Highland, California

Highland, California
Name	Highland
Settlement type	City
Motto	"The Intersection of Community"
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	California
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	San Bernardino
Established title	Incorporated
Established date	November 24, 1987
Area total sq mi	17.0
Population total	53,104
Population as of	2020
Timezone	Pacific
Postal code type	ZIP codes
Area code	909

Highland, California

Highland, California is a city in San Bernardino County within the Inland Empire region of Southern California, situated near the San Bernardino Mountains and adjacent to the cities of San Bernardino, Redlands, and Colton. The city lies along major transportation corridors and has experienced growth tied to regional development, military installations, and transportation projects. Highland's community life intersects with nearby institutions, parks, and commercial centers that connect to broader Southern California networks.

History

Highland's origins trace to Spanish colonization of California, Mexican–American War, and the Rancho San Bernardino land grant era, with 19th-century settlement influenced by the California Gold Rush, Transcontinental Railroad, and later Southern Pacific expansions. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Highland developed amid agricultural enterprises tied to citrus groves linked to Citrus industry in California, labor migrations associated with Bracero program, and infrastructure investments paralleling Route 66 and Interstate 10 corridors. The city’s incorporation on November 24, 1987 occurred in the context of suburbanization trends that involved adjacent municipalities such as San Bernardino, California, Redlands, California, and Rialto, California, and regional planning debates involving San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Southern California Association of Governments. Postwar growth connected Highland to defense-related activity at March Air Reserve Base and to logistics nodes like the Port of Los Angeles and Ontario International Airport, shaping residential and commercial land use patterns through the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Geography and climate

Highland occupies a transition zone between the San Bernardino Valley and the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, bordering features such as the Santa Ana River watershed and the Crafton Hills. The city’s topography and proximity to fault systems like the San Andreas Fault and San Jacinto Fault influence regional seismic risk assessments conducted by agencies including the United States Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey. Highland experiences a Mediterranean climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean and orographic effects from the Transverse Ranges, producing warm dry summers and cool wet winters; precipitation patterns tie into statewide hydrology overseen by the California Department of Water Resources and regional flood control by the San Bernardino County Flood Control District.

Demographics

Census data reflect Highland’s population dynamics within the context of the United States Census Bureau metrics, showing diverse communities with ties to migration patterns from Mexico, Central America, and other regions, and workforce links to sectors represented by San Bernardino County employers, Kaiser Permanente, and logistics firms serving the Inland Empire. Demographic characteristics intersect with public health and social services administered by entities like the California Department of Public Health and San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, while civic organizations such as the Highland Chamber of Commerce and faith communities affiliated with denominations like the Roman Catholic Church and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints engage local populations.

Economy and infrastructure

Highland's economy is integrated with regional supply chains involving warehouses and distribution centers connected to the Southern California Logistics Airport, Interstate 10, and the Interstate 215 corridor, with employers ranging from national retailers such as Walmart and Target to logistics companies like Amazon (company) and FedEx. Commercial activity clusters near shopping centers linked to chains including Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and regional supermarkets such as Vons. Infrastructure investments intersect with utility providers like Southern California Edison, water agencies including the East Valley Water District, and broadband initiatives involving firms similar to AT&T and Verizon Communications.

Government and politics

Highland uses a council-manager form of municipal governance operating within the legal framework of the State of California and under oversight from San Bernardino County. Local elected officials coordinate with regional bodies such as the Inland Empire Utility Agency and state legislators from districts represented in the California State Assembly and California State Senate, while federal representation falls within United States congressional districts for the United States House of Representatives. Policy areas often intersect with state statutes like the California Environmental Quality Act and with voter initiatives administered by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.

Education

Educational services for Highland are provided by districts including the San Bernardino City Unified School District and the Redlands Unified School District, with local schools feeding into regional higher education institutions such as the San Bernardino Valley College, University of Redlands, and the California State University, San Bernardino. K–12 offerings include public elementary, middle, and high schools, and charter schools authorized under the California Charter Schools Act, while workforce development partnerships often involve the California Community Colleges System and regional business alliances.

Transportation

Transportation networks serving Highland encompass state and interstate highways like Interstate 10 (California), Interstate 215, and State Route 210 (California), as well as rail corridors used by BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, and passenger services such as Metrolink (California). Public transit options include bus routes operated by the Omnitrans agency and regional connections to Riverside Transit Agency and San Bernardino Transit Center, while nearby airports include Ontario International Airport and San Bernardino International Airport, linking Highland to national and international air travel.

Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California