Rancho Cucamonga, California

Between Fontana and Etiwanda lie the dry, dusty remains of a community that died for lack of water. The name of the town was Grapeland. A few people still live in the original tpwnsite, but the brilliant future that was predicted for it in the 1880s never came to pass. Unpaved dirt roads, still graded by San Bernardino County, run spasmodically through the area. Grapevines still cover much of the parched land; but gone are the citrus groves, the fruit trees, the early pioneer settlers.... The first settlers came to Grapeland in 1869. Later, more and more arrived, until in 1890 the need for adequate water became imperative. An irrigation district was formed and $200,000 in bonds were sold. With this money, the Sierra Vista Reservoir was built as the focal point of a network of irrigation pipes. It was to remain unused for 66 years, for the entire bond issue was declared illegal. Orchards and vineyards began to die. Residents moved out. The post office was closed in 1905. Homes, buildings were destroyed or abandoned. Today, the hot sun parches the empty fields of Grapeland—the community that died of thirst. / Still in fairly good shape along Grapeland's ghost roads are rabbit-proof stone walls around long-gone ciitrus orchards. / CONSTRUCTED 1886–1887, J.L. Scofield, Engineer and Builder is the legend proclaimed by this plaque in the Sierra Vista Reservoir, which proved a delusion to settlers. It remained dry until 1956, when the Fontana Union Water Co. plastered its colorful pebbly exterior and filled it with 5,000,000 gallons of water. ==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 40.1 sqmi, of which 99.98% is land and 0.02% is 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. {{Weather box|location = Rancho Cucamonga, California (1987–2016; extremes since 1909) |Jan record high F = 90 |Feb record high F = 90 |Mar record high F = 97 |Apr record high F = 110 |May record high F = 107 |Jun record high F = 115 |Jul record high F = 112 |Aug record high F = 111 |Sep record high F = 112 |Oct record high F = 110 |Nov record high F = 98 |Dec record high F = 93 |year record high F = 115 |Jan record low F = 25 |Feb record low F = 29 |Mar record low F = 30 |Apr record low F = 33 |May record low F = 38 |Jun record low F = 43 |Jul record low F = 52 |Aug record low F = 51 |Sep record low F = 47 |Oct record low F = 40 |Nov record low F = 26 |Dec record low F = 24 |year record low F = 24 |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330174227/http://weather-warehouse.com/WeatherHistory/PastWeatherData_Ontario_Ontario_CA_November.html |archive-date=March 30, 2017 }} }} ==Demographics== {{US Census population }} ===2020=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+**Rancho Cucamonga city, California – Racial and ethnic composition** *Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.* !Race / Ethnicity (*NH = Non-Hispanic*) !Pop 2000 !Pop 2010 ! !% 2000 !% 2010 ! |- |White alone (NH) |70,028 |70,572 |54.82% |42.70% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |9,789 |14,486 |7.66% |8.77% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |405 |409 |0.32% |0.25% |- |Asian alone (NH) |7,469 |16,741 |5.85% |10.13% |- |Pacific Islander alone (NH) |292 |383 |0.23% |0.23% |- |Other Race alone (NH) |294 |400 |0.23% |0.24% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |3,975 |4,590 |3.11% |2.78% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |35,491 |57,688 |27.78% |34.91% |- |**Total** |**127,743** |**165,269** |**100.00%** |**100.00%** |} The [2020 United States census](2020-united-states-census) counted 174,453 people, 58,277 households, and 44,440 families in Rancho Cucamonga. The population density was 4,349.4 per square mile (1,679.3/km). There were 60,129 housing units at an average density of 1,499.1 per square mile (578.8/km). The racial makeup was 42.6% (74,323) white or European American (34.35% non-Hispanic white), 9.22% (16,089) black or African-American, 1.12% (1,954) Native American or Alaska Native, 14.79% (25,809) Asian, 0.28% (486) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 15.09% (26,326) from other races, and 16.89% (29,466) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 37.41% (65,261) of the population. Of the 58,277 households, 37.4% had children under the age of 18; 53.8% were married couples living together; 25.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 18.5% of households consisted of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.0 and the average family size was 3.5. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 26.0% of the population. 22.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 108.0 males. The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $92,290 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,367). The median family income was $103,094 (+/- $3,474). Males had a median income of $50,894 (+/- $1,437) versus $37,094 (+/- $2,655) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $43,129 (+/- $1,515). Approximately, 5.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under the age of 18 and 6.5% of those ages 65 or over. German, Irish and English were the most common ancestries. Spanish was the second most common language. ===2010=== The [2010 United States census](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. During 20092013, Rancho Cucamonga had a median household income of $77,835, with 6.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line. ==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: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Rank ! Employer ! # of employees !% of total employment |- |1 |Inland Empire Health Plan |3,511 |3.70% |- |2 |Etiwanda School District |1,854 |1.95% |- |3 |Chaffey Community College |1,619 |1.70% |- |4 |Frito Lay |950 |1.00% |- |5 |Majestic Terminal Services, Inc |684 |0.72% |- |6 |City of Rancho Cucamonga |662 |0.70% |- |7 |Amphastar Pharmaceuticals |641 |0.67% |- |8 |Central School District |591 |0.62% |- |9 |National Community Renaissance of California |550 |0.58% |- |10 |Reyes Coca Cola Bottling |453 |0.48% |} ==Government== ===Local government=== Rancho Cucamonga is a General Law City, incorporated in 1977 under the "Council-Manager" form of local government. The four-member Council are elected by district. The Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer, are all elected at-large by the voters of the city. The city's elections, which are plurality, are held on a Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. 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 Senate, Rancho Cucamonga is split between , and . In the California State Assembly, Rancho Cucamonga is split between , and . In the United States House of Representatives, Rancho Cucamonga is split into three districts: ; ; and . Rancho Cucamonga voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election over Kamala Harris. {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:106%;" |+ **Rancho Cucamonga vote by party in presidential elections ** |- style="background:lightgrey;" ! Year ! Democratic ! Republican ! Third Parties |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |} ===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. ==Education== ===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. ==Infrastructure== ===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. ===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. Before 2024, the city was home to the Reliant Energy Etiwanda Generating Station, on Etiwanda Avenue. This facility, one of five Reliant stations in California, was a natural gas-fired power plant, which began operation in 1963. At 640 MW net capacity, it was Reliant's second-highest-capacity plant on the West Coast. It utilized 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. As of 2024, all turbines and stacks and the entire electrical plant have been removed. On November 29, 2011, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency installed the first wind turbine in Rancho Cucamonga. == Notable people == * Carlos Bocanegra, soccer player and sports executive * The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), professional wrestlers * Collin Delia, professional ice hockey goaltender * Ejiro Evero, professional American football coach * Tyler Freeman, professional baseball player * C. J. Stroud, professional American football quarterback, selected second overall by the Houston Texans in the [2023 NFL draft](2023-nfl-draft), 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year * Nichkhun, singer, songwriter, actor and model. Member of the boy band [2PM](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. In Season 4, Episode 8 of *Solar Opposites*, Korvo, Jesse, Terry, and Yumyulack bring their Super Gooblers to "Kaley Cuoco's Rancho Cuoco-monga" which is a rehabilitative zoo for deformed creatures. The name is a play on the town of Rancho 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*. ==See also== * List of people from Rancho Cucamonga, California * List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations ==References== ==External links== * *[Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce](http://www.ranchochamber.org/) *[The History of Casa de Rancho Cucamonga](http://www.citivu.com/rc/hist1.html) at citivu.com {{Geographic location }} [[Category:Rancho Cucamonga, California| ]] [[Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California]] [[Category:Pomona Valley]] [[Category:Populated places in San Bernardino County, California]] [[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]] [[Category:1977 establishments in California]] [[Category:Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California]]