Los Serranos, Chino Hills, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Los Serranos
Neighborhood
Los Serranos Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Bernardino
City	Chino Hills
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	91709

Los Serranos is a neighborhood located in the city of Chino Hills. This area is in the southwestern part of San Bernardino County, California. The neighborhood gets its name from the Los Serranos Golf Course. This golf course is found in the east-central part of Chino Hills. It is also close to the Chino Valley Freeway (SR 71).

The U.S. Census once listed Los Serranos as its own separate place. This was true until December 1, 1991. On that date, the city of Chino Hills officially took Los Serranos into its city limits. After a big stock market crash in the late 1920s, the Los Serranos Golf Course faced problems. This led to a housing area being built with smaller homes. These homes were often called "golf course bungalows." The average lot size for these homes is about 30 feet wide. The ZIP code for the Los Serranos neighborhood is 91709.

What Does Los Serranos Mean?

The name "Los Serranos" comes from the Spanish words for "the hill-dwellers." It can also mean "highlanders," "mountaineers," or "men of the hills." This name makes sense because the area is hilly. It is also the traditional home of the Serrano tribe. These Native Americans were given their name by Spanish missionaries.

A family named Greening used to own the golf course. They also installed the sewer system and water works for the area. This happened before most of the homes were built. The Greening family also owned Dam Number 808. This dam often caused floods in the areas below it. Later, a flood control channel was built to help stop the flooding. This channel was paid for by the landowners who were affected.

Exploring the Los Serranos Area

Los Serranos is a neighborhood with smaller lot sizes within Chino Hills. Local residents often divide it into two main parts. These are known as "Upper" and "Lower" Los Serranos. Ramona Avenue acts as the dividing line between these two sections.

Lower Los Serranos

The eastern part of the neighborhood is called "Lower" Los Serranos. It got this name because it used to flood often. Houses located along the edge of the Los Serranos Golf Course are in this area. These homes have narrow lots and sometimes get hit by golf balls. A local group called Support Our Area Residents (S.O.A.R.) is active here. It is run by Joyce and George Butler from their home. They were recognized as Community Heroes in 2007 for their work.

Upper Los Serranos

The western parts of Los Serranos are known as "Upper" Los Serranos. This area generally did not experience as much flooding. There is one business that has been around for many decades here. It is called Descanso Market on Descanso Street. This market is the only remaining business in Upper Los Serranos. It also serves as the area's only Post Office center. The market is next to the local voting place.

Other Communities in Los Serranos

There is also a mobile home park within Los Serranos. This park is for retired people and is managed by the Greening family. It is located around Lake Los Serranos, which is near Dam Number 808.

A Look at Los Serranos History

Before the 1900s, the Los Serranos area had small villages. These villages were home to the Tongva and Wapijanga people. In 1910, the city of Chino was founded. A golf course called the "Los Serranos Golf Course" was built there. Later, the "Los Serranos Country Club" was added. Eventually, this area grew into the community known as "Los Serranos."

Los Serranos is mostly a residential area, like the rest of Chino Hills. The first homes built here were for the staff and guests of The Los Serranos Golf and Country Club. This was before the 1950s. Not many businesses have stayed in the area over time. There used to be a fast-food hamburger restaurant nearby. It closed in the 1960s or 70s, and now two houses stand there.

There are also several churches in Los Serranos. In Upper Los Serranos, one church serves the local Asian population. Another, which used to be an American Legion post, is mainly for the Hispanic community. Lower Los Serranos has one church as well.

Getting Around Los Serranos

Several important roads and freeways help people travel in and around Los Serranos. These include:

• Soquel Canyon Parkway
• Chino Valley Freeway (SR 71)
• Chino Hills Parkway
• Los Serranos Boulevard
• Yorba Avenue/Los Serranos Country Club Drive/Butterfield Ranch Road (This is one continuous road with three different names.)

Learning in Los Serranos

Los Serranos is home to two schools. Both are part of the Chino Valley Unified School District.

Alternative Education Center

The Alternative Education Center is located at 15650 Pipeline Avenue. It is on the west side of Los Serranos. This school is technically in the nearby community of Glenmeade. However, it faces Los Serranos and serves many students from the area. Because of this, locals consider it part of Los Serranos. This center opened in the fall of 2010. It offers many programs, including:

• A virtual high school with online classes
• Independent study programs
• The Chino Valley Learning Academy
• The Workforce Initiative Program
• Other helpful programs

This center is on the site of the former Los Serranos Elementary School. That school closed after the 2008-2009 school year.

Chaparral Elementary School

Chaparral Elementary School is a newer school in Los Serranos. It is located on the east side of the neighborhood. This school opened its doors in August 2006.