City of Ontario, California

City of Ontario, California
Name	Ontario, California
Settlement type	City
Motto	“A World Class Community”
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	California
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	San Bernardino County, California
Established title	Incorporated
Established date	April 11, 1891
Area total sq mi	50.3
Population total	175000
Population as of	2020
Timezone	Pacific Time Zone
Postal code type	ZIP codes
Website	ontarioca.gov

City of Ontario, California is a suburban city located in San Bernardino County, California within the Inland Empire (California), adjacent to the City of Los Angeles and linked to the Riverside County, California urban corridor. Founded in the late 19th century by Canadian railroad entrepreneurs, Ontario developed around transportation nodes including the Southern Pacific Railroad, evolving into a logistics and manufacturing hub anchored by Ontario International Airport and major freight corridors such as the Interstate 10 and Interstate 15. The city forms part of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area and participates in regional initiatives with entities like the Southern California Association of Governments and the Ontario International Airport Authority.

History

Ontario originated in 1882 when investors from Ontario, Canada and businessmen associated with the Santa Fe Railway and the Southern Pacific Railroad purchased land from George Chaffey's Colonization Company, naming the community after the Canadian city. The arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway catalyzed agricultural development centered on citrus groves tied to markets in Los Angeles and San Francisco, while local entrepreneurs competed with magnates tied to the Sunkist Growers cooperative and the California Fruit Growers Exchange. During the early 20th century Ontario established institutions such as the Citizens Bank of Ontario and civic landmarks influenced by architectural trends from Pasadena and Los Angeles. World War II and the postwar era brought defense contracts from agencies like the United States Army Air Forces and industrial expansion linked to companies comparable to Lockheed and North American Aviation, transforming agricultural land into residential subdivisions and industrial parks. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, municipal leaders negotiated airport governance disputes involving the Port of Long Beach, the City of Los Angeles Department of Airports, and later the Ontario International Airport Authority, reshaping regional aviation policy and cargo logistics.

Geography and climate

Ontario lies on the alluvial plain of the San Bernardino Valley at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and near the Santa Ana River watershed, with topo features influenced by tectonics of the San Andreas Fault system. The city's location places it within the Mediterranean climate band described by the Köppen climate classification for Southern California, featuring hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters; microclimates are affected by mountain barrier effects and Santa Ana wind events associated with the Santa Ana Mountains. Parks and open-space programs connect municipal recreation areas to regional preserves like the Cucamonga Wilderness and corridors to Chino Hills State Park, interfacing with regional efforts by the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency to manage water supply and flood control.

Demographics

Census counts reflect Ontario's position within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan statistical area, with population shifts shaped by migration patterns tied to job markets in sectors represented by firms such as Amazon (company), UPS, and FedEx. The city's population exhibits diversity with sizable communities tracing roots to Mexico and Guatemala, and diasporas linked to broader immigrant flows across California. Socioeconomic indicators are influenced by housing developments from builders associated with regional exemplars like Lennar Corporation and KB Home, while labor-force statistics align with regional agencies including the California Employment Development Department and research by the Riverside County Economic Development Agency.

Economy and industry

Ontario's economy is anchored by aviation and logistics at Ontario International Airport, freight activity along the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway corridors, and retail concentration exemplified by the Ontario Mills shopping center and nearby outlets developed by firms similar to Simon Property Group. Manufacturing and distribution facilities house operations comparable to Toyota parts suppliers and third-party logistics providers like XPO Logistics. Business attraction efforts have involved partnerships with entities such as the Inland Empire Economic Partnership and local chambers akin to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, while redevelopment projects have leveraged programs administered by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank and state tax incentives modeled after the California Competes Tax Credit.

Government and infrastructure

The city operates under a council-manager model with elected officials participating in regional governance forums including the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority. Municipal services coordinate with agencies such as the San Bernardino County Sheriff for law enforcement contracts, the Ontario Fire Department for emergency response, and utilities administered in coordination with the Southern California Edison and the Southern California Gas Company. Planning and land-use decisions interact with state statutes like the California Environmental Quality Act and regional transportation planning by the Southern California Association of Governments.

Education

Primary and secondary education is provided by districts such as the Chaffey Joint Union High School District and the Ontario-Montclair School District, with campus programs linking to community colleges like Chaffey College and university outreach from institutions including the University of California, Riverside and the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Workforce training collaborations involve regional workforce boards and apprenticeship initiatives affiliated with organizations like the California Apprenticeship Council and industry partners such as the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.

Transportation and public services

Ontario's transportation network centers on Ontario International Airport for air cargo and passenger services, and freeway access via Interstate 10 (California) and State Route 60 (California), while rail freight uses Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway lines; passenger rail and bus services connect through providers like Omnitrans and planned extensions by the Metrolink (California) commuter rail system. Public safety agencies collaborate with regional entities such as the San Bernardino County Fire Department, and health services coordinate with systems including Kaiser Permanente and county public health departments. Parks and cultural institutions engage partners like the Ontario Museum of History & Art and regional arts organizations comparable to the California Arts Council.

Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California Category:Populated places established in 1891