SafekipediaSan Bernardino, California
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San Bernardino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is the county seat and had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the 18th-most populous city in California. The Riverside–San Bernardino metropolitan area is the 12th-largest in the nation, with over 4.74 million people.
The city was named in 1810 by Spanish priest Francisco Dumetz. In 1842, José del Carmen Lugo was granted Rancho San Bernardino. After the American Conquest of California, Mormon settlers founded the town in 1851 and incorporated it as a city in 1854. Though most Mormons left in 1857, the city grew as a commercial hub in the late 19th century.
Today, San Bernardino is an important center for the Inland Empire and Southern California. It hosts consulates for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico in its downtown area. The University District is home to California State University, San Bernardino, serving as a lively college town.
History
Main article: History of San Bernardino, California
See also: Timeline of San Bernardino, California history
The city of San Bernardino, California, is in a valley that was home to the Tongva people long before Europeans arrived. Important villages were connected by trails used by many groups.
When Spanish missionaries arrived in 1771, they built a small settlement called Guachama Rancheria. Later, after earthquakes destroyed it, local tribes rebuilt it and invited the missionaries back.
After California became part of the United States in 1851, pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled the area and started farming. San Bernardino became an official city in 1857.
Gold was discovered nearby in 1860, bringing more people to the area. San Bernardino grew as a trading center and became a key stop for travelers and miners.
In the 20th century, San Bernardino saw many changes. A major air base was built there during World War II, later becoming an airport. The city is also where the first McDonald's restaurant and the first Taco Bell were opened.
Sadly, the city faced difficult times, including a large bankruptcy in 2012 and a terrible event in 2015 that took many lives.
Geography
The city of San Bernardino covers a total area of 62.5 square miles (162 km2), with most of it being land and a small part being water. It is located in the foothills and the eastern part of the San Bernardino Valley, about 60 miles (97 km) east of Los Angeles. The city is surrounded by interesting natural features like the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Bernardino National Forest. Nearby, there is also the San Andreas Fault.
San Bernardino has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Winters are cool with some frost, and summers are very hot and dry. Snow sometimes falls in the winter, especially in the higher areas like Arrowhead Springs. Strong winds called Santa Ana winds can occur in the fall, sometimes causing damage.
Demographics
2020
The 2020 United States census counted 222,101 people living in San Bernardino. The city had many different groups of people. About 24% were White, 13% were African American, 2% were Native American, 4% were Asian, and smaller groups included Pacific Islanders. Most people, about 68%, were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Most families in San Bernardino had children under 18 years old. Many homes were led by a mother without a partner, and some by a father without a partner. The average family had about 3.4 people. About a third of the city's people were children, and the average age was 31 years.
2010
The 2010 United States census found 209,924 people in San Bernardino. The groups were similar, with about 46% White, 15% African American, and 4% Asian. About 60% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Most families had children, and many homes were led by a mother without a partner. The average family had about 3.9 people. A third of the city's people were children, and the average age was 28 years.
Ethnic diversity
San Bernardino has many different groups of people. Many Mexican-Americans and Mexicans live in the west and south parts of the city. There are also African Americans in certain areas. Some Filipinos and other Asians live in the city and nearby areas. There are also people from Italy and Guatemala.
Many people speak Spanish or Tagalog at home, while about half of the people speak only English.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 53,630 | 39,977 | 28,649 | 28.93% | 19.04% | 12.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 29,654 | 29,897 | 26,134 | 15.99% | 14.24% | 11.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,129 | 867 | 742 | 0.61% | 0.41% | 0.33% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7,594 | 8,027 | 8,734 | 4.10% | 3.82% | 3.93% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 582 | 704 | 754 | 0.31% | 0.34% | 0.34% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 288 | 361 | 1,123 | 0.16% | 0.17% | 0.51% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 4,502 | 4,097 | 4,840 | 2.43% | 1.95% | 2.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 88,022 | 125,994 | 151,125 | 47.48% | 60.02% | 68.04% |
| Total | 185,401 | 209,924 | 222,101 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Name | % of citizens claiming ancestry |
|---|---|
| American | 2.8 |
| Arab | 1.1 |
| Czech | 0.1 |
| Danish | 0.2 |
| Dutch | 0.6 |
| English | 4.2 |
| French, excluding Basque | 0.9 |
| French Canadian | 0.1 |
| German | 4.6 |
| Hungarian | 0.1 |
| Irish | 3.9 |
| Italian | 2.1 |
| Lithuanian | 0.1 |
| Norwegian | 0.6 |
| Polish | 0.6 |
| Portuguese | 0.3 |
| Russian | 0.2 |
| Scotch-Irish | 0.2 |
| Scottish | 0.7 |
| Slovak | 0.1 |
| Subsaharan African | 0.8 |
| Swedish | 0.4 |
| Swiss | 0.1 |
| Ukrainian | 0.1 |
| Welsh | 0.3 |
| West Indian | 0.3 |
Economy
San Bernardino is located near important roads and passes, making it a key place for moving goods. The city has large warehouses for companies like Kohl's, Mattel, Pep Boys, and Stater Bros..
The city's economy faced challenges when major roads changed paths and when a large military base closed. This led to many people losing jobs and the city having a higher rate of poverty compared to other places. Today, government, retail, and service industries are the main employers in San Bernardino.
Top employers
Government, retail, and service industries are important parts of San Bernardino's economy. The city has seen growth in jobs over the years, especially in government jobs.
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
| Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|
| Stater Bros. | 15,000–25,000 |
| County of San Bernardino | 5,000–14,999 |
| San Bernardino City Unified School District | 5,000–14,999 |
| Kohl's | 5,000–14,999 |
| Barrett Business Services, Inc. | 1,000–4,999 |
| San Bernardino Community College District | 1,000–4,999 |
| California Department of Transportation | 1,000–4,999 |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center | 1,000–4,999 |
| City of San Bernardino | 1,117 |
| California State University, San Bernardino | 1,000–4,999 |
Arts and culture
San Bernardino has many fun events and places to visit. Every year, it hosts the Route 66 Rendezvous in September to celebrate the famous road, and the National Orange Show Festival in the spring. You can also watch the Western Regional Little League Championships each August.
The city is home to interesting museums. The Robert V. Fullerton Museum of Art shows ancient treasures from Egypt, Italy, and China, along with modern art. The Heritage House keeps items from San Bernardino’s past, and the San Bernardino Railroad and History Museum is inside an old train station. There is also a Route 66 museum near the first McDonald’s restaurant.
San Bernardino has wonderful places for shows and music. The California Theatre presents concerts and plays, and the San Manuel Amphitheater is the biggest outdoor theater in the United States. The National Orange Show Events Center has many spaces for events, and Coussoulis Arena is a large venue for games and performances.
Sports
San Bernardino, California, is a place where many sports teams play. The California State University, San Bernardino Coyotes team competes in many sports at the NCAA Division II level. San Bernardino Valley College also has sports teams and is the only school in the area to have a football team.
The city has had many different sports teams over the years, like a women's volleyball team and baseball teams. The Glen Helen Raceway hosts exciting motorcycle races, and there is also a race series at Orange Show Speedway that has had famous drivers compete in it.
The city is also home to the Inland Empire 66ers baseball club, which plays in the California League. Since 2011, this team has been connected with the Los Angeles Angels. Before that, from 2007 to 2010, they were connected with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 66ers play their games at San Manuel Stadium in downtown San Bernardino.
Parks and recreation
San Bernardino has many parks and places for fun activities. Perris Hill Park is the largest park and has many features like a bowl for sports, a field, tennis courts, a YMCA, a senior center, a shooting range, hiking trails, and a swimming pool.
Other important parks include Glen Helen Regional Park, which is run by the county and located in the northern part of the city. Blair Park is a mid-sized park near the University District and is famous for its skate park and hiking trails on Shandin Hills, also called Little Mountain. In 2017, the city opened a new park named after local heroes Bryce Hanes and Jon Cole.
Government
The city of San Bernardino operates as a charter city. Its mayor serves in a mostly ceremonial role, working with a seven-member city council and a chief executive who handles daily operations. San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County, the largest county in the contiguous United States by area.
Currently, Helen Tran is the mayor, and the city council includes Theodore Sánchez, Sandra Ibarra, Juan Figueroa, Fred Shorett, Kimberly Knaus, Mario Flores, and Treasure Ortiz. Bob Holcomb was the longest-serving mayor, holding office from 1971 to 1985 and again from 1989 to 1993.
San Bernardino is represented in the California State Senate by Caroline Menjivar for the 20th district and Suzette Martinez Valladares for the 23rd district. In the California State Assembly, the city is represented by Pilar Schiavo for the 40th district and Greg Wallis for the 47th district. At the federal level, San Bernardino is part of California's 33rd congressional district, represented by Pete Aguilar.
The governments of Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador have set up consulates in the downtown area of the city.
Education
San Bernardino has many schools. Most of the city is part of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, which is the eighth largest school district in California. Some other nearby districts also serve parts of the city.
The city has several public high schools, such as Aquinas High School, Arroyo Valley High School, Cajon High School, San Bernardino High School, Pacific, San Gorgonio High School, and Indian Springs High School. Rialto High School is also located in San Bernardino.
San Bernardino is home to California State University, San Bernardino, which was founded in 1965. The city also has many other colleges and universities, including California University of Science and Medicine, San Bernardino Valley College, The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, American Sports University, UEI College, and Summit Career College.
Media
San Bernardino is part of the Los Angeles area, so most people there watch and listen to the same TV and radio stations as people in Los Angeles. KVCR-DT is the only TV station based in San Bernardino. It is a PBS station run by the local community college. Some TV signals from Los Angeles don’t reach all of San Bernardino because mountains block them.
San Bernardino has several newspapers. The San Bernardino Sun is a daily paper that has been around since 1894. There are also weekly papers like the Precinct Reporter, which serves the African American community. Other papers include the Westside Story Newspaper and El Chicano, which serves the Mexican-American, Chicano, and Californio communities. The Los Angeles Times is also popular in the area.
Transportation
The city of San Bernardino works together with Omnitrans and MARTA to provide public transportation. There is a special bus route called the sbX Green Line that connects different parts of the city, including areas near the university and a medical center. Omnitrans also offers buses and shuttles for people who cannot walk or drive well, and MARTA helps connect the city to nearby mountain areas.
Important roads in the city include the San Bernardino Freeway, Barstow Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and Waterman Avenue.
The train service Amtrak stops in San Bernardino with its Southwest Chief line that goes between Los Angeles and Chicago.
San Bernardino also has a regional rail service called Metrolink. Two lines stop in the city: the Inland Empire–Orange County Line and the San Bernardino Line. Passengers can connect to buses and the sbX Green Line at the San Bernardino Transit Center in downtown.
A new train service called Arrow started in 2022, linking San Bernardino to the nearby city of Redlands. Trains leave from the San Bernardino Transit Center and stop at Tippecanoe Avenue before going to Redlands.
The San Bernardino International Airport is located in the city and offers flights for passengers. The airport used to be a military base called Norton Air Force Base, which closed in the 1990s. Today, the airport is run by a group of local governments and a company called Hillwood, and it has terminals for both domestic and international flights.
Notable people
Main article: List of people from San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is home to many famous people who have made their mark in various fields. Some well-known individuals come from this city and have contributed to arts, sports, and other areas. The city takes pride in these notable residents who have achieved success and brought recognition to the community.
Sister cities
San Bernardino has many friends in other countries. Some of these friends are cities like:
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