Daytime aerial view of the city center of Fontana, California.

Fontana, California

Fontana is a big city situated in San Bernardino County in the US State of California. The city was established in 1913 by the noted American rancher Azariel Blanchard Miller. Fontana currently serves as a regional hub of the trucking industry, with several important interstate highways passing through the city. Fontana is the county's second-most populous city and the state's 21st largest city. 

Geography And Climate Of Fontana

Daytime view of the downtown district of Fontana, California
Daytime view of the downtown district of Fontana, California. 

Fontana is situated in California's San Bernardino County, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. Fontana serves as a significant supply chain hub due to its placement at the crossroads of major commerce routes and the presence of the Union Pacific Railroad. The city also has a large number of significant businesses. For those working in the Los Angeles metropolitan region, the Fontana Metrolink station provides a low-stress transportation alternative.

Summers in Fontana are hot and dry, while winters are lengthy, cold, and partially overcast. Throughout the year, the temperature normally ranges from 43°F to 95°F, with temperatures seldom falling below 35°F or rising over 103°F. Fontana's humidity level is normally minimal and acceptable, with only a few days throughout the summer when the humidity is unbearable. July, August, and June are the most humid (but still pleasant) months. The perfect time of year to visit Fontana for warm-weather activities, according to the tourist score, is from late May to mid-October.

Brief History Of Fontana

Fontana City Hall in Fontana, California
Sun shines on the Fontana City Hall in the civic center of downtown Fontana, California. Editorial credit: Matt Gush / Shutterstock.com

Fontana emerged as an agricultural settlement in 1913 and evolved into a prosperous industrial city by 1942, owing to the construction of Henry J. Kaiser's steel mill activities on the city's outskirts during World War II. Kaiser Steel continued to be a significant employer and source of income until it stopped operating in 1984. His impact remains on at the Fontana Kaiser Permanente Facility, which presently employs over 6,000 individuals. Ever since, the city has grown quickly due to a variety of factors, including the construction of the Kaiser Permanente Hospital facility (one of the leading healthcare facilities in the area) and unprecedented growing population, which has fueled major residential, commercial, and industrial development. The name 'Fontana' is the Italian meaning of fountain or source of water and earned its name courtesy of its closeness to the Santa Ana River to the east.

The Population And Economy Of Fontana

As per the latest US Census, Fontana has a population of 210,857 people. The city's population, growing at a 0.59% rate, has expanded by 1.18% from the 2010 census, which reported a population of 208,393. Fontana has witnessed a tremendous population expansion as a result of the region's higher-paying professional occupations and the high cost of living in the adjacent Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Fontana was recently awarded as California's Most Prosperous City due to its steady property prices, average income, low unemployment, and poverty rates, and increase in population. The city has a very recent history, dating back to its foundation in 1913. It rapidly became an agricultural hamlet with chicken ranches, vineyards, and citrus groves. Fontana's economy has shifted away from agriculture and more towards industry, particularly the trucking industry. It has several product distribution hubs for prominent corporations such as Home Shopping Network, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota. Fontana's main employer is Kaiser Permanente.

Attractions In Fontana

Auto Club Speedway

The Auto Club Speedway hosts the running of the Pepsi Max 400 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
The Auto Club Speedway hosts the running of the Pepsi Max 400 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Editorial credit: Photo Works / Shutterstock.com

If you enjoy racing, you should visit the Auto Club Speedway. The racetrack is well-known for hosting the Xfinity, IndyCar, and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track is built on the grounds of another well-known Fontana monument, the Kaiser Steel Mill, and guests may pick from a wide range of different packages. If a person doesn't want to participate in the race, they can watch it instead.

Fiesta Park

Fiesta Park is well-known for being one of the most popular parks in the city, and despite its diminutive size, there are numerous attractions to keep the tourists entertained. People will find entertainment for the whole family at Fiesta Park, which has a variety of playgrounds with activities ideal for children of all ages. There are also seats around the park for guests to enjoy an afternoon stroll while taking in the splendor of the California environment and having a picnic.

Artist Showcase program

The Fontana City Hall runs the Artist Showcase program, which aims to introduce the local public to local art. The initiative also intends to allow aspiring local artists the opportunity to show their work in the City Council Chamber Foyer, which is located inside the City Hall building. Artists accepted to participate in the program have their paintings displayed there for three months. Visitors interested in art should definitely visit it while in town.

Center Stage Theater

Center Stage Theater in Fontana, California
Center Stage Theater in Fontana, California. Image Credit: Jordan W., via Wikimedia Commons

The Center Stage Theater is one of Fontana's most iconic structures, having been established in 1937. The structure is built in the Art Deco style and was once a movie theater before it began to deteriorate. Center Stage Theater was painstakingly refurbished from 2004 until its reopening in 2008, and it is now recognized as a movie theater and a live performance theater.

Art Depot

The Art Depot is an excellent choice for visitors who wish to experience Fontana's arts sector while also learning about the city's history. The Art Depot is a local initiative that promotes the arts in this city and is currently situated in a former freight depot. The Pacific Electric Railway owned the depot in 1915, making it a cultural and historical treasure in its own right.

Fontana Park Aquatic Center

Visitors who wish to cool off in the Fontana heat should go to the Fontana Park Aquatic Center, which has a huge swimming pool and a splash park. If you are traveling with children, there is a children's pool where they may swim freely, and the center is well-known for being one of the most popular sites in the city. In addition to the swimming pools, some slides contribute to the guests' enjoyment, and the pools are heated throughout winter.

Small cities have a certain charm that larger cities miss. Fontana is a nice city with several things to do, and this part of the United States is recognized for its magnificent beauty that visitors will appreciate and enjoy.

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