Bloomington, California

Bloomington is an urban unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 24,339 at the 2020 census, up from 23,851 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Bloomington as a census-designated place (CDP).

Though currently unincorporated, many of the town's political activists are pushing for Bloomington to attain cityhood, while the nearby cities of Rialto and Fontana are attempting to annex the community. The incorporation effort is led by the Bloomington Incorporation Committee.

History

Bloomington was originally developed as part of the land holdings of the Semi-Tropic Land and Water Company, which was formed in 1887.

In 1907, the Riverside Portland Cement Company built a large plant near the Crestmore Quarries (South Bloomington), and to provide transportation for employees built a standard gauge railroad to Riverside. On May 20, 1911, the line was opened to Bloomington. The original community, known as Crestmore, is generally located between Locust Avenue and Larch Avenue, south of Jurupa Avenue, extending to the Riverside County line. The Pacific Electric Crestmore Line (Riverside–Rialto) provided local service for many years.

The Semi-Tropic Land and Water Company (now known as West Valley Water District) laid out the town sites of Bloomington, Rialto, Fontana, and Sansevaine. The town site for Bloomington, after being surveyed in April, 1888, was bounded on the north by Valley Boulevard, on the south by Slover Avenue, on the east by Larch Avenue, and on the west by Linden Avenue.

Part of the community is still rural and many residents continue to keep and raise animals. The cities of Rialto and Colton are both trying to annex much of the land now within Bloomington.

In 1989, full incorporation was not completed due to budget and staff constraints.

In 2007, the Bloomington Incorporation Committee (BIC) applied with the Local Agency Formation Commission for another attempt for incorporation. It failed in late February and early March, when the Local Agency Formation Commission denied an extension that BIC needed in order to pay a $109,000 deposit for feasibility and financial studies.

Community Protests of Warehousing

In 2022, there was protest by community members, when the county approved to destroy an elementary school in favor of a warehouse

In 2024, community members protested the demolition of 117 homes in favor of warehouses that were approved by the county supervisors

In late September 2024, a San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge halted all construction on the Bloomington Business Park, finding that the San Bernardino County officials had failed to conform to state law in its Environmental Review by not sufficiently informing stake-holders (decision-makers and the public) of the environmental consequences of the proposed development. The county will have to re-do the Environmental Review so as to conform to State Law. Community members bemoaned the loss of over 100 homes in a project that may not procee

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Bloomington had a population of 24,339. The population density was . The racial makeup of Bloomington was 22.5% White, 2.5% African American, 2.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 49.3% from other races, and 22.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.1% of the population.

The census reported that 99.6% of the population lived in households, 99 people (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8 people (0.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,802 households, out of which 52.6% included children under the age of 18, 54.4% were married-couple households, 7.3% were cohabiting couple households, 22.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 16.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 10.5% of households were one person, and 4.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.18. There were 4,936 families (85.1% of all households).

The age distribution was 27.6% under the age of 18, 12.0% aged 18 to 24, 27.7% aged 25 to 44, 23.6% aged 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 31.3years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males.

There were 5,925 housing units at an average density of , of which 5,802 (97.9%) were occupied. Of these, 67.0% were owner-occupied, and 33.0% were occupied by renters.

2023 estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 28.7% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 31.5% spoke only English at home, 67.5% spoke Spanish, 0.3% spoke other Indo-European languages, 0.6% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.1% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 66.1% were high school graduates and 10.2% had a bachelor's degree.

The median household income was $81,220, and the per capita income was $24,296. About 12.0% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line.

Public safety

Bloomington has been patrolled by the California Highway Patrol and the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department's Fontana Station since 1941.

Bloomington's fire department service is provided by the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Transportation

The town of Bloomington is served by Omnitrans bus service and Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway). It is also crossed by the Union Pacific Railroad Alhambra Subdivision and home to a hump yard. The Amtrak Sunset Limited uses the same tracks, there is no station in Bloomington and the closest station is in Fontana.

Education

Bloomington is within the Colton Joint Unified School District.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Bloomington is in , and in .

In the United States House of Representatives, Bloomington is in .

Parks within Bloomington are managed by the Bloomington Recreation and Park District.

Climate

The climate in Bloomington tends to be stable year round:

References

External links

Bloomington's attempts at Cityhood

{{authority control

Census-designated places in San Bernardino County, California
Populated places established in 1888
Census-designated places in California
Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California