Chino Hillsis a city in the

Greater Los Angeles Greater Los Angeles is the most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. state of California, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino County and Riverside County in the eas ...

area of California. It is located in the southwestern corner of

San Bernardino County San Bernardino County ( ), officially the County of San Bernardino and sometimes abbreviated as S.B. County, is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of th ...

, and is bordered by

Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles and sometimes abbreviated as LA County, is the most populous county in the United States, with 9,663,345 residents estimated in 2023. Its population is greater than that of 40 individua ...

to its northwest, Orange County to its south/southwest, and Riverside County to its southeast.

History

Indigenous

Prior to the colonization of the area by the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

in the late 18th century, the

Tongva The Tongva ( ) are an Indigenous peoples of California, Indigenous people of California from the Los Angeles Basin and the Channel Islands of California, Southern Channel Islands, an area covering approximately . In the precolonial era, the peop ...

village of Wapijanga (submerged by the building of the Prado Dam in 1941) was the major point of influence in what would later become Chino Hills. The village was an important point of connection between the Tongva and the Serrano. Another Tongva village, Pasinogna, was also located in present day Chino Hills

Spanish & Mexican

After the Spanish founded Mission San Gabriel in 1771, the Chino Hills area was used as spillover grazing pasture by mission cattle and horses. In 1841, the area was part of a land concession given to Antonio Maria Lugo, and became known as Rancho Santa Ana del Chino. In 1846, the Battle of Chino, a notable battle of the

Mexican-American War Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...

was fought on a battlefield in Chino Hills. After Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848, the land continued to be used for cattle ranching.

American

In 1848, the

California gold rush The California gold rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the U ...

began in

Northern California Northern California (commonly shortened to NorCal) is a geocultural region that comprises the northern portion of the U.S. state of California, spanning the northernmost 48 of the state's List of counties in California, 58 counties. Northern Ca ...

. Meanwhile, in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

, cattle ranchers made fortunes in the beef trade, feeding the influx of migrants. In 1858, Chino Hills became one of the

stagecoach A stagecoach (also: stage coach, stage, road coach, ) is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by ...

stations of the

Butterfield Overland Mail Butterfield Overland Mail (officially Overland Mail Company)Waterman L. Ormsby, edited by Lyle H. Wright and Josephine M. Bynum, "The Butterfield Overland Mail", The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, 1991. was a stagecoach service in ...

. In 1881, the land was sold to Richard Gird, a miner from

Tombstone, Arizona Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Prospecting, prospector Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona, Pima County, Arizona Territory. It became one of the last ...

, who had plans to develop the land. In 1893, after being impacted by economic depression, Gird was forced to sell the land to a group of real estate investors who developed the town of Chino, which was incorporated in 1910. Around this time, a resort was opened at La Vida Mineral Springs in Carbon Canyon, in the modern-day Sleepy Hollow region of the city. In 1925, the Los Serranos Country Club opened. The area became a destination for both tourists and bootleggers during the

prohibition era Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacturing, manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption ...

because of its relative isolation. For the same reason, Sleepy Hollow became a destination for hippies and artists during the 1960s. As Southern California grew, suburban housing began replacing farmlands. Developers targeted Chino Hills for its scenic views and proximity to L.A. and Orange counties. During the late 1980s, the area experienced a surge of development, and an incorporation effort began. In 1991, the city of Chino Hills was incorporated with a population of 42,000.

Geography

Chino Hills is a part of the Chino Valley. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , much of which is undeveloped rolling hills, including the Chino Hills State Park. of it is land and of it (0.15%) is water.

Development

Due to its topography of rolling hills, Chino Hills was primarily rural prior to the mid-1970s; most land was utilized for equestrian purposes and for dairies, except for the multi-use purposes of the State of California, promoting jobs for the community through

day labor Day labor (or day labour in American and British English spelling differences, Commonwealth spelling) is work done where the worker is hired and paid one day at a time, with no promise that more work will be available in the future, and outside t ...

from the Chino Institute for Men on Central Avenue. Rapid and extensive housing developments followed throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, only slowing down in recent years. Most neighborhoods are arranged in a village-type format with strategically placed shopping centers and parks designed to be within walking distance of nearby homes. The Vellano Country Club, a private golf course and housing development, was designed by golf champion

Greg Norman Gregory John Norman (born 10 February 1955) is an Australian former professional golfer who spent 331 weeks as List of World Number One male golfers, world number one in the 1980s and 1990s. He won 88 professional tournaments, including 20 PGA ...

, his first project in the

Greater Los Angeles area Greater Los Angeles is the most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. state of California, encompassing five counties in Southern California extending from Ventura County in the west to San Bernardino County and Riverside County in the east, ...

. Chino Hills also includes the developed golf course development

neighborhood A neighbourhood (Commonwealth English) or neighborhood (American English) is a geographically localized community within a larger town, city, suburb or rural area, sometimes consisting of a single street and the buildings lining it. Neigh ...

of Los Serranos. Other large master-planned subdivisions include ''Woodview/Village Crossing'', ''Gordon Ranch'', ''LaBand Village'', ''Butterfield Ranch'', ''Rolling Ridge'', ''Fairfield Ranch'', and ''Payne Ranch''.

Layout

The city of Chino Hills is bounded by the

cities of Pomona and Diamond Bar to the north and to the northwest, the Los Angeles County unincorporated area of South Diamond Bar to the west, the

city of Chino to the east, unincorporated Riverside County near Corona to the southeast, and the Orange County cities of Brea and Yorba Linda to the west and southwest, respectively, as well as an unincorporated area of Orange County between Brea and Yorba Linda and a small unincorporated area between Yorba Linda and

Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the tenth-most ...

, to the southwest and south, respectively. The eastern border of Chino Hills roughly follows the Chino Valley Freeway (SR 71), which offers access to the Pomona Freeway (SR 60) to the north and the Riverside Freeway (SR 91) to the south. Undeveloped hills form the western border, which also serves as the San Bernardino – Orange County line. Because this area is mostly undeveloped, there is only one road directly connecting Chino Hills and Orange County, Carbon Canyon Road (SR 142), which is long, winding, and prone to landslides.

Faults

Chino Hills is situated near several significant fault lines due to its position within the complex tectonic setting of the

San Andreas Fault The San Andreas Fault is a continental Fault (geology)#Strike-slip faults, right-lateral strike-slip transform fault that extends roughly through the U.S. state of California. It forms part of the tectonics, tectonic boundary between the Paci ...

system. The most prominent faults in the area include: # Chino Fault: This fault runs along the eastern edge of the Chino Hills, extending from Corona to the Los Serranos area. # Whittier Fault: Located to the west of Chino Hills, # Yorba Linda Fault (Yorba Linda Trend): This lesser-known fault identified in the 1990s transects the Whittier Fault and extends into the southeastern portion of Chino Hills. # Additionally, there are other active faults in the broader region, including the Elsinore Fault Zone, which runs from the Peninsular Ranges northwest to the Chino Hills range. These faults contribute to the seismic activity in the region, such as the 2008 Chino Hills earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.4, attributed to pressure at the intersection of the Chino and Whittier faults. The earthquake was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Las Vegas.

Wildfires

Chino Hills, California, has experienced several significant wildfires, including the Freeway Complex Fire and Canyon Fire, primarily due to dry conditions, strong winds, and dense vegetation. These events have led to increased awareness and preparedness efforts in Chino Hills and surrounding communities. Residents are encouraged to create defensible spaces around their properties, maintain fire-resistant landscaping, and stay informed about local fire conditions, especially during peak wildfire seasons.

Demographics

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Chino Hills had a population of 78,411. The population density was . The racial makeup of Chino Hills was 29.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 4.2%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.8% Native American, 40.5% Asian, 0.2%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 11.3% from other races, and 14.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.2% of the population. The census reported that 99.7% of the population lived in households, 0.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized. There were 25,258 households, out of which 38.9% included children under the age of 18, 64.4% were married-couple households, 4.5% were cohabiting couple households, 18.8% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.3% had a male householder with no partner present. 13.2% of households were one person, and 4.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.1. There were 20,784

families Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...

(82.3% of all households). The age distribution was 21.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% aged 18 to 24, 25.7% aged 25 to 44, 30.0% aged 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 39.5years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. There were 26,068 housing units at an average density of , of which 25,258 (96.9%) were occupied. Of these, 71.6% were owner-occupied, and 28.4% were occupied by renters. In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $122,600, and the

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

was $49,460. About 4.5% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Chino Hills had a population of 74,799. The population density was . The racial makeup of Chino Hills was 38,035 (50.8%)

(33.4% Non-Hispanic White), 3,415 (4.6%)

, 379 (0.5%) Native American, 22,676 (30.3%) Asian, 115 (0.2%)

, 6,520 (8.7%) from other races, and 3,659 (4.9%) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 21,802 persons (29.1%). The Census reported that 74,644 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 147 (0.2%) were institutionalized. There were 22,941 households, out of which 11,026 (48.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 15,840 (69.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,381 (10.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,101 (4.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 834 (3.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 142 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,713 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals, and 717 (3.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25. There were 19,322

(84.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.54. The population was spread out, with 20,291 people (27.1%) under the age of 18, 7,147 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 20,207 people (27.0%) aged 25 to 44, 21,889 people (29.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,265 people (7.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males. There were 23,617 housing units at an average density of , of which 18,421 (80.3%) were owner-occupied, and 4,520 (19.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 61,152 people (81.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,492 people (18.0%) lived in rental housing units. The median household income was $106,099 and the mean household income was $122,788. For families, the median income was $109,106 and the mean was $127,755.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

Landmarks

* BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chino Hills * The Egyptian Building, a building imitating ancient Egyptian architecture whilst housing a restaurant, is located in the city.

In Media

* The hit song 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted by

Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...

and

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

says, "''I've got a house out in the hills, right next to Chino."'' * ''South Park'' episode " Stunning and Brave" has a character state they are from Chino Hills * Chino Hills has served as a filming location for numerous films and tv shows, including 2006 comedy movie '' The Benchwarmers'' * The area was the fictionalized location of the initial Martian spacecraft's landing in 1953's ''

The War of the Worlds ''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. It was written between 1895 and 1897, and serialised in '' Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and ''Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US in 1897. The full novel was ...

''. In the film, Pastor Collins, a resident of nearby Corona, California, refers to the meteor as having landed "halfway to Pomona". Subsequent geographical references by Colonel Heffner indicate the landing place as somewhere near "Carbon Canyon".

Parks and recreation

The city of Chino Hills has 44 municipal parks. One such example is Overlook Park, which spans and features scenic views of the Pomona Valley, Chino Hills, and

San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains () are a mountain range located in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, California, United States. The mountain range is part of the Transverse Ranges and lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert ...

. It has picnic tables,

barbecue grill A barbecue grill or barbeque grill (known as a barbecue in Canada and barbecue or barbie in Australia and New Zealand) is a device that cooks food by applying heat from below. There are several varieties of grills, with most falling into one of t ...

s, and a seating area. Chino Hills State Park has 60 miles (100 km) of trails and fire roads also offer opportunities for viewing

wildlife Wildlife refers to domestication, undomesticated animals and uncultivated plant species which can exist in their natural habitat, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wilderness, wild in an area without being species, introdu ...

and native plants. Facilities consist of a

picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors (Al fresco dining, ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event su ...

area, camping sites, equestrian staging area and corrals, a historic barn, water and restrooms.

Government

Local

Chino Hills follows the Council-Manager model of government. The city is governed by a city council which establishes all city ordinances, approves plans, adopts budgets, etc. The council appoints the city manager who enforces laws and, in essence, runs the city's day-to-day operations.

City council

The city council is elected by city residents and, within the council, rotates the position of mayor. Once elected, the city council members serve a four-year term. The five city council members meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, with opportunity for residents to voice their opinion during the open forum. The meetings are broadcast via the city's television station and streaming via the city's website. The current mayor and council members are: * Mayor: Art Bennett * Vice mayor: Brian Johsz * Council Members: Ray Marquez, Cynthia Moran, and Peter Rogers

Mayors

The City Council selects one member to serve as Mayor for a one-year term. This is a list of Chino Hills mayors by year.

State and federal representation

Chino Hills' most pro- Republican areas are in the southern and eastern regions. In the state legislature following the 2020 elections, Chino Hills is located in the 29th

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

District, represented by Democrat Josh Newman (politician), and in the 55th Assembly District, represented by Republican Phillip Chen. In the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, Chino Hills is split between California's 35th congressional district and California's 40th congressional district, represented by and respectively.

Education

Chino Hills is served by the Chino Valley Unified School District.

Elementary schools

* Hidden Trails * Country Springs * Eagle Canyon * Oak Ridge * Butterfield Ranch * Michael G. Wickman * Chaparral * Gerald F. Litel * Glenmeade * Rolling Ridge *Edwin Rhodes

Junior high schools

* Canyon Hills Junior High * Robert O. Townsend Junior High

High schools

* Ruben S. Ayala High School * Chino Hills High School

Independent schools

* Loving Savior of the Hills * Chino Hills Christian School * Chino Hills Montessori School * Boys Republic

Charter schools

* Mirus Secondary School * Sycamore Academy of Science and Cultural Arts

Infrastructure

Police and fire

Law enforcement services in Chino Hills are provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The Chief of Police is Sheriff’s Captain Garth Goodell. Chino Hills has contracted with the sheriff's department for law enforcement services since its incorporation in 1991. The city contracts with the Chino Valley Independent Fire District (CVIFD) for fire protection services. The CVIFD serves the Chino Valley, serving Chino Hills and the city of Chino. The CVIFD is a separate political entity from either Chino Hills or Chino and is managed by its own elected board. The department has three stations located throughout Chino Hills.

Transportation

Local highways

* State Route 60 * State Route 71 * State Route 91 * State Route 142

Public transportation

Chino Hills is served by Omnitrans' OmniLink demand-response service open to the general public. For $2.50 each way, one can travel throughout the city and transfer for free to the Omnitrans public bus at the Chino Hills Marketplace and the Chino Hills Civic Center. The dial-a-ride service operates five days a week, mostly during daytime hours.

Notable people

* A Static Lullaby - Band * Clarence Ray Allen - Criminal * LaMelo Ball - NBA Player * LaVar Ball - Businessman, Former NFL Player * LiAngelo Ball - Basketball Player * Lonzo Ball - NBA Player * Alex Bengard - Soccer player * Aaron Cervantes - Soccer player * Zach Collier - Baseball Player * Kevin Cooper - Prisoner * Rebekah Gardner - Basketball Player * Cory Harkey - Former NFL Player * Mike Harkey - Former MLB Player * Danny Lopez - Hall of Fame boxer *

Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of counterculture of the 1960s, 1960s counterculture, made him a top box office draw for his films of the late ...

- Actor (Spent teen years at Boys Republic) * Ricky Minor - ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

'' music director * Mat Mladin - AMA Superbike champion * Tracy Murray - retired NBA Champion * Onyeka Okongwu - NBA Player * Leah O'Brien-Amico - U.S. Olympic softball group gold medalist * Tony Pedregon - NHRA Funny Car champion * Rafael Pérez - former

LAPD The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...

officer, convicted in relation to the Rampart scandal * Mike Randolph -

Los Angeles Galaxy The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Gal ...

soccer player * Makenzy Robbe - soccer player for the San Diego Wave * Ron Roenicke - MLB player and manager * Eli Scott - Basketball Player * Jaclyn Swedberg - ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

'' Playmate of the Month for April 2011 * Sahith Theegala - Professional Golfer * Brianne Tju - actress * Kwame Watson-Siriboe - Real Salt Lake City soccer player * Tyler Wilson - soccer player * Del Worsham - NHRA Funny Car driver

References

External links

* * {{authority control Chino Hills (California) Cities in San Bernardino County, California Incorporated cities and towns in California Pomona Valley Populated places in San Bernardino County, California