Fontana, California

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City of Fontana
Official seal of City of Fontana
Seal
Motto: "city of Action"
Location of Fontana in California
Location of Fontana in California
Coordinates: 34°5′52″N 117°27′30″W / 34.09778, -117.45833
Country United States
State California
County San Bernardino
Incorporated (city) 1952-06-25 [1]
Government
 - Mayor Mark Nuaimi [2]
Area
 - Total 42.4 sq mi (107.485 km²)
 - Land 42.4 sq mi (107.475 km²)
 - Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km²)  0.01%
Elevation 1,237 ft (377 m)
Population (1 January 2007)[3]
 - Total 181,640
 - Density 4,376.9/sq mi (1,689.9/km²)
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP Code 92331, 92334-92337 [4]
Area code(s) 909 [5]
FIPS code 06-24680
GNIS feature ID 1652711
Website: http://www.fontana.org/

Fontana (pronounced /fɒnˈtænə/) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States.

The City of Fontana is located in southern California. Interstates 10 and 210 both transect the city. Fontana is close to the mountains, beaches, several lakes and desert areas, including 12 regional parks. The California Speedway is located just west of Cherry Avenue, on the site of the old Kaiser Steel Mill. Fontana is home to the Fontana Days Half Marathon and 5K run. This race is on record as the fastest half marathon course in the world.[6]

As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,929, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate showed the fast-growing city's population at 143,607. The present population is estimated at 183,640 (2007 estimate).

Contents

[edit] History

Founded in 1913 by A.B.Miller [7], Fontana was founded as an agricultural town of citrus orchards and ranches astride Route 66 (now known as Foothill Boulevard) and numerous rail lines.

In the early years Fontana was home to many citrus groves, vineyards, and chicken ranches. Fontana was radically transformed during World War II. Henry J. Kaiser’s steel mill in Fontana was the only steel mill west of the Mississippi River. The routing of the San Bernardino Freeway through a section of the town was followed by explosive growth, with the area becoming a prominent industrial suburb of San Bernardino.

The Hells Angels motorcycle gang was formed in Fontana in 1948.

Ross and Violet Gesler immigrated to Fontana, Ross developed the Ross Gesler orchid in the greenhouses on his Arrow Blvd. home. Later his grandson David Eshleman became mayor of the city.

In the 1950s and '60s Fontana was home to a famous drag racing strip that was a significant venue in the NHRA circuit. Known officially as Mickey Thompson’s Fontana International Dragway, it was also referred to as Fontana Drag City or just plain old Fontana Drag Strip. The original Fontana strip is long since defunct, but the owners of NASCAR’s new Fontana Raceway will be opening 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.

[edit] Attractions

Auto Club Speedway is located in Fontana, a racetrack that plays host to two NASCAR Nextel Cup events a year and various smaller races. 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 an operating steel mill (though Japanese-owned) named California Steel Industries.

Also in Fontana is the new Lewis Library and Technology Center, which opened in April of 2008. At an estimated cost of over $60,000,000, this state-of-the-art facility was made possible through a mixture of private and public funds.

Located downtown, some features of the new Library include:

  • New book shelving, reading areas and a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Children's Library.
  • An expanded collection exceeding 142,000 items, including 7,850 reference, media, and periodical items.
  • 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.

[edit] Geography

Fontana is located at 34°5′52″N, 117°27′30″W (34.097744, -117.458222)[8].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.1 mi² (93.6 km²) all land.

[edit] 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.[9] The city is also served by Omnitrans bus service. [10]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[11] 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 44.99% White, 11.83% African American, 1.12% Native American, 4.36% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 31.94% from other races, and 5.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.72% 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 3.78 and the average family size was 4.02.

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.

[edit] Census Information

Population
2012 Projection: 201,269
[citation needed] 2007 Estimate: 181,640
2000 Census: 128,929
1990 Census: 87,444

Population Growth 1990 - 2000
47.44%

Households
2012 Projection: 50,426
2007 Estimate: 43,852
2000 Census: 34,014
1990 Census: 26,283

Households Growth 1990 - 2000
29.41%

2007 Est. Population by Single Classification Race
White Alone: 66,568; 38.72%
African American Alone: 21,470; 12.49%
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone: 1,901; 1.11%
Asian Alone: 8,091; 4.71%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone: 520; 0.30%
Some Other Race Alone: 63,661; 37.03%
Two or More Races: 9,705; 5.65%

2007 Est. Population Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino: 60,368; 35.11%
Hispanic or Latino: 111,548; 64.89%

Mexican: 88,971; 79.76%
Puerto Rican: 1,250; 1.12%
Cuban: 512; 0.46%
All Other Hispanic or Latino: 20,815; 18.66%

2007 Tenure of Occupied Housing Units
Owner Occupied: 30,727; 70.07%
Renter Occupied: 13,125; 29.93%

2007 Average Household Size
3.91

2007 Est. Households by Household Income
Income Less than $15,000: 4,210; 9.60%
Income $15,000 - $24,999: 4,180; 9.53%
Income $25,000 - $34,999: 4,431; 10.10%
Income $35,000 - $49,999: 6,669; 15.21%
Income $50,000 - $74,999: 9,546; 21.77%
Income $75,000 - $99,999: 6,778; 15.46%
Income $100,000 - $149,999: 6,045; 13.79%
Income $150,000 - $249,999: 1,731; 3.95%
Income $250,000 - $499,999: 227; 0.52%
Income $500,000 and over: 35; 0.08%

2007 Est. Average Household Income
$65,548

2007 Est. Median Household Income
$56,380

2007 Est. Per Capita Income
$16,791

Source: Claritas Inc. July 2007

[edit] 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[12] and is represented by Democrat Joe Baca.

[edit] Education

The Fontana Unified School District operates these high schools:

Most residents of the city attend schools within the Fontana Unified School District.

The Northwest area of the city is served by the Etiwanda School District.

[edit] Notable natives

  • Nick Barnett, NFL player, Green Bay Packers
  • Travis Barker, drummer for The Aquabats, Blink-182, The Transplants, Plus 44, and Box Car Racer
  • Corey Benjamin, NBA Player (1st Round Pick in 1998 for the Chicago Bulls/NBA) and College Basketball Star at Oregon State University before leaving after his Sophomore Season
  • Shelton Brooks, legendary songwriter and bandleader of the early 20th century, spent several decades in his later years living in Fontana. The writer of such hits as ”Darktown Strutters’ Ball” and ”Some of These Days,” he would buy a new Cadillac every year with his songwriter royalties. As a leader of his own successful big band, he hobnobbed with the Hollywood elite and became especially close to torch singer Sophie Tucker, known as “The Last of the Red Hot Mammas.”
  • Gangster Al Capone once had a home in Fontana, which was notable for the initial "C" displayed on one of the home's chimneys. It was rumored that secret passageways/tunnels led from the home to a different part of the city of Fontana, allowing for a quick escape.
  • Greg Colbrunn, MLB Player
  • The Crlenica Brothers [pronounced tsir-LEN-itsa], a local Slavic “Tamburitza” musical group, lived in Fontana, had a music store on Arrow Blvd., and played music locally for Fontana's large Slavic population. Unbeknownst to most Fontana residents, they also did some movie work in Hollywood, performing on the soundtrack of "Dr. Zhivago" (Lara’s Theme), and also in the movie “Patton,” in the Russian dance scene.
  • Mike Davis, author and social commentator
  • Maurice Edu, Soccer Player for MLS side Toronto FC
  • Sammy Hagar, rock musician (guitarist and vocalist), former member of Montrose and Van Halen, and a soloist. Entrepreneur and purveyor of Cabo Wabo brand tequila. Although Hagar was born in Monterey, California, he lived in Fontana, and graduated from Fontana High School.
  • Nick Johnson, MLB Player
  • Sam Khalifa, former professional baseball player.
  • Jeff Liefer, MLB Player
  • D-Loc, one of the lead singers of the Kottonmouth Kings.
  • Josh Logan, Actor appearing in the hit T.V. series Smallville and guest starring in the cult classic American Warewolf in London
  • Whitman Mayo (1930-2001), the actor who played Shady Grady in the TV series “Sanford and Son,” moved with his family from New York City to Fontana in 1967, when he was 37. While living in Fontana he attended Chaffey College in nearby Cucamonga (now called Rancho Cucamonga). He once served as the Grand Marshall in the Fontana Days parade.
  • Legendary motorcycle builder and innovator Denver Mullins was from Fontana. He started a bike shop, Denver’s Choppers, in San Bernardino in 1967, where he was a pioneer in the building of custom bikes and replacement bike parts. The shop later moved to Henderson, Nevada, just outside Las Vegas, where it still operates to this day, although Denver died in a racing boat accident in 1992.
  • Troy Percival, relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays
  • Alexis Serna, place kicker
  • Dirty Red, Rapper from Ruthless Records who's actually from Los Angeles but lived in Fontana.
  • Leo Romero, Professional skateboarder
  • Sean Rooks, NBA Player (1st Round Pick). Played college ball at University of Arizona and went onto play a number of season with several teams in the NBA, before retiring in 2005.

[edit] Literature

  • "Junkyard of Dreams": Chapter 7 of City of Quartz, Mike Davis, 1990.

[edit] In popular culture

  • Pigmy Love Circus has a blazin' song called "Drug run to Fontana" on the album The Power of Beef.
  • Fictional cartoon character Speed Racer was from Fontana.
  • The steel mill scene in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movie “Terminator 2” was filmed in the abandoned Kaiser Steel Mill.
  • Part of the freeway scene in Tranformers was shot on Interstate 210 in north Fontana

[edit] References

  1. ^ Incorporation Dates of California Cities. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  2. ^ Fontana City Mayor Mark Nuaimi. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  3. ^ E-1: City/County Population Estimates with Annual Percent Change. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  4. ^ USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  5. ^ Number Administration System - NPA and City/Town Search Results. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  6. ^ Visitor Information
  7. ^ History of Fontana
  8. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  9. ^ Visitor Information
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  12. ^ Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?. Campaign Legal Center Blog. Retrieved on 2008-02-10.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
San Bernardino County, California
County seat: San Bernardino
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