing houses for union representation and higher wages. The United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America (UCAPAWA) won 13 National Labor Relations Board representation elections in the Riverside-Redlands area in 1943. In 1945, the first annual Orange Queen Ball at the Redlands City Auditorium was held to raise funds for the union.

The citrus industry declined in the area as more agricultural areas were replaced by subdivisions, and all three citrus packing houses (two in downtown and one on San Bernardino Avenue) had closed by the end of the 1900s. Today only one packing house remains to serve the needs of approximately the 2500 acre of citrus that remains in production in the area.

Community
At the turn of the 20th century, Redlands was the "Palm Springs" of the next century, with roses being planted along many city thoroughfares. Some of these plantings would survive as wild thickets into the 1970s, especially adjacent to orange groves where property management was lax. Washingtonia palms (Washingtonia robusta) were planted along many main avenues. So beautifully kept was the area, with the dramatic mountain backdrops, that for several years the Santa Fe Railroad operated excursion trains along the loop that passed through the orange groves of Redlands and Mentone, across the Santa Ana River, and back into San Bernardino via East Highlands, Highlands and Patton, and advertised as the "Kite Route" due to its multi-sided alignment. The trestle over "the Wash" north of Mentone was carried away during a flood in March 1938 and never replaced, the line being truncated there. The Southern Pacific branch line from the San Timoteo Canyon to Crafton was abandoned after the downtown packing house business died. A thru-truss bridge over the Zanja (locally pronounced "san-kee") exists today, abandoned in place. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, result of the AT&SF-Burlington Northern merger, applied to abandon its San Bernardino-connected branch line east of downtown Redlands in 2007, the last shippers at Crafton and Mentone having ceased operations. A move was made by transit activists beginning in the 1990s to have this branch revitalized as part of the Southern California transit districts, but it came to nothing for many years. After Metrolink regional commuter rail became involved and funds secured, reconstruction began in 2019 and named Arrow. It was completed in 2022, a Metrolink branch from San Bernardino to end-of-track on the eastern side of town adjacent to the campus of the University of Redlands. 5 new stations with mostly local service to and from the San Bernardino Transit Center and one daily ride to Los Angeles Union Station.

The city has been visited by three U.S. Presidents: William McKinley was the first in 1901, followed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 and William Howard Taft in 1909. Local landmarks include the A.K. Smiley Public Library, a Moorish-style library built in 1898, and the Redlands Bowl, built in 1930 and home of the oldest continuously free outdoor concert series in the United States. Located behind the Smiley Library is the Lincoln Shrine, the only memorial honoring the "Great Emancipator", the sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln, west of the Mississippi River. Famous homes include "America's Favorite Victorian," the Morey Mansion, on Terracina Boulevard, and the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, a home museum featured on the PBS series "America's Castles." Named after the family that purchased the house, the owners of Kimberly-Clark (makers of paper goods and Kleenex), it is a beautiful mansion set high on a hill overlooking the whole valley. Redlands is still regarded as the "Jewel of the Inland Empire."

In the mid-late 20th Century, Redlands was home to various light manufacturing firms, and became a bedroom community for the military personnel and contractor employees of the aerospace industry that supported missions at Norton Air Force Base, as well as the Lockheed Propulsion Company plant in Mentone. In 1989, Norton Air Force Base was placed on the Department of Defense closure list. Norton Air Force Base closed in 1994-1995 and the population dropped in the area, with a mild local economic recession occurring due to the closure in the area. The former Air Force Base is now the home of the San Bernardino International Airport and a variety of other business concerns also utilize the space. Jack Dangermond established Esri in 1969, a local software company. By the year 2000, he was the largest employer in Redlands.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.4 sqmi. 36.1 sqmi of it is land and 0.3 sqmi of it (0.83%) is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is described by the Köppen Climate Classification System as "dry-summer subtropical"  often referred to as "Mediterranean" and abbreviated as Csa.

The data below were compiled from 1898 through 2015, accessed via the Western Regional Climate Center.

2020
The 2020 United States Census reported that Redlands had a population of 73,168. The population density was 2,032.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Redlands was 44,632 (61.0%) White (44.0% Non-Hispanic White), 4,609 (6.3%) African American, 292 (0.4%) Native American, 5,926 (8.1%) Asian, 292 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 9,072 (12.4%) from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26,925 persons (36.8%).

The Census reported 25,273 households in Redlands. The average household size was 2.77. During 2017–2021, Redlands had a median household income of $87,184, with 8.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Redlands had a population of 68,747. The population density was 1,887.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Redlands was 47,452 (69.0%) White (54.0% Non-Hispanic White), 3,564 (5.2%) African American, 625 (0.9%) Native American, 5,216 (7.6%) Asian, 235 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 8,266 (12.0%) from other races, and 3,389 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20,810 persons (30.3%). There is an extensive Mexican-American community in Redlands.

The Census reported that 66,379 people (96.6% of the population) lived in households, 1,856 (2.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 512 (0.7%) were institutionalized.

There were 24,764 households, out of which 8,598 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,374 (50.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,397 (13.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,291 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,255 (5.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 164 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,083 households (24.6%) were made up of individuals, and 2,198 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 17,062 families (68.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.21.

The population was spread out, with 16,273 people (23.7%) under the age of 18, 8,185 people (11.9%) aged 18 to 24, 17,381 people (25.3%) aged 25 to 44, 17,930 people (26.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,978 people (13.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

There were 26,634 housing units at an average density of 731.2 /sqmi, of which 15,061 (60.8%) were owner-occupied, and 9,703 (39.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%. 41,102 people (59.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 25,277 people (36.8%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Redlands had a median household income of $66,835, with 12.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 63,591 people, 23,593 households, and 16,019 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,793.1 PD/sqmi. There were 24,790 housing units at an average density of 699.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.7% White, 4.3% African American, 0.9% Native American, 5.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 11.3% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.1% of the population.

There were 23,593 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,155, and the median income for a family was $76,254. Males had a median income of $64,408 versus $52,122 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,237. About 2.7% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

The 2008 population estimated by the California Department of Finance was 71,807.

Major employers
According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Historic structures

 * National Register of Historic Places in Redlands: A. K. Smiley Public Library, Beverly Ranch (Fisk-Burgess house), Kimberly Crest, the Mill Creek Zanja, the Redlands Central Railway Company Car Barn, the Redlands Santa Fe Depot District, the Smiley Park Historic District, and the US Post Office—Redlands Main.
 * California Historical Landmarks in Redlands: A.K. Smiley Library (994), Kimberly Crest (1019), the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia (42), and the Zanja (43). The Barton house has been nominated and is pending approval.
 * Redlands Heritage Awards: a list of numerous Victorian, Craftsman, etc. homes in Redlands.
 * The Barton School House, built in 1877, is the oldest building in Redlands. The historic elementary school closed down in the 1960s and deteriorated at its Nevada Street location. By early 2008, construction had become huge in the area surrounding it and the land the property sat on was purchased for development. Instead of destroying the building, the company paid to move it to Orange Avenue at The Grove School's farm campus. The building was moved in three pieces and has been renovated and remodeled. It is now owned and operated by The Grove School.

 * Edwards Mansion, built in 1890 by one of the founders of Redlands, Citrus grower James S. Edwards, this structure was originally used not as a family home but as a boarding house. Mr. Edwards used standard plans and built the house on a small rise on Cajon St. from where the young orange groves he planted could be seen in every direction.  Eventually the Edwards family moved into the structure and occupied it continually until 1958 when Mrs. Edwards died.  Almost a decade later, Plymouth Village acquired the home and used it for their business offices until it was acquired by the Edwards Mansion complex in 1973 for one dollar.  The structure was moved to its current location off of Interstate 10 and restored to serve its current purpose as a popular wedding location.
 * Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, built in 1897 this French château-style home is preserved by the Kimberly-Shirk Association that was formed for that purpose. This three-story chateau is over 7000 sqft and was originally built for Mrs. Cornelia A. Hill.  In 1905 J. Alfred Kimberly (co-founder of Kimberly-Clark) purchased this home for his family.  His daughter, Mary Kimberly Shirk, lived in the home until her death in 1979.  Before she passed the majority of the grounds were sold to the City of Redlands to become a botanical park, now known as Prospect Park.  After her death, the home was left to "the people of Redlands" and the monies from the sale of the park were used to create the Kimberly-Shirk Association that cares for the home and provides tours within.
 * Morey Mansion, built in 1890 with the proceeds from the sale of Sarah Morey's citrus nursery. There is no known architect of this beautiful structure.  David and Sarah Morey moved to Redlands in 1882 where David did carpentry work on many of the local structures and the Big Bear dam.  Using seeds from local growers, Sarah started a citrus nursery that became one of the foremost citrus nurseries in the area.  She eventually sold it and used half the proceeds to build their family home.  After the Morey family sold the house it was alternately a bed and breakfast and private residence and now serves both functions.  Located on the bluffs overlooking San Timoteo Canyon it is known for its commanding view.

Museums

 * The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a museum and research facility located in Smiley Park and dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War.
 * Museum of Redlands (MOR), currently located inside the A. K. Smiley Library on the grounds of Smiley Park in downtown Redlands. The museum, refurbished the old Daily Facts building and plans to move in by 2024. The MOR holds various pictures, pamphlets, maps, yearbooks, newspapers, manuscripts and books all relating to the rise of Redlands as a navel orange-producing mecca to the close-knit community it has become today.
 * Redlands Historical Glass Museum holds displays of American Glassware dating from the early 19th century to contemporary times. Displays include, glass from Heisey, Cambridge, Fenton Art Glass Company, Fostoria, and Sandwich factories as well as those that produced depression-era glassware. Items on display include candlesticks, compotes, milk glass, stems, bowls, historical plates, salts, kerosene lamps-and even several items from the estate of Liberace.
 * San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM), is a regional museum with exhibits and collections in cultural and natural history. Special exhibits, the Exploration Station live animal discovery center, extensive research collections, and public programs for adults, families, students, and children are all part of the museum experience. The SBCM also runs the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia.

Theater and music

 * Fox Event Center is located in downtown Redlands. The historic 1928 Fox Theatre offers dinner theater, film festivals, art shows, comedy shows, open mic nights, and concerts featuring different music genres including acoustic, blues, rock, jazz and classical.

 * The LifeHouse Theater is an interdenominational (Judeo-Christian) community theater, founded in 1993.
 * Redlands Bowl Summer Festival is the oldest continuously running music festival in Southern California, and the United States, where no admission is charged. Performances feature symphony concerts, band, dance troupes, musical and opera.  It is located in Smiley Park in the Redlands Bowl amphitheatre.
 * Redlands Chamber Music Society holds five performances of visiting artists at the Frederick Lowe Performance Hall each year.
 * Redlands Footlighters is a volunteer community theater founded in 1945 that produces five shows each season.
 * Redlands Symphony performs through the academic year at the University of Redlands and during the summer at the Redlands Bowl.
 * Redlands Theatre Festival is a summer volunteer community theater festival founded in 1972 that produces around five plays in repertory that feature a different production each night which typically include: a major Broadway musical, an Off-Broadway musical, a contemporary drama, a recent Broadway release and a period piece. The season begins the second week of July and continues through the third week of August.  Performances are held in the Avice Meeker Sewall Theater (an outdoor amphitheater) in Prospect Park.
 * Redlands Shakespeare Festival occurs each May at the Redlands Bowl outdoor amphitheater in Smiley Park, and features full-scale repertory performances, a University Lecture Series, an Educational Workshop Series, Director's Insight Series, and other special events.

Sports

 * Redlands Triathlon/Duathlon, your choice of a 5K run/10 mile bike/100 yard swim or a 5K run/10 mile bike/5K run-walk through Redlands held each February.
 * Run through Redlands, established in 1984, one of the biggest running events in the Inland Empire area including a kinder-dash, 5K, 10K, and a half-marathon, is held yearly each March.

 * One team represents Redlands in a semi professional league, the USL League Two. Founded in 2022.

Local attractions

 * Downtown Redlands/Redlands Santa Fe Depot District: Bars, restaurants and packing house district retail plaza.
 * Escape Craft Brewery: Local microbrewery located at the old 1906 Rondor Building in downtown Redlands.
 * J. Riley Distillery: Adjacent to Escape Brewery.
 * Redlands Mall: a former indoor shopping mall, now closed (except for a CVS Pharmacy), scheduled for demolition, to be replaced by extending State Street west adding shops and residential housing.
 * Citrus Plaza/Mountain Grove: a large open-air shopping center.
 * Pharaoh's Adventure Park: 20 acre theme park, renamed Splash Kingdom Waterpark. The park was used by television filming, including a 2006 episode of C.S.I. Las Vegas featuring a rollercoaster accident. The park was demolished in 2020.

Local events

 * Community July 4 includes picnic at Sylvan Park with more than 50 service and civic clubs, a parade, and the annual fireworks spectacular at Ted Runner Stadium with jet flyovers, skydivers, July 4 Band and fireworks – it is one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in California.
 * Lincoln Pilgrimage, held each February, attracts more than a thousand Scouts and other youth to honor the ideals and life of President Abraham Lincoln, and is coordinated by the Grayback District of the California Inland Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America.
 * Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival, established in 1924, is an outdoor performing arts festival that runs every summer.

Parks and recreation
The city of Redlands owns and operates 24 public parks totaling more than 143 acre:
 * Brookside Park: a 9.2 acre neighborhood park with picnic and playground facilities. (Brookside Avenue between Terracina Boulevard and Bellevue Avenue)
 * Caroline Park: a 16.8 acre nature park with trails and open space planted with native California plants and a water conservation garden. It houses a large variety of animals. Especially active near sundown. (Sunset Drive and Mariposa Drive)
 * Community Park: an 18.2 acre park with lighted baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic and playground facilities. (San Bernardino Avenue and Church Street)
 * Crafton Park: a 7.5 acre-neighborhood park with lighted soccer field, picnic and playground facilities. (Wabash Avenue and Independence Avenue)
 * Ed Hales Park: a .7 acre downtown park with picnic facilities. (State Street and Fifth Street)
 * Jennie Davis Park: a 5.2 acre neighborhood park with picnic and playground facilities. (Redlands Boulevard and New York Street)
 * Ford Park: a 27 acre park with two ponds for fishing, lighted tennis courts, dog park, picnic and playground facilities. (Redlands Boulevard and Ford Street)
 * Franklin Park: a .6 acre natural open space area. (Garden Street and Franklin Avenue)
 * Orange Park: 1 acre pocket park with orange groves and a playground facility. (Pennsylvania Ave. and Village St.)
 * Prospect Park: an 11.4 acre natural park with trails and picnic facilities. The park contains the Avice Meeker Sewall Theater, an outdoor amphitheater with seating for 407. (Cajon Street and Highland Avenue)
 * San Timoteo Canyon Nature Preserve: a 40 acre natural preserve facility. (San Timoteo Canyon Road and Alessandro Road)
 * Simonds Parkway: a .9 acre neighborhood park. (Garden Street and Rossmont Drive)
 * Smiley Park: a 9.2 acre park at the Redlands Civic Center. This park is home to A.K. Smiley Public Library, a facility listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, built in 1932, containing the largest collection of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia west of the Mississippi River; and the Redlands Bowl, an outdoor amphitheater with seating for approximately 4,000 where summer concerts are performed each Tuesday and Friday evening during July and August. (Eureka Street and Vine Street). The Lincoln Shrine is host to the annual Boy Scout Pilgrimage to the Lincoln Shrine.
 * Sylvan Park: a 23.3 acre park with softball field, horseshoe pits, skate park, volleyball area, group and individual picnic areas and playground facilities. (Colton Avenue and University Street)
 * Texonia Park: a 10.7 acre neighborhood park with lighted softball field, basketball courts, picnic and playground facilities. (Texas Street and Lugonia Avenue)
 * Redlands Sports Park: The 120 acre facility includes soccer fields, softball fields, group picnic facilities, playground and recreations elements. (Wabash Avenue and San Bernardino Avenue) by Redlands Municipal Airport

The Redlands Conservancy has established 10 city-approved trails:

 * Bluffs Trail
 * Caroline Park Trail
 * East Valley Corridor Bikeway
 * Garden-Mariposa Trail
 * Gold Hill/Panorama Point Trail
 * Oak Ridge and Oakmont Trails
 * Orange Blossom Rail Trail
 * Teddy's Trail
 * San Timoteo Creek Flood Control Trail
 * Sylvan Park Trail

Cemetery
The Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, established in 1886 as a private cemetery, was acquired by the city in 1918. Notable burials include actress Gloria Holden, television journalist Robert Pierpoint, author Charles Nordhoff. and merchant and diplomat, Henry L. Atherton.

Federal
Redlands is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler who was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsome after the death of Dianne Feinstein.

In the United States House of Representatives, Redlands is split between, and.

State
In the California State Legislature, Redlands is in. In the State Assembly, Redlands is split into three, all of North Redlands above I-10 is represented by. Downtown and southwest Redlands by and southeast Redlands area by.

Municipal government
Redlands is a general law city that uses the council–manager form of government. Council members were elected at-large prior to 2018, now per council district per state law. The mayor and mayor-pro-tempore are not directly elected, but are chosen by the council.

 * B - current mayor.
 * italicized - Mayor Pro-Tem.

Higher education
• University of Redlands

• ESRI Learning Center

• Community Christian College

Public education
Redlands Unified School District • Citrus Valley High School

• Redlands East Valley High School

• Redlands High School

• Orangewood High School (continuation)

• The Grove School (charter)

• Beattie Middle School

• Cope Middle School

• Clement Middle School

• Moore Middle School

• Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program Gorman Learning Center (K-12 charter school)

Private education
• Christ the King Lutheran Church & School

• Arrowhead Christian Academy

• The Packinghouse Christian Academy

• Chartwell School

• Hope Christian School

• Redlands Adventist Academy

• Redlands Christian School

• Valley Preparatory School

• Montessori in Redlands

• Sacred Heart Academy

Transportation
Coming east from Los Angeles and continuing toward Palm Springs, Interstate 10 bisects Redlands. A tempestuous political battle occurred in the 1950s when three routes for the new freeway were considered, one north of town through the Lugonia district - the Lugonia-Sand Canyon route, the center route through the city, and a southern alignment through San Timoteo Canyon, parallelling the Southern Pacific railroad tracks - the San Timoteo-Live Oak Canyon route. The central route was finalized in 1957 and Redlands Mayor Charles Parker cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the new interstate on August 28, 1962. State Route 210 (the Foothill Freeway) begins at Interstate 10 in Redlands, then heads west toward Pasadena and Los Angeles. The San Bernardino-based Omnitrans bus system which handles the bus service for the area serves Redlands.

Rail

Arrow is a commuter rail service that operates from the University of Redlands to San Bernardino with several stops in Redlands — service began on October 24, 2022. The San Bernardino Line of the Greater Los Angeles regional transportation system Metrolink additionally makes one daily round trip to Redlands–Downtown station.

Airports

 * Los Angeles International Airport, 70 mi west.
 * Palm Springs International Airport, 50 mi east.
 * Ontario International Airport is about 20 mi west.
 * Redlands Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located on the Northeastern end of the city.
 * San Bernardino International Airport, the former Norton Air Force Base.

Religion

Prior to European colonization, local tongva Serrano people practiced spirituality for millennia, web of life customs. The first known monothistic religious establishment in Redlands, was of the Christian faith. The catholic San Bernardino de Sena Estancia by Francisco Dumetz was established in 1819 on the feast day of Saint Bernardine. Part of an outpost of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel located 56 miles from Los Angeles, CA., a days trip walking. This outpost, was used to convert local native Tongva, Serrano, and Cahuilla Native Americans to christianity. With Spanish colonization and the subsequent Mexican era, San Bernardino Valley was a sparsely populated land grant rancho, considering it unsuitable for an actual mission. The estancia was later sold to José del Carmen Lugo who made it his home in 1842. The Catholic Churches presence remains with the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Jose del Carmen later sold his land grant of the San Bernardino Valley, including the estancia to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich, establishing a Mormon colony in nearby San Bernardino, CA. Mormon presence remains in Redlands after the property was sold to Dr. Ben Barton in the late 1850s. The Redlands California Temple is the 116th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and one of four LDS temples in Southern California.

Other variety of religions have a presence in Redlands, including a number of other Christian faiths, also Judaism, and Islam. There is a Redlands Area Interfaith Council. Redlands has a large Seventh-day Adventist population along with the neighboring town of Loma Linda.

Judaism Congregation Emanu El, formerly located in nearby San Bernardino, in 2013 dedicated its new building on Ford Street in Redlands. The Congregation claims to trace its history back to the 1850s.

Notable people

 * Matt Andriese, professional baseball player for Boston Red Sox
 * Ashley Argota, actress
 * Joan Baez, folk singer and songwriter
 * Brian Billick, head coach of NFL's Baltimore Ravens 1999–2007, television commentator
 * Brant Bjork, singer, songwriter, musician
 * Harry Blackstone Jr., professional magician
 * Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum, actor, Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo show
 * Tyler Chatwood, current MLB starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
 * Barney Childs, composer
 * Ryan Christenson, MLB player for four teams, minor-league manager
 * Tyler Clary, born in Redlands, won men's 200-meter backstroke at 2012 London Olympics
 * Jack Dangermond, founder of ESRI
 * Landon Donovan, professional soccer player for Los Angeles Galaxy, US National Team and international assist leader
 * Skip Ewing, country music star
 * James Fallows, journalist for The Atlantic Monthly
 * Davey Faragher, musician with Elvis Costello
 * John Mack Faragher, American historian and author
 * Helen G. Fisk (1895–1986), vocational services executive
 * Tommy Hanson, professional baseball player for Los Angeles Angels
 * Johnny Hickman, musician, guitarist for Cracker
 * Antoinette Humphreys, librarian in Redlands, Merced County, Colusa County
 * Brion James, actor in films such as Blade Runner and 48 Hrs.
 * Patrick Johnson, professional football player Baltimore Ravens
 * John Jorgenson, guitar virtuoso with Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, the John Jorgenson Quintet, and six-year member of Elton John's tour band; attended Moore Junior High, and Redlands High School
 * James LeGros, actor
 * Harlan Lewis, Award-winning botanist and UCLA Dean of Life Sciences
 * Jerry Lewis, former congressman, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee
 * Lil Xan, rapper
 * David Lowery, musician, lead singer for Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker
 * Greta N. Morris, former United States Ambassador to Republic of the Marshall Islands
 * Doris Niles, dancer, choreographer
 * Kye Palmer, trumpet player and studio musician
 * DeWayne Patterson, football player
 * Leah Pritchett, NHRA Top Fuel driver
 * Eric Pierpoint, actor
 * Dorothea Puente, serial killer
 * Michael A. Rogers, author, futurist
 * Benji Schwimmer, winner of second season of So You Think You Can Dance
 * Lacey Schwimmer, professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars
 * Stephen Shadegg, political consultant in Phoenix, Arizona, associated in particular with Barry Goldwater; reared in Redlands
 * Mark R. Shepherd, Democratic Party activist and politician
 * Naomi Smalls, drag queen and finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8
 * J.D.B. Stillman, author and physician
 * Dave Stockton, professional golfer, two-time PGA Championship winner
 * Dan Straily (born 1988), starting pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
 * Tim Tackett, martial artist
 * Mark Teahen, Major League Baseball player 2005-11
 * Joan Tewkesbury, film director
 * The Tornadoes, surf rock band featured on Pulp Fiction soundtrack
 * Brett Waterman, home preservationist and host of DIY Network's Restored
 * Tom Wheeler, 31st Chairman of Federal Communications Commission
 * Josh Whitesell, MLB player for Arizona Diamondbacks

In popular culture

 * Jardien's Dream, a young adult novel published in October 2009, takes place in Redlands.
 * The Rocketeer – in the Disney movie version, the heroine, Jenny, hails from Redlands.
 * According to the Los Angeles Times, the town in Tamara Thorne's horror novel Bad Things is based on Redlands.
 * In Frank Zappa's song "San Ber'dino", the lyrics comment that the song "ain't talkin' about the Redlands, no no."
 * The DIY Network show Restored focuses on the restoration of homes in and around the Redlands area.
 * In BBC's Torchwood season 4 episode 5 "The Categories of Life," a woman in a TV interview "arrived [to LA] early from Redlands" to attend the Miracle Rally
 * In HBO’s Barry season 3 episode 2 “limonada”, two characters joke about the distance and long driving time between Redlands to Los Angeles.

Sister cities

 * 🇯🇵 Hino, Japan
 * 🇲🇽 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

title: Redlands, California