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Fontana, California

"City of Action"

From citrus to steel mill to drag racing, Fontana reinvented itself in the Inland Empire's relentless growth.

Founded 1913 | Population 223,089 | Peak 223,089 (2024) | County San Bernardino County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Fontana, California

1913Founded: Established as farming community.

1942Kaiser Steel Mill: Henry Kaiser built the West's first integrated steel mill for WWII, employing 10,000.

1945Wartime Diversity: WWII brought diverse workers to the mill.

1948Hell's Angels Founded: The notorious motorcycle club originated in Fontana.

1983Kaiser Closes: The mill closed, devastating the economy.

1997California Speedway: Brought NASCAR Cup racing to the Inland Empire.

2000Population Explosion: Doubled from 87K to 169K as IE housing attracted coastal families.

2010Logistics Hub: Massive warehouses serve SoCal supply chains.

2015Growth Continues: New communities expand into foothills.

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1913 Government

Founded

1942 Industry

Kaiser Steel Mill

1945 Social

Wartime Diversity

1948 Culture

Hell's Angels Founded

1983 Industry

Kaiser Closes

1997 Sports

California Speedway

2000 Government

Population Explosion

2010 Business

Logistics Hub

2015 Architecture

Growth Continues

Kaiser Steel was the only integrated mill west of the Rockies, employing 10,000 at peak.

The Hell's Angels originated in Fontana in the late 1940s.

Fontana has transformed into one of the largest logistics hubs in Southern California.

Fontana is located in San Bernardino County, California.

Fontana was founded in 1913.

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