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San Bernardino, California

"The Heartland of Southern California"
Where the first McDonald's was built and Route 66 ended its westward journey, San Bernardino has survived fires, bankruptcy, and a terrorist attack while anchoring the vast Inland Empire.
Founded 1810 | Population 226,103 | Peak 226,103 (2024) | County San Bernardino County

Top 10 Most Important Events for San Bernardino, California

1
1940First McDonald's Opens: The McDonald brothers opened their original restaurant in San Bernardino. Ray Kroc later franchised the concept, but the original location launched what became the world's most famous fast-food brand.
2
2015Inland Regional Center Shooting: A married couple carried out a terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center, killing 14 people and injuring 22 in what was the deadliest terror attack in the U.S. since 9/11 at the time.
3
2012City Files for Bankruptcy: Crushed by pension costs and the housing crisis, San Bernardino filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, highlighting the struggles of Inland Empire cities.
4
1926Route 66 Designation: The Mother Road connected San Bernardino to Chicago, bringing thousands of travelers and migrants through the city and establishing its road-trip identity.
5
1851Mormon Colony Founded: Mormon settlers sent by Brigham Young established a colony at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, creating one of the earliest Euro-American settlements in the area.
6
1942San Bernardino Air Depot: The massive Army Air Corps depot processed aircraft and equipment during WWII, later becoming Norton Air Force Base.
7
1980Norton AFB Closure Impact: The closure of Norton Air Force Base in 1994 devastated the local economy, removing thousands of military and civilian jobs.
8
1891Santa Fe Railroad Hub: San Bernardino became a major Santa Fe Railroad maintenance and operations center.
9
2003Old Fire: The devastating Old Fire burned into San Bernardino's mountain communities, destroying hundreds of homes.
10
1810Mission Era: Spanish missionaries explored the San Bernardino Valley, naming it for the feast day of St. Bernardino of Siena.
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Population Over Time

0 56,526 113,052 169,577 226,103 1860 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

Latest News in San Bernardino

News articles will appear here as they're published.

Complete Historical Timeline

1810 Culture
Spanish missionaries name the valley
1851 Government
Mormon settlers found San Bernardino
1891 Transport
Santa Fe Railroad hub established
1926 Transport
Route 66 designated through city
1940 Business
First McDonald's restaurant opens
1942 Government
Air depot established (future Norton AFB)
1994 Government
Norton Air Force Base closes
2003 Disaster
Old Fire burns into mountain communities
2012 Government
City files for bankruptcy
2015 Crime
Terrorist attack kills 14
2024 Government
Population surpasses 226,000

Did You Know?

1
The original McDonald's opened at 14th and E Street in San Bernardino in 1940 — although the current site is now a museum, the brand it launched serves 69 million customers daily worldwide.
2
San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the entire United States, spanning over 20,000 square miles — larger than nine U.S. states.
3
Route 66 travelers knew they were almost to the Pacific when they reached San Bernardino — it was one of the last major stops before Los Angeles.
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