Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga, California facts for kids

Etiwanda is a community located in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It is on the eastern side of the city. Etiwanda used to be a separate community, but it became part of Rancho Cucamonga in 1977.

The Story of Etiwanda

Early Days and Big Ideas

In November 1881, two brothers named George and William Chaffey bought the land where Etiwanda now stands. They bought it from Joseph Garcia, who was a retired sea captain. The town was named after a Native American tribe that lived near Lake Michigan.

Etiwanda was the very first town the Chaffey brothers planned. It became like a test area for their new ideas. George Chaffey designed a special water system for irrigation. This system used pipes and was managed by a company called the Etiwanda Water Company. This way of managing water became a standard for many other places in southern California.

The Chaffey brothers were very innovative. They completed the first long-distance telephone call in southern California in 1882. This call was made between San Bernardino and Etiwanda. Also, on December 4, 1882, the Chaffey-Garcia house had electric lights! This was very new and exciting for the time.

The "Big Red Cars" Arrive

The Pacific Electric Railway, also known as the "Big Red Cars," reached Etiwanda in 1914. The train tracks were built from Upland to Etiwanda by December 1913. This train line connected San Bernardino in the east with the larger Los Angeles area in the west.

The train line officially opened on March 24, 1914. Regular trips for passengers stopped on November 1, 1941. However, special trains still ran for a few more years, especially during World War II. By October 1, 1951, the San Bernardino line started using diesel engines instead of electric trolleys. The overhead wires were removed soon after. As of 2011, the old train station from 1914 is being fixed up to look like it did when it was first built.

Schools in Etiwanda

The community of Etiwanda has schools for all ages. There are elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. These schools are part of two different school districts. The younger students attend schools in the Etiwanda School District. Older students go to high schools that are part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District.