Fontana, California
Fontana (pronounced /fɒnˈtænə/) is a city of almost 200,000 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area. It is now a regional hub of the trucking industry, with Interstate 10 and State Route 210 transecting the city from east to west, and Interstate 15 passing diagonally through its northwestern quadrant.It is home to the largest of the San Bernardino County system libraries, a renovated historic theater, a municipal park, and the Auto Club Speedway on the site of the Kaiser Steel Mill. Fontana also hosts the Fontana Days Half Marathon and 5K run. This race is on record as the fastest half-marathon course in the world.The U.S. Census estimated Fontana's population at 170,099 in 2006, and the California State Department of Finance estimated it at 190,356 in 2010.
History
Fontana was founded in 1913 by Azariel Blanchard Miller. Within a few years it became an agricultural town of citrus orchards, vineyards and chicken ranches astride U.S. Route 66 (now known as Foothill Boulevard). The Fontana area was radically transformed during World War II when Henry J. Kaiser built the only steel mill west of the Mississippi River outside the city limits.Ross and Violet Gesler immigrated to Fontana, Ross developed the Ross Gesler orchid in the greenhouses on his Arrow Boulevard home. Later his grandson, David Eshleman, became mayor of the city.In the 1950s and '60s Fontana was home to a drag racing strip that was a venue in the NHRA circuit. Mickey Thompson’s Fontana International Dragway was also referred to as Fontana Drag City or Fontana Drag Strip. The original Fontana strip is long since defunct, but the owners of NASCAR’s new Auto Club Speedway opened a new NHRA-sanctioned drag strip in Fontana in mid-2006 to resurrect Fontana’s drag-racing heritage.Ro-Val's automobile museum, located on Foothill Blvd on the western outskirts between Fontana and Cucamonga, was for a while the home for many classic automobiles of the 1920s and '30s, including a huge vehicle once owned by screen actor Fatty Arbuckle. When the Ro-Val museum closed, the vehicles were sold to Bill Harrah, a Nevada casino owner and automobile collector, who placed them on display in the museum located at his casino.As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,929, but the present population is now estimated to have reached 189,021 (2009). This rapid expansion had much to do with the numerous large, new residential developments in the almost totally undeveloped northern part of the city, as well as with the city's aggressive (and highly successful) campaign to annex several unincorporated, but developed, San Bernardino county island areas in 2006-2007.
Topography
Most of the city of Fontana, like its eastern neighbors Rialto and San Bernardino, is built atop a geologically young, gently southward-sloping alluvial fan from nearby Lytle Creek, deposited mainly during the Holocene and late-Pleistocene epochs. There are also sedimentary deposits of similar age from Etiwanda Creek on the western edge of the city. However, the northern and southern edges of the city are formed by the much older San Gabriel and Jurupa mountain ranges, respectively. The Jurupa Mountains are composed primarily of Cretaceous and Paleozoic-era rocks, as are the San Gabriels, which also include even older, Proterozoic formations. The most prominent of the San Gabriel Mountains visible from Fontana is Cucamonga Peak, elevation 8,859 feet (2,700m). Additionally, the Cucamonga Fault Zone, contiguous with the Sierra Madre Fault Zone, runs through the northern part of the city, along the base of the San Gabriels, notably through the Hunter's Ridge and Coyote Canyon planned communities. It is estimated to be capable of producing earthquakes approximately of Magnitudes 6.0 to 7.0.The city's listed elevation, measured from the northeast corner of the intersection of Upland Avenue and Sierra Avenue, downtown by City Hall, is 1,237 feet (377 m). However, the highest elevation within the city limits is approximately 2,600 feet (792.48m), in the northernmost part of the Panorama neighborhood of Hunter's Ridge. The lowest point within the city limits is approximately 840 feet (256.03m), at the intersection of Etiwanda and Philadelphia avenues, the extreme southwestern corner of the city. This difference in elevation is due to the southward slope of the Lytle Creek alluvial fan.
Climate
The city is frequently affected by the strong, hot and dry Santa Ana Winds as they blow through the nearby Cajon Pass of the San Gabriel mountains, from the Mojave Desert. Fontana can also be extremely hot in summer, well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.(Temperatures vary by zip code)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 128,929 people, 34,014 households, and 29,013 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,378.2/km² (3,569.7/mi²). There were 35,908 housing units at an average density of 383.8/km² (994.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.0% White, 11.8% African American, 1.1% Native American, 4.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 31.9% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.7% of the population.There were 34,014 households out of which 57.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.8 and the average family size was 4.0.In the city the population was spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.The median income for a household in the city was $45,782, and the median income for a family was $46,957. Males had a median income of $36,062 versus $26,305 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,208. About 12.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Census
Population
2012 Projection: 201,269
2010 Census: 190,356
2000 Census: 128,929
1990 Census: 87,444Population Growth 1990 - 2000
47.44%Households
2012 Projection: 50,426
2007 Estimate: 43,852
2000 Census: 34,014
1990 Census: 26,283Households Growth 1990 - 2000
29.41%2007 Est. Population by Single Classification Race
White Alone: 66,568; 38.7%
African American Alone: 21,470; 12.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone: 1,901; 1.1%
Asian Alone: 8,091; 4.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone: 520; 0.3%
Some Other Race Alone: 63,661; 37.0%
Two or More Races: 9,705; 5.7%2007 Est. Population Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino: 60,368; 35.1%
Hispanic or Latino: 111,548; 64.9%2007 Tenure of Occupied Housing Units
Owner Occupied: 30,727; 70.1%
Renter Occupied: 13,125; 29.9%2007 Average Household Size
3.92007 Est. Households by Household Income
Income Less than $15,000: 4,210; 9.6%
Income $15,000 - $24,999: 4,180; 9.5%
Income $25,000 - $34,999: 4,431; 10.1%
Income $35,000 - $49,999: 6,669; 15.2%
Income $50,000 - $74,999: 9,546; 21.8%
Income $75,000 - $99,999: 6,778; 15.5%
Income $100,000 - $149,999: 6,045; 13.8%
Income $150,000 - $249,999: 1,731; 4.0%
Income $250,000 - $499,999: 227; 0.5%
Income $500,000 and over: 35; 0.1%2007 Est. Average Household Income
$65,5482007 Est. Median Household Income
$56,3802007 Est. Per Capita Income
$16,791Source: Claritas Inc. July 2007[citation needed]
Economy
Fontana's current economy is driven largely by industrial uses, particularly trucking-based industries. The city is home to several truck dealerships, and other industrial equipment sales centers, and, like its neighbors Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, many product distribution centers for such companies as Toyota, Target, Sears, Mercedes-Benz, Southern California Edison, Home Shopping Network, and Avery Dennison. The city is also home to numerous small manufacturers of building materials and other locally-used products, and many small auto dealerships and salvage yards. Fontana's economy has also heavily encouraged, at least until such activities had been somewhat hampered by the Subprime mortgage crisis, the planning, developing and construction of new housing tracts. The city also has numerous local shopping centers, such as the Summit Heights Gateway/Falcon Ridge Town Center at the north end of the city, and Palm Court in the southern section. The city also features commercial strip zoning along several of its major avenues and boulevards, such as the 'Miracle Mile' Straddling the 210 Freeway between Citrus and Sierra Avenues. The official Fontana Auto Center is part of that zone, with two major dealerships already in place.According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:Possibly the city's largest economic engine, however, is the Auto Club Speedway. Although technically not within the city limits, the speedway brings tens of thousands of racing fans and dozens of teams to the region for a few days each year, which can be a major boon for local restaurants, motels, hotels, and auto service stations.
Center Stage
Located next door to the Lewis Library on Sierra stands the Center Stage Theater. Built in the Art Deco style in 1937, and designed by architect C.H. Boller, the former Fontana (movie) Theater was recently renovated during 2004-2008 after several decades of various other uses, into a live dinner theater, with $6,000,000 in funds earmarked by the Fontana City Council. It reopened to the public on July 25, 2008.
Art Depot
The Art Depot is one of Fontana's original community centers, and is a specialized Cultural Arts facility. Originally built as a freight depot of the Pacific Electric Railway in 1915, the Art Depot sits alongside the newly landscaped Pacific Electric Trail in the Helen Putnam Historical Plaza. The Art Depot offers art classes, open studio activities, and special events.
Artist Showcase
The city's Artist Showcase program at city hall was developed in order to demonstrate Fontana’s dedication to the Cultural Arts. Through the provision of quarterly artist showcases, Fontana residents are introduced to local artists.One of the objectives of the program is to introduce the process used by the artist to develop the art form, and methods used to bring the work to life. Each artist selected for the quarterly showcases is asked to exhibit their work for a three month period in the City Council Chamber Foyer located at City Hall. The artist will also be showcased in a small presentation, invited to dine with the members of the Fontana Community and presented to City Council. Additionally, each artist selected will be awarded a nominal stipend from the local Fontana business community.
Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club Speedway, a racetrack that plays host to one NASCAR Sprint Cup event a year and various smaller races, is located in an unincorporated part of Fontana, on Cherry Avenue. It is built on the former site of the Kaiser Steel mill. The large smelting furnaces of the mill were sold to China, and the rest remains a working steel mill operated by California Steel Industries, which is owned by the Japanese company JFE Steel Corporation.
Fontana Park
Upon opening to the public on October 25, 2008, Fontana Park (located in the northern part of the city at Summit Avenue and Lytle Creek Road), is now the city's second largest municipal park, featuring a large state-of-the-art community center, aquatic center, skate park, and several child-oriented play areas.
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $348.0 million in Revenues, $224.0 million in expenditures, $1,371.6 million in total assets, $754.1 million in total liabilities, and $251.3 million in cash and investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:Fontana is a General Law City governed by the codes adopted by the legislators of the State of California. Fontana is governed by an elected Mayor and four Council Members. The Mayor and Council Members, City Clerk and City Treasurer are elected every four years.
Public safety
Effective July 1, 2008, the City of Fontana formed its own Fire Protection District (similar to a Fire Department). Fontana has continued with its previous fire protection provider (now as a contract city) with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. American Medical Response provides patient transportation via EMT/Paramedic staffed ambulances.Fontana also maintains its own police department, but for the unincorporated areas (like the nearby town of Bloomington), the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is used (mainly from the Fontana satellite station, or backup deputies from the West Valley/Rancho Cucamonga Regional Station).
Politics
In the state legislature Fontana is located in the 32nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Gloria Negrete McLeod, and in the 62nd and 63rd Assembly Districts, represented by Democrat Wilmer Carter and Republican Bill Emmerson respectively. Federally, Fontana is located in California's 43rd congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +10 and is represented by Democrat Joe Baca.
Lewis Library
One of the more prominent and well-known landmarks of the city is the Lewis Library and Technology Center, which opened in April 2008. At an estimated cost of over $60,000,000, this facility was made possible through a mixture of private and public funds. It is the largest library in the San Bernardino County Library System.Located on Sierra Avenue, downtown, some features of the library include:New book shelving, reading areas and a Children's Library, named in honor ofDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
An expanded collection exceeding 142,000 items, including 7,850 reference, media, and periodical items;
A room of historical documents, maintained by the Fontana Historical Society;
Electronic databases, software applications, remote access to online informational resources and Internet access;
Homework clubs and a homework center;
Spanish language and homework materials;
A computer technology support and training center;
A literacy center with tutoring programs;
A career center;
203 public use computer work stations including 25 Spanish language computers;
Community meeting rooms and a 330-seat auditorium for meetings, lectures and special presentations;
A bookstore and coffee bar;
A below-grade parking garage.
The building also contains some city government offices.
Mary Vagle Center
Fontana is also home to the Mary Vagle Science and Nature Center. Situated at the base of Mount Jurupa in the southern part of the city, it offers an opportunity for a wide range of environmental education activities, including a reptile viewing area, displays, dioramas, and hands on programs. There is a 1-acre (4,000 m2) pond, three miles (5 km) of self guided hiking trails, and the ninth most significant petroglyph site in the state. Hawks, rabbits, deer, rattlesnakes, foxes, and bobcats thrive in this protected habitat. After school science adventures club and summer science adventures day camp are also available along with a Junior Ranger Program, Eagle Scout Program, Nature Discovery Walk & Native American Indian Presentation.Many dedicated individuals and community groups volunteer their efforts in working toward the beautification, preservation and maintenance of the Center.
Public schools
The Fontana Unified School District operates these high schools:A.B. Miller High School
Fontana High School
Henry J. Kaiser High School
Jurupa Hills High School
Summit High School
Eric Birch Continuation High School
Citrus Continuation High School
While most residents of the city attend schools within the Fontana Unified School District, some areas of the city are served by neighboring school districts.The Northwest area of the city is partly served by theEtiwanda School District(K thru 8 only) and theChaffey Joint Union High School District(High Schools only).
The Southeast area of the city is partly served by theColton Joint Unified School District.
The Northeast area of the city is partly served by theRialto Unified School District.
Charter Schools
There are two Options For Youth Charter Schools in Fontana. These schools are chartered through the Upland Unified School District and offer an independent study program to obtain a high school diploma.
Transportation
The Metrolink rail service to the greater Los Angeles area runs through the center of town. The City of Fontana is ten minutes away from Ontario International Airport. The city is also served by Omnitrans bus service.San Bernardino Freeway
Ontario Freeway
Foothill Boulevard(Historic U.S. Route 66)
Foothill Freeway
Utilities
Fontana receives electrical power through the Southern California Edison Company. Gas service is provided by the Southern California Gas Company. Telephone and DSL internet service are through AT&T and Verizon, though Verizon serves a smaller portion of the city. Time Warner Cable also provides television and cable internet access. Burrtec Waste provides rubbish and trash collection throughout the city. Burrtec offers both regular waste and green waste recycling programs. Fontana is served by five different water companies, but none of their service areas overlap. These companies are: Fontana Water; the Cucamonga Valley Water District; Marygold Mutual Water; and West Valley Water District, and the City of Rialto. Sewage service in the city is provided by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, but is billed out by the City of Fontana itself.
Healthcare
Fontana is home to the Kaiser Permanente-Fontana Hospital. Located on Sierra Avenue, and occupying most of the block between Sierra, Marygold, and Palmetto Avenues, and Valley Boulevard, The campus forms one of the largest healthcare facilities in the Inland Empire Region. On more of a side note, the various facilities are also among the tallest and largest buildings in the city (other than industrial distribution centers). The hospital is home to sixty different specialized departments, plus emergency care.Also, located in the north end of the city, along the 'Miracle Mile' of Sierra Lakes Parkway and the 210 freeway, is the Sierra San Antonio Medical Plaza, a 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) outpatient center and medical office building supported by San Antonio Community Hospital. Services currently available from SSAMP are urgent care, diagnostic radiology, physician offices, and a pharmacy. The facility also boasts a 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) educational suite where community lectures, health screenings, awareness campaigns, maternity and CPR classes are held.
In popular culture
Pigmy Love Circushas a song calledDrug run to Fontanaon the albumThe Power of Beef.
The steel mill scene inTerminator 2was filmed in the abandoned Kaiser Steel Mill.
TheHells AngelsMotorcycle Club was founded in Fontana, in 1948. The founding charter is known as theBerdooCharter, in reference to the slang name for San Bernardino.
Literature
'Junkyard of Dreams': Chapter 7 ofCity of Quartz, Mike Davis, 1990.
Notable natives, residents, or former residents
Travis Barker, drummer,The Aquabats,Blink-182,The Transplants,Plus 44, andBox Car Racer
Nick Barnett, NFL player (Green Bay Packers)
Corey Benjamin, former NBA player
Shelton Brooks, musician, songwriter, lived in Fontana for many years
Al Capone, mobster, bootlegger, once maintained a home on Tamarind Avenue in Fontana. A prominent 'C' is visible on the south side of the chimney
Jesse Chavez, MLB Player
Chukwudi Chijindu, soccer player forChivas USA
Greg Colbrunn, MLB Player
Mike Davis, author and commentator
Lucas Duda, outfielder for the New York Mets
Maurice Edu, soccer player,Rangers F.C.
Bill Fagerbakke, television and voice actor,SpongeBob SquarePants
Sammy Hagar, rock musician (guitarist and vocalist), former member ofMontroseandVan Halen
Scott Karl,MLBplayer for theMilwaukee Brewers,Colorado Rockies, and theAnaheim Angels
Sam Khalifa, former MLB Player.
Jeff Liefer, MLB Player
Whitman Mayotelevision actor (Sanford and Son), lived in Fontana and was once Grand Marshall of the Fontana Days Parade
Troy Percival,relief pitcherfor theTampa Bay Rays
Ken Prymus, actorMASH
Leo Romero, professional skateboarder
Sean Rooks, NBA basketball player (retired)
Alexis Serna, placekicker for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers(CFL)
Don White, United States Marine Corps CH-53E pilot, Marine Aircraft Group 16 WTO, esquire.
