My Analysis of the Central Coast and Southern California (Part 6): San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County

Demographics (2019): 54.0% Hispanic, 27.8% Non-Hispanic White, 10.0% Black, 8.6% Asian

Population (2010): 2,035,210

Growth rate: Fast (27.5% since 2000)

President: 55.3% R/43.5% R (2004); 52.1% D/45.8% R (2008); 52.3% D/45.0% R (2012); 52.1% D/41.5% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $42,066

%Bachelor’s (2000): 13.2%

Now we come to the largest county by land area in the United States outside of Alaska. San Bernardino County is about the size of West Virginia and is slightly larger than New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island combined. It is also slightly larger than Switzerland.

While San Bernardino is up there in population as the 14th-most populous county in the country, about 80% of the county’s population lives in about 2% of the land area, 480 square miles, next to Riverside and in the San Bernardino Valley. This area had been one of the fastest-growing parts of the country in recent decades as people from Los Angeles moved east for relatively cheaper housing with the tradeoff of longer commutes.

About 15% of San Bernardino’s population lives in the 280-square mile Victorville area north of the San Bernardino Mountains. The remaining 5%, about 100,000 people, lives outside these two areas. One such community is Baker. While I am not covering Baker as it has fewer than 1,000 people, I will mention that the town is notable for being home to “the world’s tallest thermometer“. This landmark is a 134-foot tall thermometer that is as tall as the hottest temperature recorded on Earth in nearby Death Valley in 1913. Baker is also close to the former health spa-based settlement Zzyzx. Yes, that is a real name!

San Bernardino was named after the valley, which itself was named after Saint Bernardine of Siena. Like in many parts of then-Alta California, Mexican independence from Spain in 1821 resulted in many Mexican citizens receiving land grants for ranchos including Rancho San Bernardino. Mormon settlers later purchased Rancho San Bernardino and established the town of San Bernardino. San Bernardino County was carved out of Los Angeles County in 1853, and part of the south of the county became part of Riverside County in 1893.

The famous Route 66 crosses the county, roughly following I-40 from Needles to Barstow before turning south following I-15 to San Bernardino and then turning west again en route to Los Angeles County and the western terminus in Santa Monica.

After leaning Republican in the mid-20th century, San Bernardino began trending Democratic in the 1990s. The county gave Bill Clinton (D) pluralities both times before turning Republican again in the early 2000s. The Democratic trend continued though, and San Bernardino returned to the Democratic column. Democratic strongholds include the city of San Bernardino, Rialto, and Fontana. Republicans are strongest in places like Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Yucaipa. Cities that were once strongly Republican like Rancho Cucamonga and Redlands became more competitive in recent elections.

San Bernardino Valley and Mountains

San Bernardino

Demographics (2010): 60.0% Hispanic, 19.0% Non-Hispanic White, 15.0% Black, 4.0% Asian

Population (2010): 209,924

President: 56.21% D / 42.61% R (2004), 64.60% D / 33.23% R (2008), 67.76% D / 30.19% R (2012), 66.48% D / 27.87% R (2016)

MHI (2010): $39,097

% Bachelor’s (2000): 11.7%

As one of the Inland Empire’s anchor cities, San Bernardino is one of the oldest communities in California. Mormon colonists purchased Rancho San Bernardino from Jose del Carmen Lugo and planned the city’s layout according to their “City of Zion” methods, with north-south/east-west streets in predetermined block sizes, labeled according to the alphabet (north/south) or numbers (east/west). While Mormons were held in high regard early on, attitudes soured quickly after coverage of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, attacks on the Baker-Fancher emigrant wagon train in southern Utah.

After a gold rush in the Holcomb Valley in 1860 San Bernardino, now a regular frontier town on the Los Angeles-Salt Lake Road, became an important trading hub in the region. Oranges came to dominate the agricultural landscape, represented by the orange in the city’s seal. Chinese immigrants began arriving in the late 1860s to work in domestic jobs. During a statewide depression in 1875 they were criticized for depressing wages, and moved to the local Chinatown. San Bernardino’s Chinatown was abandoned in the 1920s.

San Bernardino continued to grow in the early to mid-20th century. The Pacific Electric Railway allowed residents easy access to Los Angeles and the surrounding areas beginning in 1911. Migrants from Oklahoma and Arkansas during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl came to work in the agricultural fields. Post-war job growth in the railroads, Kaiser Steel, and Norton Air Force Base brought further prosperity. The peak came in 1977 when San Bernardino was named an “All-America” City.

The downward slide for San Bernardino began in 1994 when Norton Air Force Base and Kaiser Steel closed, and Santa Fe Railroad largely relocated to Kansas. Things improved slightly when supermarket company Stater Brothers opened a large-scale distribution plant in 2006, but the late-2000s subprime mortgage crisis hit San Bernardino and many surrounding areas hard. In 2012 San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy, the largest city to do so before Detroit the next year.

Being a core city of the Inland Empire, San Bernardino is also an anchor of Democratic strength in the region.

Fontana

Demographics (2010): 66.8% Hispanic, 15.4% Non-Hispanic White, 10.0% Black, 6.6% Asian

Population (2010): 196,069

President: 56.47% D / 42.73% R (2004), 67.11% D / 31.09% R (2008), 69.74% D / 28.36% R (2012), 68.96% D / 26.21% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $45,782

% Bachelor’s (2000): 17.1%

Meaning “fountain” or “water source” in Italian because of the nearby Santa Ana River, Fontana was primarily rural and citrus-growing until World War II when the Kaiser Steel plant and Kaiser Permanente-Fontana Hospital went up. While Fontana’s economy is still primarily industrial with I-10, I-15, and State Route 210, it is also a major trucking center that has many truck dealerships and industrial equipment sales centers. Fontana experienced very rapid growth at the turn of the 21st century with residential developments and an aggressive campaign that resulted in them annexing some developed land nearby. Fontana is one of the core Democratic cities in San Bernardino County.

Rancho Cucamonga

Demographics (2010): 42.7% Non-Hispanic White, 34.9% Hispanic, 10.4% Asian, 9.2% Black

Population (2010): 165,269

President: 59.47% R / 39.68% D (2004), 49.49% D / 48.70% R (2008), 49.65% R / 48.35% D (2012), 49.29% D / 45.29% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $78,428

% Bachelor’s (2000): 34.0%

Rancho Cucamonga, originally inhabited by the Kukamonga (“sandy place”) people, started as a land grant belonging to merchant and first-generation Spanish native of Los Angeles Tubercio Tapia. Tapia established the first winery in California here. The town continued to grow later in the 19th century, with irrigation tunnels dug by Chinese laborers and the extension of the Santa Fe Railroad. Like many areas in San Bernardino County, agriculture dominated the local economy, especially wineries. That is why the city’s seal has a bunch of grapes.

Rancho Cucamonga incorporated as a city in 1977 when the communities of Alta Loma, Cucamonga, and Etiwanda combined. Alta Loma and Etiwanda (named after a Native American tribe living along Lake Michigan) preferred to keep their names along with their own post offices.

George and William Chaffey, who later founded Ontario, purchased the land that would become Etiwanda from retired Portuguese sea captain Joseph Garcia. The Chaffeys were highly innovative, and not just with water system management in which they set the standards for water management throughout Southern California but also with telephones and electricity. The first long-distance telephone call in Southern California was between Etiwanda and San Bernardino. The house in which Garcia and the Chaffeys lived had electric lights as early as 1882.

Like many suburbs in the area, Rancho Cucamonga was very Republican before becoming more competitive in the 21st century.

Ontario

Demographics (2010): 69.0% Hispanic, 18.2% Non-Hispanic White, 6.4% Black, 5.2% Asian

Population (2010): 163,924

President: 52.00% D / 46.90% R (2004), 62.26% D / 36.01% R (2008), 63.69% D / 34.30% R (2012), 64.83% D / 29.66% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $42,452

% Bachelor’s (2000): 16.1%

Ontario was named after the Canadian province that the founders, brothers George and William Chaffey, were from. After they bought the land, they built a channel bringing water from Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) to the lands below so that farmers could water their crops and prevent floods. This “Model Colony” was originally going to be a dry town with a “perfect” community balance between the farms and the town. The community drew citrus farmers and Easterners looking for a drier climate. To look like Ontario had an abundance of water, a fountain in the railway station was turned on when trains arrived, and turned off when they left.

Ontario’s reputation as “Iowa under Palm Trees” drew in many from elsewhere, rapidly increasing the population. Many Germans and Swiss settled in the area, as did Japanese and Filipinos. Hispanics have also lived here for a long time, from the Californios in the 1840s to Mexican settlers that worked on the railroads in the 1880s and came from the Mexican Revolution in the 1910s.

Ontario has also had some industry with General Electric. The post-World War II boom and the expanding aerospace industry brought a housing boom. Ontario International Airport was a pilot training center and is now the main route of freight traffic from Los Angeles and Long Beach to the rest of the country.

Rialto

Demographics (2010): 67.6% Hispanic, 16.4% Black, 12.6% Non-Hispanic White, 2.3% Asian

Population (2010): 99,171

President: 62.34% D / 36.54% R (2004), 72.84% D / 25.36% R (2008), 75.33% D / 22.98% R (2012), 73.41% D / 21.54% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $41,254

% Bachelor’s (2000): 10.7%

Rialto was named after the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, as suggested by Hattie Merrill, daughter of Iowa Governor Samuel Merrill. Pioneers established ranches and farms including for growing Muscat Grapes. Later, Methodists from Kansas settled in the area and established the town. Like in much of the area, citrus became an important industry and at its peak there were at least seven packing houses along the Santa Fe Tracks, preparing and sending citrus throughout the country.

Chino

Demographics (2010): 53.8% Hispanic, 27.8% Non-Hispanic White, 10.5% Asian, 6.2% Black

Population (2010): 77,983

President: 54.98% R / 44.00% D (2004), 51.98% D / 46.45% R (2008), 51.97% D / 46.11% R (2012), 53.31% D / 41.82% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $55,401

% Bachelor’s (2000): 21.1%

Located in the “tail” of San Bernardino County, Chino was long an agricultural center, especially in dairy products, which it provided for much of Southern California and the Southwestern United States as a whole. The pastoral setting made Chino popular for shooting “Midwestern” settings in movies from the 1960s. Later in the 1970s Chino became more suburban.

Chino Hills

Demographics (2010): 33.4% Non-Hispanic White, 30.3% Asian, 29.1% Hispanic, 4.6% Black

Population (2010): 74,799

President: 59.31% R / 39.81% D (2004), 50.51% R / 47.99% D (2008), 51.95% R / 46.28% D (2012), 49.79% D / 45.35% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $83,550

% Bachelor’s (2000): 46.0%

Bordering three counties (Riverside to the south, Orange to the southwest, and Los Angeles to the west) and being isolated because of its many rolling hills, Chino Hills became a destination for tourists from Los Angeles and bootleggers in the 1920s, and hippies and artists in the 1960s. Rapid growth in the 1980s led to the city incorporating in 1991. An earthquake in 2008 on the Yorba Linda Fault was said to have interrupted tapings of Judge Judy and Judge Penny.

Demographics (2010): 44.2% Non-Hispanic White, 38.0% Hispanic, 8.4% Asian, 7.3% Black

Population (2010): 73,732

President: 57.80% R / 41.18% D (2004), 49.25% R / 48.76% D (2008), 50.14% R / 47.78% D (2012), 50.19% D / 44.37% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $48,734

% Bachelor’s (2000): 31.9%

Originally the northern part of George and William Chaffey’s “Model Town” of Ontario, concern over the desire of Ontario for land that included their post office and some railroad tracks, Upland separated from Ontario to form its own city in 1906. Citrus dominated the local economy and in its heyday, 60% of the nation’s citrus came from here. The completion of one of the first freeways in the country, the San Bernardino Freeway in 1954, resulted in Upland transitioning from rural to suburban.

Redlands

Demographics (2010): 54.0% Non-Hispanic White, 30.3% Hispanic, 7.6% Asian, 5.2% Black

Population (2010): 68,747

President: 57.36% R / 41.62% D (2004), 49.63% R / 48.15% D (2008), 50.63% R / 46.95% D (2012), 49.18% D / 44.38% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $58,155

% Bachelor’s (2000): 38.6%

Redlands, named after the red color of the adobe soil, received Mormon pioneers as its first Anglo settlers. The settlers set up a major farming community before returning to Utah at the behest of Brigham Young in 1857 for the Utah War. Later in the 1880s, railroads connecting Southern California to San Francisco and Salt Lake brought a land boom and a citrus industry boom. From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, Redlands was the largest producer of navel oranges in the world.

In the early 20th century, the Pacific Electric Railway provided a connection for the wealthy from fast-growing Los Angeles to vacation in Redlands, “the Jewel of the Inland Empire”. Later Redlands became a bedroom community for defense workers at Norton Air Force Base. The closure of the base in the mid-1990s brought a mild recession and population decline. Now San Bernardino International Airport stands on the former site of the base.

Highland

Demographics (2010): 48.1% Hispanic, 30.8% Non-Hispanic White, 7.4% Asian, 1.0% Black

Population (2010): 53,104

President: 54.55% R / 44.45% D (2004), 52.82% D / 45.53% R (2008), 52.89% D / 45.16% R (2012), 53.07% D / 41.61% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $41,230

% Bachelor’s (2000): 19.7%

Highland also started out as a town primarily focused on citrus agriculture. Today Highland is split by Boulder Avenue, with residents living east of that street more well-off than residents living to the west.

Colton

Demographics (2010): 71.0% Hispanic, 13.0% Non-Hispanic White, 5.0% Asian, 1.3% Black

Population (2010): 52,154

President: 60.94% D / 37.79% R (2004), 68.11% D / 29.42% R (2008), 70.42% D / 27.24% R (2012), 69.20% D / 24.91% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $35,777

% Bachelor’s (2000): 16.4%

Colton is near the once-very busy railroad crossing of Colton Crossing and was originally known as “Agua Mansa”, or “Gentle Waters”. It was renamed after State Militia Brigadier General David Douty Colton. With a surge in imports passing through Los Angeles and Long Beach, Colton Crossing became a major bottleneck and was replaced by a fly-over.

Yucaipa

Demographics (2010): 65.9% Non-Hispanic White, 27.1% Hispanic, 2.8% Asian, 1.6% Black

Population (2010): 51,367

President: 66.27% R / 32.69% D (2004), 60.89% R / 37.13% D (2008), 62.80% R / 34.68% D (2012), 62.26% R / 31.99% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $39,144

% Bachelor’s (2000): 23.0%

Yucaipa is best known for apple orchards still operated today by descendants of the founders.

Montclair

Demographics (2010): 70.2% Hispanic, 14.4% Non-Hispanic White, 9.3% Asian, 5.2% Black

Population (2010): 36,664

President: 55.71% D / 43.07% R (2004), 64.41% D / 33.70% R (2008), 69.23% D / 28.92% R (2012), 69.60% D / 24.82% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $30,797

% Bachelor’s (2000): 15.8%

Beginning as a settlement of citrus orchards called Monte Vista, the community also experienced rapid postwar residential growth in the mid-20th century. The community tried to incorporate as Monte Vista, but the Post Office refused to because of confusion with the community of Monte Vista in Oakland. The Monte Vista further south was renamed Montclair in 1958.

Bloomington

Demographics (2010): 81.0% Hispanic, 14.1% Non-Hispanic White, 2.7% Black, 1.4% Asian

Population (2010): 23,851

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $34,106

% Bachelor’s (2000): 9.2%

Sandwiched between the cities of Rialto and Fontana, Bloomington was developed by the Semi-Tropic Land and Water Company. Bloomington was also home to the Crestmore Quarries, where employees from Riverside worked. The community is still rural, though Rialto and Fontana are trying to annex some parts.

Loma Linda

Demographics (2010): 37.0% Non-Hispanic White, 28.3% Asian, 22.2% Hispanic, 8.7% Black

Population (2010): 23,261

President: 56.94% R / 41.80% D (2004), 49.65% D / 48.36% R (2008), 49.86% D / 47.16% R (2012), 53.62% D / 38.35% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $38,204

% Bachelor’s (2000): 46.7%

Meaning “beautiful hill” in Spanish, Loma Linda was originally a railroad town called Mound City. In the late 19th century, Los Angeles businessmen bought the local hotel and converted it to a health resort, and renamed the community to Loma Linda. In 2008 Loma Linda annexed the remnants of the old community of Bryn Mawr.

Lake Arrowhead

Demographics (2010): 73.0% Non-Hispanic White, 21.8% Hispanic, 1.2% Asian, 0.8% Black

Population (2010): 12,424

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $60,826

% Bachelor’s (2000): 19.1%

Named after an arrowhead-shaped rock formation that supposedly pointed to hot and cold springs in the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Arrowhead was a logging center in the early 20th century. Today it is a popular mountain resort destination, receiving over 4 million visitors a year. There is no official town center; the Village is the main business area for residents and tourists. The town also hosts events such as free Summer Concerts and a Tour de Lake Arrowhead.

Big Bear City

Demographics (2010): 75.8% Non-Hispanic White, 18.9% Hispanic, 0.8% Asian, 0.7% Black

Population (2010): 12,304

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $35,615

% Bachelor’s (2000): 17.5%

The name is kind of a misnomer, as Big Bear City is technically not a city. The unincorporated town is mostly residential. The Big Bear area was named after the grizzly bears in the area that went extinct in the early 20th century. Today black bears roam the valley.

Grand Terrace

Demographics (2010): 46.4% Non-Hispanic White, 39.1% Hispanic, 6.5% Asian, 5.6% Black

Population (2010): 12,040

President: 57.12% R / 41.88% D (2004), 49.23% R / 48.41% D (2008), 48.69% R / 48.54% D (2012), 47.97% D / 45.98% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $61,068

% Bachelor’s (2000): 26.3%

Originally Mexican land grants and later a site for Mormon settlement, Grand Terrace was originally referred to as “Terrace”. The scenic views resulted in “Grand” being added to the names later. Seventh-day Adventists settled in the area shortly after, when the city was called “East Colton”. The construction of the Gage Canal brought water from the Santa Ana River and the city, then called East Riverside became an agricultural community. In the second half of the 20th century, like in much of Southern California, the orchards gave way to suburbs.

Crestline

Demographics (2010): 77.0% Non-Hispanic White, 16.5% Hispanic, 1.0% Black, 0.9% Asian

Population (2010): 10,770

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $44,257

% Bachelor’s (2000): 23.5%

Crestline is on the shore of the reservoir of Lake Gregory in the San Bernardino National Forest, and is another tourist draw with boat tours and Mozumdar Temple, built by an eccentric religious leader.

Muscoy

Demographics (2010): 82.9% Hispanic, 11.0% Non-Hispanic White, 4.3% Black, 0.9% Asian

Population (2010): 10,644

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $25,635

% Bachelor’s (2000): 5.6%

Muscoy started out as an agricultural community, and like many parts of Southern California after World War II, became more suburban. Many shops opened up to accommodate travelers. Today Muscoy is a place where cars and horses share the roads.

Mentone

Demographics (2010): 52.4% Non-Hispanic White, 35.4% Hispanic, 5.0% Black, 4.0% Asian

Population (2010): 8,720

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $41,225

% Bachelor’s (2000): 25.6%

Named after Mentone, France, Mentone, California was home to a health spa and a railroad depot. Today it is a sparsely-populated suburban area.

Big Bear Lake

Demographics (2010): 73.3% Non-Hispanic White, 21.4% Hispanic, 1.6% Asian, 0.4% Black

Population (2010): 5,019

President: 67.10% R / 31.55% D (2004), 61.65% R / 35.88% D (2008), 63.54% R / 34.13% D (2012), 61.75% R / 33.01% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $34,447

% Bachelor’s (2000): 25.9%

Unlike Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake is an incorporated city. As it is a popular resort destination, the population temporarily swells to over 100,000 on some weekends. Local resident Kirk Phillips was inspired to create the second bus line in the world, after one he saw in New York City, from San Bernardino to Big Bear. As a result, Big Bear Lake became the first mountain recreation area in Southern California.

The natural hot spring was another attraction around which Emile Jesserun built the Pan Hot Springs Hotel in 1921. Other resorts went up with the intent of bringing celebrities including Shirley Temple and Ginger Rogers and creating a country club-like feel. While the Pan Hot Springs Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1933, the pools warmed by water from the hot spring were still intact and used until the 1990s, when they were closed because of earthquake damage.

Winter activities gained in popularity later in the 1920s with the building of ski jumps. Big Bear Lake became a winter resort town when Tommy Tyndall opened a resort now called the Snow Summit.

Running Springs

Demographics (2010): 79.8% Non-Hispanic White, 14.3% Hispanic, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% Black

Population (2010): 4,862

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $50,524

% Bachelor’s (2000): 16.8%

Running Springs is home to Snow Valley Mountain Resort, the first ski resort in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is also a gateway to other communities such as Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. There is no dominant industry in Running Springs, but tourism makes a big share of the local economy with the San Bernardino National Forest open to tourists year-round. Running Springs is also where some commuters to San Bernardino live.

Wrightwood

Demographics (2010): 83.4% Non-Hispanic White, 11.9% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, 0.8% Black

Population (2010): 4,525

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $50,338

% Bachelor’s (2000): 20.1%

Wrightwood was named after Sumner Wright, owner of the main cattle ranch, one of many developed in this area, in a valley in the San Gabriel Mountains. In the 1920s the main ranch was developed into a town centered on skiing. The ski area was originally part of a Los Angeles County Park and was known as Big Pines. Post-war development of highways from routes in the Cajon Pass made Wrightwood easily accessible for vacationers. Later, a greater share of Wrightwood’s population became permanent residents.

San Antonio Heights

Demographics (2010): 69.3% Non-Hispanic White, 18.2% Hispanic, 8.4% Asian, 2.0% Black

Population (2010): 3,371

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $80,975

% Bachelor’s (2000): 39.8%

San Antonio Heights started out with plans to build a lavish resort hotel on a mesa near Upland that promised a view of the Pacific Ocean. The hotel never saw the light of day, but the area was still desirable for prospective homeowners anyway. Unlike many communities in Southern California, development of San Antonio Heights occurred over a century, with Victorian among the local housing styles. Also, unlike many communities in the area, citrus groves dot the area.

Victor Valley

Victorville

Demographics (2010): 47.8% Hispanic, 28.3% Non-Hispanic White, 16.8% Black, 4.0% Asian

Population (2010): 115,903

President: 58.44% R / 40.40% D (2004), 53.89% D / 44.13% R (2008), 56.86% D / 40.84% R (2012), 56.15% D / 38.46% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $66,763

% Bachelor’s (2000): 12.7%

Victorville was also founded by Mormons. A path across a river, as well as the area, became known as the Mormon Crossing. Heber Huntington, nephew of Brigham Young, established Huntington Station. A telegraph station also established here became known as “Victor” after General Manager of the Southern California Railroad Jacob Nash Victor. To avoid confusion with the town of Victor, Colorado, Victor, California became known as Victorville. Later in the 1920s, Route 66 became the primary street through the old part of Victorville.

In the 1940s, the Victorville Army Airfield was constructed, and then was renamed to George Air Force Base when the Air Force was established in 1947. After the base closed in 1992, it became the site of Southern California Logistics Airport, a military training center, and federal penitentiary.

Hesperia

Demographics (2010): 48.9% Hispanic, 41.1% Non-Hispanic White, 5.8% Black, 2.1% Asian

Population (2010): 90,173

President: 67.35% R / 31.56% D (2004), 56.67% R / 41.09% D (2008), 55.46% R / 41.87% D (2012), 54.30% R / 40.47% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $40,201

% Bachelor’s (2000): 10.0%

Meaning “western land” and named after Hesperus, the Greek god of the west, Hesperia started out as a raisin grape-dominant agricultural area. In the late 19th century, railroad land developers promoted Hesperia as “the Omaha of the West” to get Hesperia’s population over 100,000 by 1900. Only 1,000 people actually moved there. The city stayed slow-growing until the construction of freeways in the mid-20th century. Hesperia only began growing faster in the 1980s.

Apple Valley

Demographics (2010): 55.5% Non-Hispanic White, 29.2% Hispanic, 9.1% Black, 2.9% Asian

Population (2010): 69,135

President: 69.03% R / 29.97% D (2004), 61.53% R / 36.44% D (2008), 62.84% R / 34.73% D (2012), 62.32% R / 32.72% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $40,421

% Bachelor’s (2000): 17.0%

While nearby Victorville boomed with gold refineries, Apple Valley, named after John F. Appleton, remained agricultural with ranches and apple orchards. One of the better-known orchards was owned by Los Angeles Examiner publisher Max Ihmsen, who won many awards for them. Later his son-in-law Cal Godshall made the ranch famous for intercollegiate rodeo.

During World War I, apple farming suffered a double whammy with higher water prices after the transition to electric pumps and the loss of owners and workers to the draft. The hits kept coming in the Great Depression when families left to find work elsewhere and apple growers in the Pacific Northwest gained an advantage as they could ship their apples over rivers. The apples further south had to be transported over land. The final blows to apple farming in Apple Valley were a virulent fungal infection and severe weather in the mid-1940s. Apples had stopped being grown in the area before Apple Valley incorporated in 1988.

Adelanto

Demographics (2010): 58.3% Hispanic, 20.5% Black, 17.0% Non-Hispanic White, 1.9% Asian

Population (2010): 31,765

President: 51.93% R / 46.55% D (2004), 64.25% D / 33.33% R (2008), 68.13% D / 29.45% R (2012), 67.88% D / 26.99% R (2016)

MHI (2000): $31,594

% Bachelor’s (2000): 4.9%

Adelanto (‘progress’ in Spanish) started out as an area that E.H. Richardson, inventor of the Hotpoint electric iron, planned to sell to veterans that had respiratory ailments from their service in World War I. The dream didn’t completely come to fruition, but it did set the wheels in motion for the development of Adelanto.

Adelanto was home to many deciduous fruit trees, which gained statewide recognition for their fruits and cider. Later in the Depression, the orchards gave way to poultry ranches. In preparation for World War II, the Victorville Army Airfield (renamed after the war as George Air Force Base after Brigadier General Harold George) went up nearby and became the source of economic activity in Adelanto. Its closure in 1992 devastated the economy. The private prisons that were constructed in the early 1990s with local government approval brought little stimulation. Today the city only has a few stores and restaurants, though marijuana, whose distribution and use was legalized with the passage of Proposition 64 in 2016, has been looked at as a potential new revenue source.

Helendale

Demographics (2010): 71.8% Non-Hispanic White, 16.1% Hispanic, 5.6% Black, 3.5% Asian

Population (2010): 5,623

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $67,214

% Bachelor’s (2000): 30.3%

Helendale was a point on many trails including the Santa Fe Trail and Mormon Trail. Originally called Point of Rocks, the name was changed to Helen after Helen Wells, daughter of railroad executive Arthur Wells, and eventually to Helendale. Route 66 opened here in 1926. Two man-made lakes, North Lake and South Lake, as well as a resort community called Silver Lake were built in the early 1970s.

Mountain View Acres

Demographics (2010): 52.6% Hispanic, 34.6% Non-Hispanic White, 6.9% Black, 3.1% Asian

Population (2010): 3,130

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $45,878

% Bachelor’s (2000): 6.6%

Desert

Twentynine Palms

Demographics (2010): 60.8% Non-Hispanic White, 20.8% Hispanic, 8.2% Black, 3.9% Asian

Population (2010): 25,048

President: 66.37% R / 32.23% D (2004), 57.62% R / 40.00% D (2008), 56.86% R / 40.39% D (2012), 54.93% R / 36.77% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $31,178

% Bachelor’s (2000): 20.8%

Named after the many palm trees in the area, Twentynine Palms has a trail named Utah Trail, which pioneers used to come from Utah. Today Twentynine Palms has a sizable Mormon and Seventh-day Adventist population.

Barstow

Demographics (2010): 42.8% Hispanic, 34.2% Non-Hispanic White, 14.6% Black, 3.2% Asian

Population (2010): 22,639

President: 56.55% R / 42.21% D (2004), 49.11% D / 48.17% R (2008), 51.56% D / 45.09% R (2012), 47.40% R / 44.84% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $35,069

% Bachelor’s (2000): 11.3%

Named after railway president William Barstow Strong and located at the junction of I-15, I-40, and California State Route 58, Barstow is a major transportation hub about halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Barstow started out as a settlement in the Mormon Corridor, where people and goods traveled through en route from Santa Fe or Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Later, the discovery of silver and gold brought miners and railroads, and the paving of the highways brought further growth.

Yucca Valley

Demographics (2010): 73.7% Non-Hispanic White, 17.8% Hispanic, 3.2% Black, 2.3% Asian

Population (2010): 20,700

President: 65.79% R / 33.25% D (2004), 60.00% R / 37.68% D (2008), 61.22% R / 35.73% D (2012), 62.37% R / 32.34% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $30,420

% Bachelor’s (2000): 15.9%

Near Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca Valley was established as a place for celebrities to live in privacy, with little suburban sprawl. The nearby Morongo Basin is where many residents that work at the nearby Twentynine Palms Base.

Phelan

Demographics (2010): 63.3% Non-Hispanic White, 28.9% Hispanic, 3.1% Asian, 1.9% Black

Population (2010): 14,304

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $52,639

% Bachelor’s (2000): 9.9%

Named after Senator James D. Phelan, who was infamously racist against Chinese and Japanese immigrants, the desert-surrounded community’s history goes as far back as the Mormon Trail, as settlers came through en route to San Bernardino and other areas.

Oak Hills

Demographics (2010): 61.7% Non-Hispanic White, 30.6% Hispanic, 3.0% Black, 2.5% Asian

Population (2010): 8,879

President: %% R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2015): $69,260

% Bachelor’s (2000): 14.9%

Spring Valley Lake

Demographics (2010): 68.1% Non-Hispanic White, 18.6% Hispanic, 4.9% Black, 4.6% Asian

Population (2010): 8,220

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $58,317

% Bachelor’s (2000): 28.1%

Spring Valley Lake is nicknamed “The Jewel of the High Desert”, with its 200-acre man-made lake and marina for recreational activities such as swimming and waterskiing.

Joshua Tree

Demographics (2010): 73.9% Non-Hispanic White, 17.6% Hispanic, 3.2% Black, 1.4% Asian

Population (2010): 7,414

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $26,535

% Bachelor’s (2000): 19.5%

This rural community, which has the entrance to the National Park of the same name (named after the yucca palm itself named after the Biblical figure Joshua) has been a haven for hippies and retirees.

Piñon Hills

Demographics (2010): 70.3% Non-Hispanic White, 23.9% Hispanic, 2.6% Asian, 0.8% Black

Population (2010): 7,272

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $35,236

% Bachelor’s (2000): 16.1%

Piñon Hills was home to the Grey Butte Auxiliary Airfield, a satellite of Victorville Army Airfield built for training pilots during World War II. After the war, the Airfield became a civilian airport, which itself closed later in the 1950s. Grey Butte was later used for plane testing. With significant military influence, Piñon Hills tends to be conservative.

Lucerne Valley

Demographics (2010): 66.8% Non-Hispanic White, 24.9% Hispanic, 2.9% Black, 1.5% Asian

Population (2010): 5,811

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $30,142

% Bachelor’s (2000): 10.3%

The rural community of Lucerne Valley is home to several parks and historical landmarks. Mojave Trails National Monument is also nearby. The dry, mountainous terrain has been used in Western movies like Stagecoach.

Needles

Demographics (2010): 65.4% Non-Hispanic White, 22.4% Hispanic, 8.2% Native, 2.0% Black, 0.7% Asian

Population (2010): 4,844

President: 53.11% R / 45.59% D (2004), 49.49% R / 46.57% D (2008), 48.87% D / 47.17% R (2012), 58.65% R / 36.12% D (2016)

MHI (2000): $26,108

% Bachelor’s (2000): 4.6%

Needles was named after a part of the Mohave Mountains across the Colorado River in Arizona called “The Needles”. The Mohave community also shares the town, a gateway to the Mojave National Preserve. Needles started as a tent town for railroad construction workers before a hotel and car shops were built. Very soon after, Needles became the largest port on the Colorado River north of Yuma, Arizona. Also being a major stop on Route 66, Needles was the first town in California seen by Dust Bowl migrants.

Needles is also known for some extreme desert conditions. In July 2006, Needles had a “record high” overnight low of 100°F. In August 2012, rain from a monsoon that was 115°F fell on the town, the record-hottest rain in the world. In May 2014, the temperature “only” reached 102°F, but the dew point was -38°F, which meant the relative humidity was a world-record low of 0.33%.

Morongo Valley

Demographics (2010): 79.1% Non-Hispanic White, 14.9% Hispanic, 1.1% Black, 0.9% Asian

Population (2010): 3,552

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $36,357

% Bachelor’s (2000): 13.0%

Situated just north of the Coachella Valley, Morongo Valley is home to the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a natural recreation area.

Lenwood

Demographics (2010): 47.3% Hispanic, 41.6% Non-Hispanic White, 2.7% Black, 1.0% Asian

Population (2010): 3,543

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $37,845

% Bachelor’s (2000): 6.7%

Lenwood is a community on the Mojave river near Barstow. Many relics of the Route 66 era are still present here, including a Radio Auto Camp, an old gas station, drive-in movie theater, and The Dunes Motel.

Homestead Valley

Demographics (2010): 76.8% Non-Hispanic White, 17.1% Hispanic, 1.1% Black, 1.0% Asian

Population (2010): 3,032

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2010): $31,881

% Bachelor’s (2000): 14.0%

Homestead Valley, along with neighboring smaller communities Flamingo Heights, Johnson Valley, Landers, and Yucca Mesa formed the Homestead Valley Community Council after facing difficulties with water rights.

Searles Valley

Demographics (2010): 72.3% Non-Hispanic White, 16.8% Hispanic, 4.0% Black, 0.9% Asian

Population (2010): 1,739

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $35,833

% Bachelor’s (2000): 7.4%

The community of Searles Valley is located in the southern half of the geographic Searles Valley at the western edge of the dry lakebed of Searles Lake. Searles Valley is home to a mineral company of the same name that takes brine solutions from Searles Lake to make different chemicals.

Big River

Demographics (2010): 79.5% Non-Hispanic White, 12.1% Hispanic, 1.1% Black, 0.2% Asian

Population (2010): 1,327

President: % R / % D (2004), % R / % D (2008), % R / % D (2012), % R / % D (2016)

MHI (2000): $26,250

% Bachelor’s (2000): 7.0%

This riverfront community consists mostly of downscale whites.