📖 About Fontana

Fontana is a rapidly growing city in California's Inland Empire, located approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County. With a population exceeding 220,000, it has transformed from an agricultural and steel-producing community into one of Southern California's most dynamic suburban cities. The dramatic San Gabriel Mountains form a stunning backdrop to this evolving metropolis.

The city is perhaps best known for the Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway), a major NASCAR venue that brings racing enthusiasts from across the nation. Beyond motorsports, Fontana has developed significant logistics and distribution infrastructure, capitalizing on its strategic location along major transportation corridors connecting the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to inland destinations.

Fontana represents the new suburban California—diverse, affordable (relative to coastal cities), and rapidly developing. Young families attracted by housing costs and space have driven population growth. While critics cite sprawl and traffic, Fontana continues investing in parks, trails, and community facilities to improve quality of life for its growing population.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Fontana's economy has evolved dramatically from its steel-producing past. Logistics and distribution now dominate, with massive warehouse complexes serving e-commerce and retail supply chains. Healthcare, retail, and construction employ significant numbers. The Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center is a major employer. The city actively recruits businesses, and its strategic location continues attracting investment.

The culture of Fontana reflects California's diversity—Hispanic, Filipino, African American, and other communities create a multicultural tapestry. Youth sports, particularly football (Fontana high schools are football powerhouses), engage families. Racing culture from the Speedway influences local identity. Churches, community events, and neighborhood gatherings build connections in this sprawling suburban landscape. The city invests in cultural programming through the Lewis Library and community centers.

📜 History

Fontana was founded in 1913 by A.B. Miller as a planned agricultural community, named for the abundant springs (fontana means fountain in Italian) that made irrigation possible. Poultry farms and citrus groves characterized early development. The area remained rural until World War II brought Kaiser Steel, which operated a massive integrated steel mill from 1942 until 1983.

The steel mill defined Fontana for four decades, creating an industrial working-class community unusual in suburban Southern California. When the mill closed, Fontana faced economic crisis. Recovery came through logistics development, residential growth, and the Speedway (opened 1997). The 21st century has brought explosive population growth as housing prices in Los Angeles pushed families inland. Today's Fontana continues transforming, balancing growth pressures with efforts to maintain community identity.