San Bernardino County, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Bernardino County, California
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     .jpg) Images, from top down, left to right: A view of the San Bernardino Mountains range from San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Bernardino County Court House, Downtown San Bernardino, Calico ghost town, snowfall in Yucca Valley, sunrise in Hesperia
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Location in California
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| Established | April 26, 1853 | ||
| Named for | The City of San Bernardino, in turn named for San Bernardino de Sena Estancia, in turn named for Saint Bernardino of Siena | ||
| County seat | San Bernardino | ||
| Largest city (Pop.) | San Bernardino | ||
| Largest city (Area) | Apple Valley | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council–CEO | ||
| • Body | Board of Supervisors | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 20,105 sq mi (52,070 km2) | ||
| • Land | 20,057 sq mi (51,950 km2) | ||
| • Water | 48 sq mi (120 km2) | ||
| Highest elevation | 11,503 ft (3,506 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,181,654 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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2,195,611  |
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| • Density | 108.5130/sq mi (41.8971/km2) | ||
| GDP | |||
| • Total | $100.650 billion (2022) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time) | ||
| Area codes | 442/760, 909, 951 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-071 | ||
| Congressional districts | 23rd, 25th, 28th, 33rd, 35th, 40th | ||
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San Bernardino County (
i/sæn ˌbɜːrnəˈdiːnoʊ/ SAN-_-BUR-nə-DEE-noh), officially the County of San Bernardino and sometimes abbreviated as S.B. County, is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 2,181,654, making it the fifth-most populous county in California and the 14th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is San Bernardino.
While included within the Greater Los Angeles area, San Bernardino County is included in the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan statistical area.
With an area of 20,105 square miles (52,070 km2), San Bernardino County is the largest county in the contiguous United States by area, although some of Alaska's boroughs and census areas are larger. The county is close to the size of West Virginia or the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This vast county stretches from where 93% of the county population resides in three Census County Divisions (Fontana, San Bernardino, and Victorville-Hesperia), counting 1,793,186 people as of the 2010 Census, covering 1,730 square miles (4,500 km2), across the thinly populated deserts and mountains. It spans an area from south of the San Bernardino Mountains in San Bernardino Valley, to the Nevada border and the Colorado River.
With a 2020 population that was 53.7% Hispanic, it is California's most populous majority-Hispanic county and the second-largest nationwide.
Contents
History
Indigenous
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The indigenous peoples that resided in what is now San Bernardino County were primarily the Taaqtam (Serrano) and ʔívil̃uqaletem (Cahuilla) peoples who lived in the San Bernardino Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains; the Chemehuevi and the Kawaiisu peoples who lived in the Mojave Desert region; and the 'Aha Makhav (Mohave) and the Piipaash (Maricopa) peoples who lived along the Colorado River. These groups established various villages and settlements throughout the region that were interconnected by a series of extensive trails.
Wa'aachnga was a major Tongva village site, also occupied by the Serrano and Cahuilla, located near what is now the city of San Bernardino. The village was part of an extensive trade network along the Mohave Trail that connected villages in San Bernardino County from the Colorado River to the Los Angeles Basin. Wá'peat was a Desert Serrano village located near what is now the city of Hesperia. It was part of a series of villages located along the Mojave River. By the late 1700s, villages in the area were being increasingly encroached upon by Spanish soldiers and missionaries, who were coming into the region from Mission San Gabriel.
Colonial period
Spanish Missionaries from Mission San Gabriel Arcángel established a church at the village of Wa'aachnga, which would be renamed Politania in 1810. Father Francisco Dumetz named the church San Bernardino on May 20, 1810, after the feast day of St. Bernardino of Siena. The Franciscans also gave the name San Bernardino to the snowcapped peak in Southern California, in honor of the saint and it is from him that the county derives its name. In 1819, they established the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia, a mission farm in what is now Redlands.
Following Mexican independence from Spain in 1821, Mexican citizens were granted land grants to establish ranchos in the area of the county. Rancho Jurupa in 1838, Rancho Cucamonga and El Rincon in 1839, Rancho Santa Ana del Chino in 1841, Rancho San Bernardino in 1842 and Rancho Muscupiabe in 1844.
Agua Mansa was the first town in what became San Bernardino County, settled by immigrants from New Mexico on land donated from the Rancho Jurupa in 1841.
Establishment
Following the purchase of Rancho San Bernardino, and the establishment of the town of San Bernardino in 1851 by Mormon colonists, San Bernardino County was formed in 1853 from parts of Los Angeles County. Some of the southern parts of the county's territory were given to Riverside County in 1893.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 20,105 square miles (52,070 km2), of which 20,057 square miles (51,950 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (0.2%) is water. It is the largest county by area in California and the largest in the United States (excluding boroughs in Alaska). It is slightly larger than the states of New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island combined, and is also slightly larger than Switzerland. It borders both Nevada and Arizona.
The bulk of the population, nearly two million, live in the roughly 480 square miles south of the San Bernardino Mountains adjacent to Riverside and in the San Bernardino Valley in the southwestern portion of the county. About 390,000 residents live just north of the San Bernardino Mountains, in and around the roughly 280 square-mile area that includes the Victor Valley. Roughly another 100,000 people live scattered across the rest of the sprawling county.
The Mojave National Preserve covers some of the eastern desert, especially between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The desert portion also includes the cities of Needles next to the Colorado River and Barstow at the junction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. Trona is at the northwestern part of the county, west of Death Valley. This national park, mostly within Inyo County, also has a small portion of land within San Bernardino County. The largest metropolitan area in the Mojave Desert part of the county is the Victor Valley, with the incorporated localities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and Victorville. Further south, a portion of Joshua Tree National Park overlaps the county near the High Desert area, in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms. The remaining towns make up the remainder of the High Desert: Pioneertown, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, and Morongo Valley.
The mountains are home to the San Bernardino National Forest, and include the communities of Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Big Bear City, Forest Falls, and Big Bear Lake.
The San Bernardino Valley is at the eastern end of the San Gabriel Valley. The San Bernardino Valley includes the cities of Ontario, Chino, Chino Hills, Upland, Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Highland, Redlands, and Yucaipa.
Adjacent counties
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As shown by the map on the left, San Bernardino County is bordered on the north by Inyo County; on the northeast by Clark County, Nevada; on the east by Mohave County, Arizona; on the southeast by La Paz County, Arizona; on the south by Riverside County; on the southwest by Orange County; on the west by Los Angeles County; and on the northwest by Kern County. |
National protected areas
- Angeles National Forest (part)
- Death Valley National Park (part)
- Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Joshua Tree National Park (part)
- Mojave National Preserve
- San Bernardino National Forest (part)
- Sand to Snow National Monument (part)
More than 80% of the county's land is owned by the federal government. There are at least 35 official wilderness areas in the county that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This is the largest number of any county in the United States (although not the largest in total area). The majority are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, but some are integral components of the above listed national protected areas. Most of these wilderness areas lie entirely within the county, but a few are shared with neighboring counties (and two of these are shared with the neighboring states of Arizona and Nevada).
Except as noted, these wilderness areas are managed solely by the Bureau of Land Management and lie within San Bernardino County:
- Bigelow Cholla Garden Wilderness
- Bighorn Mountain Wilderness (part)
- Black Mountain Wilderness
- Bristol Mountains Wilderness
- Cadiz Dunes Wilderness
- Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness
- Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness
- Clipper Mountain Wilderness
- Cucamonga Wilderness
- Dead Mountains Wilderness
- Death Valley Wilderness (part)
- Golden Valley Wilderness
- Grass Valley Wilderness
- Havasu Wilderness (part)
- Hollow Hills Wilderness
- Joshua Tree Wilderness (part)
- Kelso Dunes Wilderness
- Kingston Range Wilderness
- Mesquite Wilderness
- Mojave Wilderness
- Newberry Mountains Wilderness
- North Mesquite Mountains Wilderness
- Old Woman Mountains Wilderness
- Pahrump Valley Wilderness (part)
- Piute Mountains Wilderness
- Rodman Mountains Wilderness
- Saddle Peak Hills Wilderness (part)
- San Gorgonio Wilderness (part)
- Sheep Mountain Wilderness (part)
- Sheephole Valley Wilderness
- Stateline Wilderness
- Stepladder Mountains Wilderness
- Trilobite Wilderness
- Turtle Mountains Wilderness
- Whipple Mountains Wilderness
Demographics
2020
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 5,551 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,988 | −28.2% | |
| 1880 | 7,786 | 95.2% | |
| 1890 | 25,497 | 227.5% | |
| 1900 | 27,929 | 9.5% | |
| 1910 | 56,706 | 103.0% | |
| 1920 | 73,401 | 29.4% | |
| 1930 | 133,900 | 82.4% | |
| 1940 | 161,108 | 20.3% | |
| 1950 | 281,642 | 74.8% | |
| 1960 | 503,591 | 78.8% | |
| 1970 | 684,072 | 35.8% | |
| 1980 | 895,016 | 30.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,418,380 | 58.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,709,434 | 20.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,035,210 | 19.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,181,654 | 7.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,195,611 | 7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 862,113 | 752,222 | 677,598 | 566,113 | 60.78% | 44.00% | 33.29% | 25.95% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 109,162 | 150,201 | 170,700 | 173,322 | 7.70% | 8.79% | 8.39% | 7.94% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 10,018 | 9,804 | 8,523 | 8,412 | 0.71% | 0.57% | 0.42% | 0.39% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 55,387 | 78,154 | 123,978 | 176,204 | 3.90% | 4.57% | 6.09% | 8.08% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | N/A | 4,387 | 5,845 | 6,173 | N/A | 0.26% | 0.29% | 0.28% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3,118 | 3,039 | 4,055 | 12,117 | 0.22% | 0.18% | 0.20% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | N/A | 42,240 | 43,366 | 68,400 | N/A | 2.47% | 2.13% | 3.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 378,582 | 669,387 | 1,001,145 | 1,170,913 | 26.69% | 39.16% | 49.19% | 53.67% |
| Total | 1,418,380 | 1,709,387 | 2,035,210 | 2,181,654 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Places by population, race, and income
| Places by population and race | ||||||||
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| Place | Type | Population | White | Other |
Asian | Black or African American |
Native American |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Adelanto | City | 30,670 | 55.5% | 19.4% | 2.4% | 21.1% | 1.5% | 51.8% |
| Apple Valley | Town | 68,316 | 76.6% | 10.1% | 2.0% | 10.4% | 0.9% | 28.7% |
| Baker | CDP | 713 | 37.0% | 52.5% | 0.0% | 8.7% | 1.8% | 69.6% |
| Barstow | City | 22,913 | 58.8% | 18.0% | 1.7% | 16.4% | 5.0% | 39.6% |
| Big Bear City | CDP | 11,504 | 82.3% | 13.7% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 23.7% |
| Big Bear Lake | City | 5,109 | 74.9% | 20.9% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 2.3% | 24.0% |
| Big River | CDP | 1,213 | 88.0% | 8.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 12.1% |
| Bloomington | CDP | 25,234 | 60.9% | 33.2% | 0.8% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 83.5% |
| Bluewater | CDP | 114 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.5% |
| Chino | City | 78,050 | 60.8% | 22.2% | 9.8% | 6.4% | 0.9% | 54.3% |
| Chino Hills | City | 74,765 | 55.6% | 11.8% | 28.3% | 3.8% | 0.5% | 30.2% |
| Colton | City | 52,283 | 50.2% | 32.5% | 5.2% | 10.4% | 1.6% | 68.0% |
| Crestline | CDP | 8,743 | 87.5% | 9.7% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 14.2% |
| Fontana | City | 192,779 | 58.2% | 24.8% | 6.4% | 9.7% | 0.9% | 65.9% |
| Fort Irwin | CDP | 9,781 | 69.4% | 10.1% | 7.1% | 10.2% | 3.2% | 25.5% |
| Grand Terrace | City | 12,132 | 65.4% | 20.8% | 7.6% | 5.6% | 0.6% | 37.9% |
| Hesperia | City | 88,247 | 74.9% | 15.0% | 2.1% | 6.3% | 1.7% | 47.9% |
| Highland | City | 52,777 | 52.4% | 29.5% | 7.1% | 10.1% | 0.9% | 47.9% |
| Homestead Valley | CDP | 3,072 | 94.7% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 3.8% |
| Joshua Tree | CDP | 7,194 | 82.4% | 10.6% | 2.7% | 3.0% | 1.3% | 16.4% |
| Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 9,434 | 81.0% | 16.4% | 0.6% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 23.7% |
| Lenwood | CDP | 3,784 | 63.3% | 25.1% | 0.4% | 9.4% | 1.8% | 44.7% |
| Loma Linda | City | 23,081 | 48.4% | 15.0% | 28.7% | 6.8% | 1.1% | 22.8% |
| Lucerne Valley | CDP | 6,029 | 76.4% | 6.6% | 1.7% | 12.1% | 3.1% | 21.3% |
| Lytle Creek | CDP | 735 | 86.8% | 2.3% | 8.2% | 0.0% | 2.7% | 27.3% |
| Mentone | CDP | 8,670 | 75.5% | 12.0% | 4.2% | 7.7% | 0.7% | 29.7% |
| Montclair | City | 36,802 | 43.1% | 39.8% | 10.2% | 4.6% | 2.3% | 67.1% |
| Morongo Valley | CDP | 3,550 | 81.7% | 15.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 2.9% | 25.4% |
| Mountain View Acres | CDP | 3,376 | 68.5% | 18.2% | 1.9% | 11.1% | 0.4% | 58.4% |
| Muscoy | CDP | 11,573 | 52.2% | 41.8% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 1.0% | 82.8% |
| Needles | City | 4,910 | 74.5% | 9.3% | 1.6% | 3.0% | 11.5% | 16.0% |
| Oak Glen | CDP | 502 | 95.6% | 1.4% | 0.0% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 20.9% |
| Oak Hills | CDP | 8,780 | 84.2% | 9.6% | 3.5% | 0.7% | 2.1% | 34.5% |
| Ontario | City | 165,120 | 52.6% | 33.9% | 4.6% | 7.6% | 1.4% | 66.5% |
| Phelan | CDP | 12,851 | 78.5% | 14.8% | 4.0% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 29.5% |
| Piñon Hills | CDP | 6,130 | 93.4% | 5.1% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 18.0% |
| Rancho Cucamonga | City | 163,151 | 63.2% | 16.4% | 10.5% | 8.4% | 1.5% | 34.8% |
| Redlands | City | 68,995 | 69.6% | 15.9% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 1.3% | 29.5% |
| Rialto | City | 99,501 | 59.2% | 22.5% | 2.4% | 14.9% | 0.9% | 67.2% |
| Running Springs | CDP | 5,027 | 84.4% | 11.2% | 0.9% | 0.4% | 3.1% | 17.6% |
| San Antonio Heights | CDP | 3,914 | 74.0% | 18.0% | 7.1% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 21.5% |
| San Bernardino | City | 210,100 | 44.8% | 34.9% | 4.4% | 14.9% | 1.1% | 58.8% |
| Searles Valley | CDP | 1,812 | 91.9% | 5.0% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 9.9% |
| Silver Lakes | CDP | 4,508 | 88.1% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 3.2% | 0.7% | 14.2% |
| Spring Valley Lake | CDP | 8,080 | 91.3% | 5.4% | 1.9% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 21.1% |
| Twentynine Palms | City | 25,786 | 74.8% | 10.1% | 3.6% | 7.4% | 4.1% | 19.8% |
| Upland | City | 74,021 | 61.0% | 22.5% | 9.3% | 5.5% | 1.8% | 37.8% |
| Victorville | City | 111,704 | 62.0% | 17.1% | 4.5% | 15.4% | 1.1% | 47.5% |
| Wrightwood | CDP | 4,556 | 96.6% | 2.5% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.1% |
| Yucaipa | City | 50,862 | 81.0% | 13.6% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.0% | 26.3% |
| Yucca Valley | Town | 20,508 | 82.7% | 11.0% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 14.1% |
| Places by population and income | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Type | Population | Per capita income | Median household income | Median family income |
| Adelanto | City | 30,670 | $11,771 | $42,208 | $45,187 |
| Apple Valley | Town | 68,316 | $23,229 | $50,664 | $57,811 |
| Baker | CDP | 713 | $11,235 | $33,000 | $43,047 |
| Barstow | City | 22,913 | $20,571 | $45,417 | $55,403 |
| Big Bear City | CDP | 11,504 | $21,008 | $41,509 | $54,881 |
| Big Bear Lake | City | 5,109 | $22,207 | $31,541 | $36,750 |
| Big River | CDP | 1,213 | $24,254 | $29,219 | $43,611 |
| Bloomington | CDP | 25,234 | $13,492 | $44,673 | $44,855 |
| Bluewater | CDP | 114 | $25,664 | $32,500 | $41,250 |
| Chino | City | 78,050 | $22,918 | $73,400 | $80,411 |
| Chino Hills | City | 74,765 | $35,157 | $101,905 | $108,140 |
| Colton | City | 52,283 | $16,385 | $41,788 | $46,195 |
| Crestline | CDP | 8,743 | $24,872 | $51,478 | $58,171 |
| Fontana | City | 192,779 | $19,297 | $64,058 | $65,652 |
| Fort Irwin | CDP | 9,781 | $18,214 | $52,798 | $53,774 |
| Grand Terrace | City | 12,132 | $29,591 | $64,337 | $82,898 |
| Hesperia | City | 88,247 | $17,589 | $48,624 | $52,894 |
| Highland | City | 52,777 | $22,494 | $59,419 | $66,445 |
| Homestead Valley | CDP | 3,072 | $19,107 | $26,356 | $38,838 |
| Joshua Tree | CDP | 7,194 | $25,501 | $43,510 | $49,221 |
| Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 9,434 | $35,810 | $63,117 | $68,462 |
| Lenwood | CDP | 3,784 | $16,799 | $43,000 | $53,938 |
| Loma Linda | City | 23,081 | $31,242 | $61,116 | $71,844 |
| Lucerne Valley | CDP | 6,029 | $16,034 | $25,323 | $34,167 |
| Lytle Creek | CDP | 735 | $21,703 | $65,982 | $74,050 |
| Mentone | CDP | 8,670 | $25,747 | $56,075 | $57,198 |
| Montclair | City | 36,802 | $17,173 | $50,959 | $51,434 |
| Morongo Valley | CDP | 3,550 | $23,084 | $37,734 | $57,321 |
| Mountain View Acres | CDP | 3,376 | $17,573 | $54,427 | $58,125 |
| Muscoy | CDP | 11,573 | $11,294 | $44,853 | $50,236 |
| Needles | City | 4,910 | $19,818 | $30,139 | $34,968 |
| Oak Glen | CDP | 502 | $23,376 | $63,902 | $68,462 |
| Oak Hills | CDP | 8,780 | $29,805 | $76,882 | $84,158 |
| Ontario | City | 165,120 | $19,123 | $55,902 | $57,731 |
| Phelan | CDP | 12,851 | $23,682 | $52,863 | $61,746 |
| Piñon Hills | CDP | 6,130 | $26,576 | $38,140 | $58,542 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | City | 163,151 | $32,738 | $78,782 | $88,362 |
| Redlands | City | 68,995 | $32,586 | $68,015 | $82,420 |
| Rialto | City | 99,501 | $15,967 | $50,452 | $54,271 |
| Running Springs | CDP | 5,027 | $28,608 | $60,833 | $76,121 |
| San Antonio Heights | CDP | 3,914 | $46,524 | $97,960 | $102,692 |
| San Bernardino | City | 210,100 | $15,762 | $40,161 | $42,771 |
| Searles Valley | CDP | 1,812 | $22,908 | $31,970 | $65,472 |
| Silver Lakes | CDP | 4,508 | $30,517 | $64,058 | $73,405 |
| Spring Valley Lake | CDP | 8,080 | $24,390 | $54,344 | $67,877 |
| Twentynine Palms | City | 25,786 | $21,546 | $43,412 | $45,225 |
| Upland | City | 74,021 | $29,614 | $67,449 | $75,304 |
| Victorville | City | 111,704 | $17,249 | $52,357 | $53,667 |
| Wrightwood | CDP | 4,556 | $36,747 | $80,793 | $89,583 |
| Yucaipa | City | 50,862 | $26,985 | $59,596 | $73,302 |
| Yucca Valley | Town | 20,508 | $21,990 | $45,502 | $52,942 |
2010 Census
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Bernardino County had a population of 2,035,210. The racial makeup of San Bernardino County was 1,153,161 (56.7%) White, 181,862 (8.9%) African American, 22,689 (1.1%) Native American, 128,603 (6.3%) Asian, 6,870 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 439,661 (21.6%) from other races, and 102,364 (5.0%) from two or more races. There were 1,001,145 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (49.2%).
| Population reported at 2010 United States Census | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The county | Total Population |
White | African American |
Native American |
Asian | Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| San Bernardino County | 2,035,210 | 1,153,161 | 181,862 | 22,689 | 128,603 | 6,870 | 439,661 | 102,364 | 1,001,145 |
| Incorporated cities and towns |
Total Population |
White | African American |
Native American |
Asian | Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Adelanto | 31,765 | 13,909 | 6,511 | 411 | 617 | 194 | 8,337 | 1,786 | 18,513 |
| Apple Valley | 69,135 | 47,762 | 6,321 | 779 | 2,020 | 294 | 8,345 | 3,614 | 20,156 |
| Barstow | 22,639 | 11,840 | 3,313 | 477 | 723 | 278 | 4,242 | 1,766 | 9,700 |
| Big Bear Lake | 5,019 | 4,204 | 22 | 48 | 78 | 10 | 491 | 166 | 1,076 |
| Chino | 77,983 | 43,981 | 4,829 | 786 | 8,159 | 168 | 16,503 | 3,557 | 41,993 |
| Chino Hills | 74,799 | 38,035 | 3,415 | 379 | 22,676 | 115 | 6,520 | 3,659 | 21,802 |
| Colton | 52,154 | 22,613 | 5,055 | 661 | 2,590 | 176 | 18,413 | 2,646 | 37,039 |
| Fontana | 196,069 | 92,978 | 19,574 | 1,957 | 12,948 | 547 | 58,449 | 9,616 | 130,957 |
| Grand Terrace | 12,040 | 7,912 | 673 | 120 | 778 | 32 | 1,898 | 627 | 4,708 |
| Hesperia | 90,173 | 55,129 | 5,226 | 1,118 | 1,884 | 270 | 22,115 | 4,431 | 44,091 |
| Highland | 53,104 | 27,836 | 5,887 | 542 | 3,954 | 168 | 11,826 | 2,891 | 25,556 |
| Loma Linda | 23,261 | 11,122 | 2,032 | 97 | 6,589 | 154 | 2,022 | 1,245 | 5,171 |
| Montclair | 36,664 | 19,337 | 1,908 | 434 | 3,425 | 74 | 9,882 | 1,604 | 25,744 |
| Needles | 4,844 | 3,669 | 95 | 399 | 35 | 9 | 323 | 314 | 1,083 |
| Ontario | 163,924 | 83,683 | 10,561 | 1,686 | 8,453 | 514 | 51,373 | 7,654 | 113,085 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 165,269 | 102,401 | 15,246 | 1,134 | 17,208 | 443 | 19,878 | 8,959 | 57,688 |
| Redlands | 68,747 | 47,452 | 3,564 | 625 | 5,216 | 235 | 8,266 | 3,389 | 20,810 |
| Rialto | 99,171 | 43,592 | 16,236 | 1,062 | 2,258 | 361 | 30,993 | 4,669 | 67,038 |
| San Bernardino | 209,924 | 95,734 | 31,582 | 2,822 | 8,454 | 839 | 59,827 | 10,666 | 125,994 |
| Twentynine Palms | 25,048 | 17,938 | 2,063 | 329 | 979 | 345 | 1,678 | 1,716 | 5,212 |
| Upland | 73,732 | 48,364 | 5,400 | 522 | 6,217 | 159 | 9,509 | 3,561 | 28,035 |
| Victorville | 115,903 | 56,258 | 19,483 | 1,665 | 4,641 | 489 | 26,036 | 7,331 | 55,359 |
| Yucaipa | 51,367 | 40,824 | 837 | 485 | 1,431 | 74 | 5,589 | 2,127 | 13,943 |
| Yucca Valley | 20,700 | 17,280 | 666 | 232 | 469 | 44 | 1,185 | 824 | 3,679 |
| Census-designated places |
Total Population |
White | African American |
Native American |
Asian | Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| Baker | 735 | 302 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 380 | 23 | 502 |
| Big Bear City | 12,304 | 10,252 | 83 | 202 | 103 | 31 | 1,089 | 544 | 2,323 |
| Big River | 1,327 | 1,137 | 14 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 70 | 160 |
| Bloomington | 23,851 | 12,988 | 649 | 309 | 330 | 47 | 8,600 | 928 | 19,326 |
| Bluewater | 172 | 156 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| Crestline | 10,770 | 9,289 | 107 | 135 | 96 | 20 | 526 | 597 | 1,775 |
| Fort Irwin | 8,845 | 5,481 | 1,086 | 103 | 402 | 120 | 916 | 737 | 2,261 |
| Homestead Valley | 3,032 | 2,594 | 34 | 58 | 30 | 9 | 196 | 111 | 517 |
| Joshua Tree | 7,414 | 6,176 | 234 | 84 | 104 | 18 | 368 | 430 | 1,308 |
| Lake Arrowhead | 12,424 | 10,729 | 95 | 93 | 152 | 33 | 847 | 475 | 2,709 |
| Lenwood | 3,543 | 2,133 | 219 | 94 | 37 | 25 | 813 | 222 | 1,675 |
| Lucerne Valley | 5,811 | 4,507 | 170 | 106 | 90 | 0 | 676 | 262 | 1,447 |
| Lytle Creek | 701 | 606 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 25 | 34 | 98 |
| Mentone | 8,720 | 6,114 | 438 | 122 | 352 | 32 | 1,234 | 428 | 3,085 |
| Morongo Valley | 3,552 | 3,076 | 40 | 73 | 31 | 4 | 187 | 141 | 531 |
| Mountain View Acres | 3,130 | 1,748 | 215 | 48 | 98 | 17 | 861 | 143 | 1,647 |
| Muscoy | 10,644 | 4,459 | 454 | 125 | 101 | 16 | 4,992 | 497 | 8,824 |
| Oak Glen | 638 | 545 | 50 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 123 |
| Oak Hills | 8,879 | 6,796 | 266 | 100 | 226 | 28 | 1,166 | 297 | 2,719 |
| Phelan | 14,304 | 10,807 | 276 | 139 | 446 | 20 | 1,993 | 623 | 4,128 |
| Piñon Hills | 7,272 | 5,966 | 58 | 65 | 189 | 4 | 659 | 331 | 1,738 |
| Running Springs | 4,862 | 4,325 | 23 | 47 | 50 | 6 | 146 | 265 | 695 |
| San Antonio Heights | 3,371 | 2,765 | 67 | 24 | 284 | 15 | 115 | 101 | 612 |
| Searles Valley | 1,739 | 1,405 | 69 | 56 | 16 | 6 | 83 | 104 | 293 |
| Silver Lakes | 5,623 | 4,566 | 315 | 39 | 198 | 15 | 270 | 220 | 907 |
| Spring Valley Lake | 8,220 | 6,450 | 403 | 55 | 381 | 23 | 481 | 427 | 1,528 |
| Wrightwood | 4,525 | 4,126 | 38 | 28 | 51 | 7 | 112 | 163 | 538 |
| Other unincorporated areas |
Total Population |
White | African American |
Native American |
Asian | Pacific Islander |
other races |
two or more races |
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
| All others not CDPs (combined) | 115,368 | 69,810 | 5,951 | 1,738 | 2,997 | 366 | 29,149 | 5,357 | 61,233 |
2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,709,434 people, 528,594 households, and 404,374 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 inhabitants per square mile (33/km2). There were 601,369 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.9% White, 9.1% African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 20.8% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races. 39.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.3% were of German, 5.5% English and 5.1% Irish ancestry. 66.1% spoke English, 27.7% Spanish and 1.1% Tagalog as their first language.
There were 528,594 households, out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 3.2 people, and the average family size was 3.6 people.
The number of homeless in San Bernardino County grew from 5,270 in 2002 to 7,331 in 2007, a 39% increase.
In the county, 32.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.3% was from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,066, and the median income for a family was $46,574. Males had a median income of $37,025 versus $27,993 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,856. About 12.6% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Colleges and universities
- Barstow Community College
- Brandman University (Ontario campus)
- California State University, San Bernardino
- California University of Science and Medicine
- Calvary Chapel Bible College In Twin Peaks, California
- Chaffey College
- Copper Mountain College
- Crafton Hills College
- Loma Linda University
- National University (campuses in Ontario and San Bernardino)
- Palo Verde Community College (Needles campus)
- San Bernardino Valley College
- University of Redlands (Main Campus)
- Victor Valley College
K-12 education
School districts are:
Unified:
- Apple Valley Unified School District
- Baker Valley Unified School District
- Barstow Unified School District
- Bear Valley Unified School District
- Beaumont Unified School District
- Chino Valley Unified School District
- Colton Joint Unified School District
- Fontana Unified School District
- Hesperia Unified School District
- Lucerne Valley Unified School District
- Morongo Unified School District
- Muroc Joint Unified School District
- Needles Unified School District
- Redlands Unified School District
- Rialto Unified School District
- Rim of the World Unified School District
- San Bernardino City Unified School District
- Sierra Sands Unified School District
- Silver Valley Unified School District
- Snowline Joint Unified School District
- Trona Joint Unified School District
- Upland Unified School District
- Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District
Secondary:
- Chaffey Joint Union High School District
- Victor Valley Union High School District
Elementary:
- Adelanto Elementary School District
- Alta Loma Elementary School District
- Central Elementary School District
- Cucamonga Elementary School District
- Etiwanda Elementary School District
- Helendale Elementary School District
- Mountain View Elementary School District
- Mount Baldy Joint Elementary School District
- Ontario-Montclair School District
- Oro Grande Elementary School District
- Victor Elementary School District
Libraries
The San Bernardino County Library System consists of 32 branches across the county. Library services offered vary from branch to branch, but include internet access, children's story times, adult literacy services, book clubs, classes, and special events. The library system also offers e-books, digital music and movie downloads, free access to online learning through Lynda.com, and many other digital services.
City-sponsored public libraries also exist in San Bernardino County, including A. K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, California, which was built in 1898. Other public libraries in the County include: The San Bernardino City Public Library System, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, Upland Public Library, Colton City Library, Victorville City Library and the Ontario City Library. These libraries are separate from the county system and do not share circulation privileges.
Arts and culture
The San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands CA is a multidisciplinary museum offering a look at the area’s past with an Inland Southern California regional focus. Its exhibits and collections draw from the cultural and natural history of San Bernardino County.
Keys Desert Queen Ranch, in Joshua Tree National Park, has ranger-led tours to learn about the cultural history of Keys Ranch, Native American history, mining, ranching, homesteading, the Keys family, and the site's transition into a protected historical site.
Kimberly Crest House & Gardens is a 6-acre estate in Redlands, CA with a Victorian Chateau and Italian Renaissance styled gardens. The gardens are open to the public and the house serves as a museum offering guided tours.
The Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art at Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA is a non-collecting institution that features temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, education and community programming.
Transportation
Major highways
Public transportation
- Morongo Basin Transit Authority provides bus service in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms (including the Marine base). Limited service is also provided to Palm Springs.
- Mountain Transit covers the Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear regions. Limited service is also provided to Downtown San Bernardino.
- Needles Area Transit serves Needles and the surrounding county area.
- Omnitrans provides transit service in the urbanized portion of San Bernardino County, serving the City of San Bernardino, as well as the area between Montclair and Yucaipa.
- Victor Valley Transit Authority operates buses in Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Apple Valley and the surrounding county area.
- Foothill Transit connects the Inland Empire area to the San Gabriel Valley and downtown Los Angeles.
- RTA connects Montclair, and Anaheim to Riverside County.
- SunLine Transit Agency connects Cal State San Bernardino to Palm Springs
- Beaumont Transit Connects Downtown San Bernardino to the city of Beaumont and Banning
- San Bernardino County is also served by Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains. Metrolink commuter trains connect the urbanized portion of the county with Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties.
Airports
- Commercial domestic and international passenger flights are available at San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) and Ontario International Airport (ONT). SBD can be accessed from I-215 via Mill Street, I-10 via Tippecanoe Avenue, and I-210 via 3rd Street. Terminal construction recently finished, and commercial flights began in 2022. There is also a logistics center for Amazon's Amazon Air service that has recently completed construction on the airport grounds.
- Southern California Logistics Airport (Victorville) is a major airplane graveyard, general aviation airport, and a Partial Air Force Installation.
- The County of San Bernardino owns six general aviation airports: Apple Valley Airport, Baker Airport, Barstow-Daggett Airport, Chino Airport, Needles Airport, and Twentynine Palms Airport.
- Other general aviation airports in the county include: Big Bear City Airport, Cable Airport (Upland), Hesperia Airport (not listed in NPIAS), and Redlands Municipal Airport
Environmental quality
California Attorney General Jerry Brown sued the county in April 2007 under the state's environmental quality act for failing to account for the impact of global warming in the county's 25-year growth plan, approved in March. The Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society also sued in a separate case. According to Brendan Cummings, a senior attorney for the plaintiffs: "San Bernardino has never seen a project it didn't like. They rubber-stamp development. It's very much of a frontier mentality." The plaintiffs want the county to rewrite its growth plan's environmental impact statement to include methods to measure greenhouse gases and take steps to reduce them.
According to county spokesman David Wert, only 15% of the county is controlled by the county; the rest is cities and federal and state land. However, the county says it will make sure employment centers and housing are near transportation corridors to reduce traffic and do more to promote compact development and mass transit. The county budgeted $325,000 to fight the lawsuit.
The state and the county reached a settlement in August 2007. The county agreed to amend its general plan to include a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan, including an emission inventory and reduction targets. According to the LA Times in 2015, San Bernardino County had the highest levels of ozone in the United States, averaging 102 parts per billion.
Communities
Cities
| City | Year incorporated |
Population, 2018 |
Median income, 2019 |
Land area sq mi (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelanto | 1970 | 34,160 | $45,380 | 56.009 (145.062) |
| Apple Valley | 1988 | 73,508 | $51,314 | 73.193 (189.57) |
| Barstow | 1947 | 23,972 | $40,633 | 41.385 (107.186) |
| Big Bear Lake | 1981 | 5,281 | $51,060 | 6.346 (16.435) |
| Chino | 1910 | 91,583 | $87,090 | 29.639 (76.766) |
| Chino Hills | 1991 | 83,447 | $103,473 | 44.681 (115.723) |
| Colton | 1887 | 54,741 | $53,838 | 15.324 (39.689) |
| Fontana | 1952 | 213,739 | $80,800 | 42.432 (109.899) |
| Grand Terrace | 1978 | 12,584 | $71,788 | 3.502 (9.07) |
| Hesperia | 1988 | 95,274 | $50,271 | 73.096 (189.316) |
| Highland | 1987 | 55,406 | $64,868 | 18.755 (48.575) |
| Loma Linda | 1970 | 24,382 | $55,607 | 7.516 (19.467) |
| Montclair | 1956 | 39,437 | $62,024 | 5.517 (14.289) |
| Needles | 1913 | 4,982 | $33,717 | 30.808 (79.793) |
| Ontario | 1891 | 181,107 | $75,266 | 49.941 (129.345) |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 1977 | 177,751 | $92,773 | 39.851 (103.212) |
| Redlands | 1888 | 71,586 | $72,410 | 36.126 (93.565) |
| Rialto | 1911 | 103,440 | $70,188 | 22.351 (57.889) |
| San Bernardino | 1854 | 215,941 | $49,721 | 59.201 (153.33) |
| Twentynine Palms | 1987 | 26,418 | $44,226 | 59.143 (153.179) |
| Upland | 1906 | 77,000 | $82,426 | 15.617 (40.448) |
| Victorville | 1962 | 122,312 | $60,391 | 73.178 (189.529) |
| Yucaipa | 1989 | 53,682 | $69,104 | 27.888 (72.231) |
| Yucca Valley | 1991 | 21,726 | $44,757 | 40.015 (103.639) |
Census-designated places
- Baker
- Big Bear City
- Big River
- Bloomington
- Bluewater
- Crestline
- Fort Irwin
- Homestead Valley
- Joshua Tree
- Lake Arrowhead
- Lenwood
- Lucerne Valley
- Lytle Creek
- Mentone
- Morongo Valley
- Mountain View Acres
- Muscoy
- Oak Glen
- Oak Hills
- Phelan
- Piñon Hills
- Running Springs
- San Antonio Heights
- Searles Valley
- Silver Lakes
- Spring Valley Lake
- Wrightwood
- Yermo
Unincorporated communities
- Amboy
- Angelus Oaks
- Argus
- Arrowbear Lake
- Arrowhead Farms
- Arrowhead Highlands
- Arrowhead Junction
- Baldwin Lake
- Baldy Mesa
- Bell Mountain
- Blue Jay
- Bryman
- Cadiz
- Cajon Junction
- Cedar Glen
- Cedarpines Park
- Cima
- Crafton
- Crest Park
- Cushenbury
- Daggett
- Danby
- Earp
- El Mirage
- Essex
- Fawnskin
- Fenner
- Forest Falls
- Goffs
- Green Valley Lake
- Halloran Springs
- Havasu Lake
- Helendale
- Hinkley
- Hodge
- Johnson Valley
- Kingston
- Kramer
- Kramer Hills
- La Delta
- Landers
- Ludlow
- Mars
- Midway
- Mojave Heights
- Mount Baldy
- Mountain Home Village
- Mountain Pass
- Narod
- Newberry Springs
- Nipton
- Oro Grande
- Parker Dam
- Patton
- Pioneer Point
- Pioneertown
- Red Mountain
- Rimforest
- Skyforest
- Sugarloaf
- Sunfair
- Sunfair Heights
- Trona
- Twentynine Palms Base
- Twin Peaks
- Venus
- Vidal
- Vidal Junction
- Wonder Valley
- Zzyzx
Indian reservations
- Chemehuevi Indian Reservation
- Colorado River Indian Reservation (partially in Riverside County, and La Paz County, Arizona)
- Fort Mojave Indian Reservation (partially in Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada)
- San Manuel Indian Reservation
- Twenty-Nine Palms Indian Reservation (partially in Riverside County)
Ghost towns
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of San Bernardino County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † San Bernardino | City | 222,101 |
| 2 | Fontana | City | 208,393 |
| 3 | Ontario | City | 175,265 |
| 4 | Rancho Cucamonga | City | 174,453 |
| 5 | Victorville | City | 134,810 |
| 6 | Rialto | City | 104,026 |
| 7 | Hesperia | City | 99,818 |
| 8 | Chino | City | 91,403 |
| 9 | Upland | City | 79,040 |
| 10 | Chino Hills | City | 78,411 |
| 11 | Apple Valley | Town | 75,791 |
| 12 | Redlands | City | 73,168 |
| 13 | Highland | City | 56,999 |
| 14 | Yucaipa | City | 54,542 |
| 15 | Colton | City | 53,909 |
| 16 | Adelanto | City | 38,046 |
| 17 | Montclair | City | 37,865 |
| 18 | Twentynine Palms | City | 28,065 |
| 19 | Barstow | City | 25,415 |
| 20 | Loma Linda | City | 24,791 |
| 21 | Bloomington | CDP | 24,339 |
| 22 | Yucca Valley | Town | 21,738 |
| 23 | Phelan | CDP | 13,859 |
| 24 | Grand Terrace | City | 13,150 |
| 25 | Big Bear City | CDP | 12,738 |
| 26 | Lake Arrowhead | CDP | 12,401 |
| 27 | Crestline | CDP | 11,650 |
| 28 | Muscoy | CDP | 10,719 |
| 29 | Spring Valley Lake | CDP | 9,598 |
| 30 | Mentone | CDP | 9,557 |
| 31 | Oak Hills | CDP | 9,450 |
| 32 | Fort Irwin | CDP | 8,096 |
| 33 | Piñon Hills | CDP | 7,258 |
| 34 | Joshua Tree | CDP | 6,489 |
| 35 | Silver Lakes | CDP | 6,317 |
| 36 | Lucerne Valley | CDP | 5,331 |
| 37 | Running Springs | CDP | 5,268 |
| 38 | Big Bear Lake | City | 5,046 |
| 39 | Needles | City | 4,931 |
| 40 | Wrightwood | CDP | 4,720 |
| 41 | Lenwood | CDP | 3,623 |
| 42 | Morongo Valley | CDP | 3,514 |
| 43 | San Antonio Heights | CDP | 3,441 |
| 44 | Mountain View Acres | CDP | 3,337 |
| 45 | Homestead Valley | CDP | 2,789 |
| 46 | Searles Valley | CDP | 1,565 |
| 47 | Colorado River Indian Reservation | AIAN | 1,395 |
| 48 | Big River | CDP | 1,084 |
| 49 | Lytle Creek | CDP | 725 |
| 50 | Oak Glen | CDP | 602 |
| 51 | Baker | CDP | 442 |
| 52 | Chemehuevi Reservation | AIAN | 464 |
| 53 | Fort Mojave Indian Reservation | AIAN | 253 |
| 54 | San Manuel Reservation | AIAN | 137 |
| 55 | Bluewater | CDP | 116 |
| 56 | Twenty-Nine Palms Reservation | AIAN | 5 |
Places of interest
- Calico Ghost Town — northeast of Barstow via Interstate 15
- Zzyzx — a small desert settlement that used to be a health spa and is now the Desert Studies Center
- Downtown San Bernardino
- Mojave Narrows Park
- Mojave National Preserve
- Mojave Trails National Monument
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Castle Mountains National Monument
- Sand to Snow National Monument
- San Bernardino National Forest — home to Big Bear Lake outdoor activities
- Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex
- Mitchell Caverns
- Snow Summit, Bear Mountain (Ski Area), and Snow Valley Mountain Resort are home to Southern California's premier winter ski resorts. Mountain High, although technically located in Los Angeles County, is also an alternative to Snow Summit and Bear Mountain because of its proximity to San Bernardino County.
- The Pacific Crest Trail, officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), passes through San Bernardino County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de San Bernardino para niños
