Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California facts for kids
Alta Loma is a community in California, United States. Its name means "Tall Hill" in Spanish. In 1977, Alta Loma joined two other areas to form the city of Rancho Cucamonga.
This area is found at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, close to Cucamonga Peak and Mount San Antonio (also called Mount Baldy). The land here is between 1,400 and 3,000 feet (about 427 to 914 meters) above sea level. Before it was called Alta Loma, the area was known as "Iamosa."
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About Alta Loma
Alta Loma is a nice place to live in San Bernardino County. It is mostly made up of homes. City rules say that most businesses cannot be built north of 19th Street. This helps keep the area quiet and residential.
Many years ago, Alta Loma and nearby communities decided to become one city. They wanted to keep their original names and even their own post offices. This is why you might still see "Alta Loma" on some local business papers.
Long ago, this area was covered with orange and lemon groves, and grape vineyards. You can still see orange and lemon trees in many yards today. Some horse trails are lined with eucalyptus trees, which were planted to protect the old groves from wind. Even with new buildings, you might still spot a few rows of grapevines.
History of Alta Loma
The Grand Prix Fire
In October 2003, a large wildfire called the Grand Prix Fire affected Alta Loma. This fire also joined with another fire called the Old Fire.
The Grand Prix Fire started on October 21, 2003. It burned for six days across the mountains above Alta Loma. The fire was made worse by a lot of dry plants. It moved down into canyons near homes. The fire destroyed 13 homes and damaged 9 others in Alta Loma.
Geography of Alta Loma
Most homes in the foothills of Alta Loma are built on alluvial fans. These are fan-shaped deposits of sand and gravel. The area also has deep canyons. Some of these canyons help collect water for the community. This means Alta Loma does not usually need to get water from the Colorado River.
Cucamonga Canyon is a popular spot for hikers. However, it can be dangerous due to rough ground, loose rocks, and possible floods. Hikers might also see poison oak, bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes. Far up the canyon are the Cucamonga Falls.
Alta Loma often experiences strong winds. These winds are known as the "Santa Ana winds" in Southern California. Heavy rainstorms in the past led to the building of large concrete channels. These channels are 12 to 18 feet (about 3.7 to 5.5 meters) deep. They help prevent serious flooding.
Alta Loma is located on the Cucamonga-Sierra Madre Fault. This is a thrust fault, which means the sides of the fault push towards each other. Other faults also run through the area. Most of these faults are part of the larger San Andreas Fault system.
Famous People from Alta Loma
- Carlos Bocanegra: A former captain of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
- George Chaffey: An important figure in the area's history.
- William Chaffey: Also an important figure, related to George Chaffey.
- Peter Demens: He was born in Russia and helped start the city of St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Sam Maloof: A world-famous woodworker who lived in Alta Loma. His amazing work is shown in museums across the U.S., including the Smithsonian Institution. His home is now a California historical landmark and a museum.
- Erik Emerson Shilling: One of the "Flying Tigers" pilots. These brave pilots fought against the Japanese in World War II. Mr. Shilling earned many awards for his service. He also wrote a book about his experiences.
- Eric Weddle: A professional football player who played as a free safety for the Los Angeles Rams.
Landmarks in Alta Loma
Historical Landmarks
- Demens-Tolstoy House (built around 1890): This house was built and owned by Peter Demens, who was related to the famous Tolstoy family. It is located at 9686 Hillside Road.
- Sam Maloof Historic Residence and Woodworking Studio: This was the home of famous woodworker Sam Maloof. It is now a museum and garden. It is also the office for the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts. You can find it at 5131 Carnelian Street.
- Henry Albert Building / Old Alta Loma Post Office (built around 1906): This old building used to be the Alta Loma post office. It is located at 7136 Amethyst Street. Today, it is home to Dr. Strange Records.
Schools in Alta Loma
Colleges
- Chaffey College: This is a two-year college that serves over 18,000 students.
High Schools
- Alta Loma High School
- Etiwanda High School
- Rancho Cucamonga High School
- Los Osos High School
Junior High Schools
- Vineyard Junior High
- Alta Loma Junior High School: This school has won the Presidential Physical Fitness award nine years in a row!
- Alta Loma Christian School (private)
- Summit Intermediate School
- Etiwanda Intermediate School
- Day Creek Intermediate School
- Cucamonga Middle School
- Rancho Cucamonga Middle School
- Ruth Musser Middle School
Elementary Schools
- Alta Loma Elementary
- Banyan Elementary
- Carnelian Elementary
- Deer Canyon Elementary
- Floyd M. Stork Elementary
- Hermosa Elementary
- Jasper Elementary
- Victoria Groves Elementary
- Alta Loma Christian School (private)
- Terra Vista Elementary School
- Coyote Canyon Elementary School
- Cucamonga Elementary School
- Bear Gulch Elementary School
- Banyan Elementary School
- Valle Vista Elementary School
- Dona Merced Elementary School
- Central Elementary School
- Etiwanda Colony Elementary School
- John L. Golden Elementary School
- Grapeland Elementary School
- Perdew Elementary School
- Windrows Elementary School
- Carlton P. Lightfoot Elementary School
- Caryn Elementary School
See also
In Spanish: Alta Loma (California) para niños
