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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

6
1913Founded: Established as farming community.
1
1942Kaiser Steel Mill: Henry Kaiser built the West's first integrated steel mill for WWII, employing 10,000.
10
1945Wartime Diversity: WWII brought diverse workers to the mill.
2
1948Hell's Angels Founded: The notorious motorcycle club originated in Fontana.
5
1983Kaiser Closes: The mill closed, devastating the economy.
4
1997California Speedway: Brought NASCAR Cup racing to the Inland Empire.
3
2000Population Explosion: Doubled from 87K to 169K as IE housing attracted coastal families.
7
2010Logistics Hub: Massive warehouses serve SoCal supply chains.
9
2015Growth Continues: New communities expand into foothills.
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Population Over Time

0 55,772 111,545 167,317 223,089 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Latest News in Fontana

News articles will appear here as they're published.

Complete Historical Timeline

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

Did You Know?

1
Kaiser Steel was the only integrated mill west of the Rockies, employing 10,000 at peak.
2
The Hell's Angels originated in Fontana in the late 1940s.
3
Fontana has transformed into one of the largest logistics hubs in Southern California.
4
Fontana is located in San Bernardino County, California.
5
Fontana was founded in 1913.
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