Redlands ( ) is a city in
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County ( ), officially the County of San Bernardino and sometimes abbreviated as S.B. County, is a County (United States), county located in the Southern California, southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is locat ...
, United States. As of the
2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168,
[ up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately northwest of Palm Springs and east of ]Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
.
Redlands was founded in 1881 on land that encompassed native Serrano, Morongo and Cahuilla tribes. Redlands absorbed the communities of Terracina, Barton, Gladysta, and Lugonia along with portions of Mentone, Crafton and Bryn Mawr when it incorporated in 1888. Redlands is home to the Asistencia Mission founded in 1819 by early European settlers. By the early 20th century, it was a major focal point of California's citrus industry and boosted the world's largest producer of naval oranges in the world.
Throughout its past, Redlands has a history of philanthropic residents establishing lasting legacies. The Smiley Library in 1898, the University of Redlands in 1907, the Redlands Bowl in 1924, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in 1932 and the Redlands Bicycle Classic in 1985.
Today, Redlands is a strong growing community with a diverse economy, and growing population in the Inland Empire region of southern California. Redlands is home to Esri, Citrus Plaza, the Redlands Historical Glass Museum and the San Bernardino County Museum.
History
The area now occupied by Redlands was previously part of the territory of the Morongo and Aguas Calientes tribes of Cahuilla people. Explorations such as those of Pedro Fages and Francisco Garcés sought to extend Catholic influence to the indigenous people and the dominion of the Spanish crown into the area in the 1770s. The Tongva village of Kaawchama, located just to the west of present-day Redlands, was visited by Fr. Francisco Dumetz in 1810, and was the reason the site was chosen for a mission outpost. Dumetz reached the village on May 20, the feast day
The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...
of Saint Bernardino of Siena, and thus named the region the San Bernardino Valley
The San Bernardino Valley () is a valley in Southern California located at the south base of the Transverse Ranges. It is bordered on the north by the eastern San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains; on the east by the San Jacin ...
. The Franciscan friars from Mission San Gabriel established the San Bernardino Asistencia in 1819 and embarked on the usual program of training the native tribes to raise crops and encouraging permanent settlements. By 1820, a ditch, known as a ''zanja'', was dug by conscripted native labor for the friars from Mill Creek to the Asistencia. In 1822, word of the Mexican triumph in the War of Independence
Wars of national liberation, also called wars of independence or wars of liberation, are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) ...
reached the inland area, and lands previously claimed by Spain passed to the custody of the newly established Mexican government.
Lugonia and founding
In 1842, the Lugo
Lugo (, ) is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia. It is the capital of the Lugo (province), province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 100,060 in 2024, ...
family bought the Rancho San Bernardino Mexican land grant and this became the first fixed settler civilization in the area. The area northwest of current Redlands, astride the Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river entirely within Southern California in the United States. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows for most of its length through San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino and Riversid ...
, would become known as Lugonia. The region was part of Alta California
Alta California (, ), also known as Nueva California () among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but was made a separat ...
, a Mexican federal province until 1848, when it became part of the United States after the Mexican-American War. By 1850, California as a US state was established. The area received its first Anglo inhabitants in the form of several hundred Mormon pioneers, who purchased the entire ''Rancho San Bernardino'', founded nearby San Bernardino, and established a prosperous farming community watered by the many lakes and streams of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Mormon community left wholesale in 1857, recalled to Utah
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...
by Brigham Young
Brigham Young ( ; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until h ...
during the tensions with the US federal government that ultimately led to the brief Utah War. Benjamin Barton purchased from the Latter-Day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
and planted extensive vineyard
A vineyard ( , ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines. Many vineyards exist for winemaking; others for the production of raisins, table grapes, and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is kno ...
s and built a winery.
"The first settler on the site of the present Redlands is recorded to have erected a hut at the corner of what is now Cajon St. and Cypress Ave.; he was a sheep herder, and the year, 1865," reported Ira L. Swett in "Tractions of the Orange Empire". Lugonia attracted settlers including, Barry Roberts in 1869, followed a year later by the Craw and Glover families. "The first school teacher in Lugonia, George W. Beattie, arrived in 1874—shortly followed by the town's first negro settler, Israel Beal."
In the 1880s, the arrival of the Southern Pacific and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
s, connecting 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 ...
to San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
and Salt Lake triggered a land boom, with speculators such as John W. North flooding the area now known as the Inland Empire. North and others saw the area, with its hot, dry climate and ready access to water as an ideal center for citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
''Citrus'' is nativ ...
production. The city of Redlands was soon established by Frank E. Brown, a civil engineer, and E. G. Judson, a New York stock broker, to provide a center (along with North's nearby settlement at Riverside) for the burgeoning citrus industry. They named their city "Redlands" after the color of the adobe soil. So large had the area grown by 1888 that it was decided to incorporate. "A red-letter day in the Annals of Redlands", pronounced Scipio Craig, editor of ''The Citrograph'' newspaper, of the November 26 incorporation. The original communities of Lugonia, Bryn Mawr, Barton, Terracina, Gladysta, parts of Mentone, and parts of Crafton were absorbed at this time. The newspaper was first published in July 1887 by The Citrograph Printing Company, which remains in 2023 as both Redlands' oldest business and the longest-operating printing company in California. E. G. Judson served as the first mayor of Redlands.
Railroads
The Redlands Street Railway Company was incorporated on March 22, 1888, acquiring on June 5 a franchise from the San Bernardino County Supervisors dating to December 1887, conveying the right to construct, operate and maintain for a term of 50 years a line of street railways in Redlands, Terracina and vicinity. The initial operations began in June 1889 with a single-track line operating two-mule-team cars, the first street railway company of several to provide service to the community. Electrification and new rails replaced mules in 1899, with electrical operation beginning in December.[Staff, "Historic Redlands Lighting System Today 50 Years Old - Street Illumination Proved Feasibility Of World's First Long Transmission Line", ''The San Bernardino Daily Sun'', San Bernardino, California, Friday August 6, 1943, Volume 49, page 12.] Most Redlands street railways would pass to the San Bernardino Valley Traction Company in a consolidation on June 3, 1903, and thence to the Pacific Electric in the "Great Merger" of Huntington properties under new ownership by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company
The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was operated by various companies under the names ...
on February 8, 1911. Henry E. Huntington, nephew of late Southern Pacific president Collis P. Huntington, had gained control of the streetcar line of the Redlands Central Railway Company in 1908.
The Pacific Electric Railway (PE) completed an interurban connection between Los Angeles and San Bernardino in 1914, providing a convenient, speedy connection to the fast-growing city of Los Angeles and its new port at San Pedro, bringing greater prosperity to the town and a new role as a vacation destination for wealthy Angelenos. Redlands was the eastern terminus of the "Big Red Car" system. At its peak, PE operated five local routes in Redlands, with streetcars running to Smiley Heights and on Orange, Olive, and Citrus Avenues. Pacific Electric's interurban service to Redlands was abandoned on July 20, 1936, with of track into the city lifted, although PE and Southern Pacific (parent company of PE) provided freight service as far as the Sunkist packing plant at Redlands Heights on San Bernardino Avenue into at least the 1970s. The Smiley Heights line was abandoned at this time, as well. Bus service operated by the Motor Transit Company, a subsidiary of Pacific Electric, began on July 20. This also affected mail delivery in Redlands as "Approximately 80 percent of our mail from all directions arrives on the 5 a.m. electric car," explained Postmaster James B. Stone. "This dispatch is sorted and morning deliveries started by 8:30 a.m. on most routes. The post office department has temporarily arranged for this mail to be brought in by the Santa Fe train at 6:05 a.m. As this arrival is an hour later, our service will be one hour later." The abandoned Pacific Electric La Quinta trestle over the Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river entirely within Southern California in the United States. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows for most of its length through San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino and Riversid ...
stood immediately south of San Bernardino International Airport into the 2010s but was removed when an Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...
facility was built adjacent to the site.
Electricity
"History was made in the electrical industry July 27, 1892, when a franchise was granted to the Electric Light & Power Co., which was incorporated Oct. 6 and began building a powerhouse in Mill Creek canyon. Thus the groundwork was laid for the world's first (three)-phase transmission line, which brought electricity to Redlands and later became a unit in the Southern California Edison Co."["Golden Jubilee, Redlands, California: 1888-1938", Citrograph Printing Company, Redlands, California, 1938.] The 250 kilowatt AC Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant was designed by Almirian Decker. Electric arc lamps were first illuminated over Redlands streets on August 5, 1893. George B. Ellis, one of seven men who spearheaded the undertaking, is largely credited with originating the plan.
"The first line was extended from the Mill Creek powerhouse to East Citrus avenue, thence to Redlands and to Mr. Ellis' Terracina hotel. By September the company was advertising power for sale to the public. The firm boasted of ability to supply current enough for 55 arc lamps, and 1,500 homes." Engineer O. H. Ensign was "largely responsible for the success of the undertaking." When gas lighting became available in Redlands in 1900, many homes already had electricity.
"The same group of men in 1894 organized the Southern California Power Co. Later it was merged with the Edison Electric Co., of Los Angeles, a forerunner of the Southern California Edison Co."
Citrus
In the spring of 1882, Mr. E. J. Waite of Wisconsin
Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...
planted the first orange grove in the city. For almost 75 years, the city was the center of the largest navel orange-producing region in the world. By the late 1930s, Redlands was a fruit-packing center surrounded by more than of citrus groves. The city produced more than 4,200 railcars of navel oranges and 1,300 cars of Valencia oranges during the 1937–38 growing season. During the 1930s and 1940s, labor activists campaigned in the canneries and packing houses for union representation and higher wages. The United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America (UCAPAWA) won 13 National Labor Relations Board representation elections in the Riverside-Redlands area in 1943. In 1945, the first annual Orange Queen Ball at the Redlands City Auditorium was held to raise funds for the union.
The citrus industry declined in the area as more agricultural areas were replaced by subdivisions, and all three citrus packing houses (two in downtown and one on San Bernardino Avenue) had closed by the end of the 1900s. Today only one packing house remains to serve the needs of approximately the of citrus that remains in production in the area.
Community
At the turn of the 20th century, Redlands was the "Palm Springs" of the next century, with roses being planted along many city thoroughfares. Some of these plantings would survive as wild thickets into the 1970s, especially adjacent to orange groves where property management was lax. Washingtonia palms (''Washingtonia robusta'') were planted along many main avenues. So beautifully kept was the area, with the dramatic mountain backdrops, that for several years the Santa Fe Railroad operated excursion trains along the loop that passed through the orange groves of Redlands and Mentone, across the Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river entirely within Southern California in the United States. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows for most of its length through San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino and Riversid ...
, and back into San Bernardino via East Highlands, Highlands and Patton, and advertised as the "Kite Route" due to its multi-sided alignment. The trestle over "the Wash" north of Mentone was carried away during a flood in March 1938 and never replaced, the line being truncated there. The Southern Pacific branch line from the San Timoteo Canyon to Crafton was abandoned after the downtown packing house business died. A thru-truss bridge over the ''Zanja'' (locally pronounced "san-kee") exists today, abandoned in place. Burlington Northern Santa Fe, result of the AT&SF- Burlington Northern merger, applied to abandon its San Bernardino-connected branch line east of downtown Redlands in 2007, the last shippers at Crafton and Mentone having ceased operations. A move was made by transit activists beginning in the 1990s to have this branch revitalized as part of the Southern California transit districts, but it came to nothing for many years. After Metrolink regional commuter rail became involved and funds secured, reconstruction began in 2019 and named Arrow
An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...
. It was completed in 2022, a Metrolink branch from San Bernardino to end-of-track on the eastern side of town adjacent to the campus of the University of Redlands. 5 new stations with mostly local service to and from the San Bernardino Transit Center and one daily ride to Los Angeles Union Station
A union station, union terminal, joint station, or joint-use station is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway company, railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently bet ...
.
The city has been visited by three U.S. Presidents: William McKinley
William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until Assassination of William McKinley, his assassination in 1901. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...
was the first in 1901, followed by Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...
in 1903 and William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) served as the 27th president of the United States from 1909 to 1913 and the tenth chief justice of the United States from 1921 to 1930. He is the only person to have held both offices. ...
in 1909. Local landmarks include the A.K. Smiley Public Library, a Moorish-style library built in 1898, and the Redlands Bowl, built in 1930 and home of the oldest continuously free outdoor concert series in the United States. Located behind the Smiley Library is the Lincoln Shrine, the only memorial honoring the "Great Emancipator", the sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
, west of the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
. Famous homes include "America's Favorite Victorian", the Morey Mansion, on Terracina Boulevard, and the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, a home museum featured on the PBS series "America's Castles". Named after the family that purchased the house, the owners of Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American multinational consumer goods and personal care corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. The company manufactures sanitary paper products and surgical & medical instruments. Kimb ...
(makers of paper goods and Kleenex
Kleenex is a brand name primarily known for their line of facial tissues. Often used informally as a genericized trademark for facial tissue, ''Kleenex'' is a registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark applied to products made in 78 countries. The ...
), it is a beautiful mansion set high on a hill overlooking the whole valley. Redlands is still regarded as the "Jewel of the Inland Empire".
In the mid-late 20th Century, Redlands was home to various light manufacturing firms, and became a bedroom community for the military personnel and contractor employees of the aerospace industry that supported missions at Norton Air Force Base, as well as the Lockheed Propulsion Company plant in Mentone. In 1989, Norton Air Force Base was placed on the Department of Defense closure list. Norton Air Force Base closed in 1994–1995 and the population dropped in the area, with a mild local economic recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction that occurs when there is a period of broad decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be tr ...
occurring due to the closure in the area. The former Air Force Base is now the home of the San Bernardino International Airport and a variety of other business concerns also utilize the space. Jack Dangermond established Esri in 1969, a local software company. By the year 2000, he was the largest employer in Redlands.
Geography
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 . of it is land and of it (0.83%) is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is described by the Köppen Climate Classification System as " dry-summer subtropical" often referred to as "Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
" and abbreviated as ''Csa''.
The data below were compiled from 1898 through 2015, accessed via the Western Regional Climate Center.
Demographics
2020
The 2020 United States census reported that Redlands had a population of 73,168. The population density was . The racial makeup of Redlands was 44,632 (61.0%) 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 ...
(44.0% Non-Hispanic White), 4,609 (6.3%) 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 ...
, 292 (0.4%) Native American, 5,926 (8.1%) Asian, 292 (0.4%) 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 ...
, 9,072 (12.4%) from other 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 26,925 persons (36.8%).
The Census reported 25,273 households in Redlands. The average household size was 2.77. During 2017–2021, Redlands had a median household income of $87,184, with 8.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[
]
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Redlands had a population of 68,747. The population density was . The racial makeup of Redlands was 47,452 (69.0%) 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 ...
(54.0% Non-Hispanic White),[ 3,564 (5.2%) ]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 ...
, 625 (0.9%) Native American, 5,216 (7.6%) Asian, 235 (0.3%) 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 ...
, 8,266 (12.0%) from other races, and 3,389 (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 20,810 persons (30.3%). There is an extensive Mexican-American community in Redlands.
The Census reported that 66,379 people (96.6% of the population) lived in households, 1,856 (2.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 512 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 24,764 households, out of which 8,598 (34.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 12,374 (50.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 3,397 (13.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,291 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,255 (5.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 164 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,083 households (24.6%) were made up of individuals, and 2,198 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68. There were 17,062 families (68.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.21.
The population was spread out, with 16,273 people (23.7%) under the age of 18, 8,185 people (11.9%) aged 18 to 24, 17,381 people (25.3%) aged 25 to 44, 17,930 people (26.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 8,978 people (13.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
There were 26,634 housing units at an average density of , of which 15,061 (60.8%) were owner-occupied, and 9,703 (39.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%. 41,102 people (59.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 25,277 people (36.8%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, Redlands had a median household income of $66,835, with 12.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[
]
2000
As of the census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 63,591 people, 23,593 households, and 16,019 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 24,790 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 73.7% 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 ...
, 4.3% 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 ...
, 0.9% Native American, 5.1% 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 4.4% 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 24.1% of the population.
There were 23,593 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,155, and the median income for a family was $76,254. Males had a median income of $64,408 versus $52,122 for females. 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 ...
for the city was $24,237. About 2.7% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
The 2008 population estimated by the California Department of Finance was 71,807.
Religion
Prior to European colonization, local tongva Serrano people practiced spirituality for millennia, web of life customs. The first known monotheistic religious establishment in Redlands, was of the Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
faith. The catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
San Bernardino de Sena Estancia by Francisco Dumetz was established in 1819 on the feast day of Saint Bernardine. Part of an outpost of the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel located 56 miles from Los Angeles, CA., a days trip walking. This outpost, was used to convert local native Tongva, Serrano, and Cahuilla Native Americans to christianity. With Spanish colonization and the subsequent Mexican era, San Bernardino Valley was a sparsely populated land grant rancho, considering it unsuitable for an actual mission. The estancia was later sold to José del Carmen Lugo who made it his home in 1842. The Catholic presence remains with the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and the Discalced Carmelite Friars retreat compound established in 1952. Known as The Carmelo Retreat House.
Jose del Carmen later sold his land grant of the San Bernardino Valley, including the estancia to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich, establishing a Mormon colony in nearby San Bernardino, CA.[Nathan Masters]
When San Bernardino Was a Mormon Colony
KCET (August 17, 2015). Mormon presence remains in Redlands after the property was sold to Dr. Ben Barton in the late 1850s. The Redlands California Temple is the 116th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
(LDS Church) and one of four LDS temples in Southern California.
Other variety of religions have a presence in Redlands, including a number of other Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
faiths, also Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
, and Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
. There is a Redlands Area Interfaith Council.
Redlands has a large Seventh-day Adventist population along with the neighboring town of Loma Linda.
Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
Congregation Emanu El, formerly located in nearby San Bernardino, in 2013 dedicated its new building on Ford Street in Redlands. The Congregation claims to trace its history back to the 1850s.
Economy
Major employers
According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Arts and culture
Historic structures
Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
include:
* A. K. Smiley Public Library
* Beverly Ranch (Fisk-Burgess house)
* Kimberly Crest
* Mill Creek Zanja
* Redlands Central Railway Company Car Barn
* Redlands Santa Fe Depot District
* Smiley Park Historic District
* US Post Office-Redlands Main.
California Historical Landmark
A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in the U.S. state of California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance.
Criteria
Historical significance is determined by meetin ...
s include:
* A.K. Smiley Library
* Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, built in 1897.
* The San Bernardino de Sena Estancia.
*The Zanja.
Other historic sites include:
* Barton Villa, built in 1877, the oldest building in Redlands. Closed in the 1960s, it re-opened in 2008.
*Edwards Mansion, built in 1890.
* Morey Mansion, built in 1890.
Museums
*The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a museum and research facility dedicated to Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
and the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
.
*The Museum of Redlands, located in the A. K. Smiley Library, features local history.
*Redlands Historical Glass Museum holds displays of American glassware dating from the early 19th century to contemporary times.
*San Bernardino County Museum is a regional museum featuring cultural and natural history. The museum operates the San Bernardino de Sena Estancia.
Theater and music
* Fox Event Center, formerly the Fox Theatre (1928), hosts live performances.
* The LifeHouse Theater is a Judeo-Christian
The term ''Judeo-Christian'' is used to group Christianity and Judaism together, either in reference to Christianity's derivation from Judaism, Christianity's recognition of Jewish scripture to constitute the Old Testament of the Christian Bibl ...
community theater founded in 1993.
* Redlands Bowl Summer Festival, located at the Redlands Bowl, is the oldest continuously running music festival in the United States.
* Redlands Chamber Music Society holds performances at the Frederick Lowe Performance Hall.
* Redlands Footlighters is a volunteer community theater founded in 1945.
* Redlands Symphony performs through the academic year at the University of Redlands and during the summer at the Redlands Bowl.
* Redlands Theatre Festival is a summer volunteer community theater festival founded in 1972, that performs at Avice Meeker Sewall Theater in Prospect Park.
* Redlands Shakespeare Festival occurs each May at the Redlands Bowl.
*Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival, established in 1924, is an outdoor performing arts festival.
Local events
*Annual Redlands Professional Firefighters Association Car Show, every Memorial Day weekend in downtown, since 2000.
*Community 4th of July Celebration, was one of the largest Independence Day event in California.
*Lincoln Pilgrimage, held each February, attracts more than a thousand Scouts and other youth to honor the ideals and life of President Abraham Lincoln.
*Traditional Christmas Parade, and New Years "orange drop" in downtown, a play on the ball drop tradition.
Sports
*Redlands Triathlon/Duathlon, your choice of a 5K run/10 mile bike/100 yard swim or a 5K run/10 mile bike/5K run-walk through Redlands held each February.
*Run through Redlands, established in 1984, one of the biggest running events in the Inland Empire area including a kinder-dash, 5K, 10K, and a half-marathon, is held yearly each March.
*The Redlands Bicycle Classic, the longest running professional bicycle stage race in the United States, since 1985.
*Redlands annual "Turkey Trot", a Thanksgiving Day themed 5k around the University of Redlands, since 2013.
*One team represents Redlands in a semi professional league, the USL League Two. Founded in 2022.
Local attractions
*Downtown Redlands/ Redlands Santa Fe Depot District: Bars, restaurants and packing house district retail plaza.
**Redlands Public Market - Food Hall
**Escape Craft Brewery: Local microbrewery located at the old 1906 Rondor Building in downtown Redlands.
**J. Riley Distillery: Adjacent to Escape Brewery.
** Redlands Mall: a former indoor shopping mall, now closed (except for a CVS Pharmacy), scheduled for demolition, to be replaced by extending State Street west adding shops and residential housing.
* Citrus Plaza/Mountain Grove: a large open-air shopping center
A shopping center in American English, shopping centre in English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English (see American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, spelling differences), shopping complex, shopping arcade, ...
.
* Pharaoh's Adventure Park: theme park, renamed Splash Kingdom Waterpark. The park was used by television filming, including a 2006 episode of C.S.I. Las Vegas featuring a rollercoaster accident. The park was demolished in 2020.
Parks and recreation
The city of Redlands owns and operates 24 public parks totaling more than , and 10 city-approved trails.
Government
Federal
Redlands is represented in the United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
by Democrats Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
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 ...
, Redlands is split between , and .
State
In the California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of California, consisting of the California State Assembly (lower house with 80 members) and the California State Senate (upper house with 40 members). ...
, Redlands is split between , and .
In the California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...
, Redlands is split into three. All of North Redlands above I-10 is represented by . Downtown and southwest Redlands by and southeast Redlands area by .
Municipal government
Redlands is a general law city that uses the council–manager form of government. Council members were elected at-large prior to 2018, now per council district per state law. The mayor and mayor-pro-tempore are not directly elected, but are chosen by the council.[ The mayor is Mario Saucedo.
]
Education
Higher education
* University of Redlands
* ESRI Learning Center
* Community Christian College
Public education
Public education is administered by the Redlands Unified School District. Notable schools include:
* Citrus Valley High School
* Redlands East Valley High School
* Redlands High School
Private education
*Christ the King Lutheran Church and School
* Arrowhead Christian Academy
* Redlands Adventist Academy
* Sacred Heart Academy
Transportation
Road
Highways include:
* Interstate 10. In the 1950s, three routes for the new freeway were considered: north Redlands adjacent the Santa Ana River (the Lugonia-Sand Canyon route); a center route through the city; and a southern alignment through San Timoteo Canyon, paralleling the Southern Pacific railroad tracks (the San Timoteo-Live Oak Canyon route). The central route was finalized in 1957, and opened in 1962, replacing US Route 99 now Redlands Boulevard.
* State Route 210 (the Foothill Freeway).
San Bernardino-based Omnitrans bus system services Redlands.
Rail
*Arrow
An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...
operates a commuter rail
Commuter rail or suburban rail is a Passenger train, passenger rail service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Central business district, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter town ...
service from the University of Redlands to San Bernardino with three stops in Redlands. Service began in 2022.
*The San Bernardino Line of the Greater Los Angeles regional transportation system Metrolink services Redlands–Downtown station.
Airports
* Redlands Municipal Airport is a general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...
airport.
* San Bernardino International Airport, the former Norton Air Force Base.
Cemetery
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, established in 1886 as a private cemetery, was acquired by the city in 1918.
Notable people
* Pete Aguilar, U.S. congressman, former Mayor of Redlands
* Matt Andriese, professional baseball player for Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
* Ashley Argota, actress
* Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez (, ; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing mo ...
, folk singer and songwriter
* Brian Billick, head coach of NFL's Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
1999–2007, television commentator
* Brant Bjork, singer, songwriter, musician
* Harry Blackstone Jr., professional magician
* Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum, actor, Mr. Green Jeans on '' Captain Kangaroo'' show
* Tyler Chatwood, former MLB starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
* Barney Childs, composer
* Ryan Christenson, MLB player for four teams, minor-league manager
* Tyler Clary, born in Redlands, won men's 200-meter backstroke at 2012 London Olympics
* Jack Dangermond, founder of ESRI
* Landon Donovan, professional soccer player for Los Angeles Galaxy, US National Team and international assist leader
* Skip Ewing, country music star
* James Fallows, journalist for '' The Atlantic Monthly''
* Davey Faragher, musician with Elvis Costello
Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...
* John Mack Faragher, American historian and author
* Helen G. Fisk (1895–1986), vocational services executive
* Tommy Hanson, professional baseball player for Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
* Johnny Hickman, musician, guitarist for Cracker
* Antoinette Humphreys, librarian in Redlands, Merced County, Colusa County
* Brion James, actor in films such as '' Blade Runner'' and '' 48 Hrs.''
* Patrick Johnson, professional football player Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
* John Jorgenson, guitar virtuoso with Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters, the John Jorgenson Quintet, and six-year member of Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...
's tour band; attended Moore Junior High, and Redlands High School
* James LeGros, actor
* Harlan Lewis, Award-winning botanist and UCLA Dean of Life Sciences
* Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, with a career spanning seven decades in film, stage, television and radio. Famously nicknamed as "Th ...
, former congressman, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee
* Lil Xan, rapper
* David Lowery, musician, lead singer for Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker
* Greta N. Morris, former United States Ambassador to Republic of the Marshall Islands
* Doris Niles, dancer, choreographer
* Kye Palmer, trumpet player and studio musician
* DeWayne Patterson, football player
* Leah Pritchett, NHRA Top Fuel driver
* Eric Pierpoint, actor
* Dorothea Puente, serial killer
* Michael A. Rogers, author, futurist
* Benji Schwimmer, winner of second season of '' So You Think You Can Dance''
* Lacey Schwimmer, professional dancer on '' Dancing with the Stars''
* Stephen Shadegg, political consultant in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
, associated in particular with Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...
; reared in Redlands
* Mark R. Shepherd, Democratic Party activist and politician
* Naomi Smalls, drag queen and finalist on ''RuPaul's Drag Race
''RuPaul's Drag Race'' is an American reality competition television series, the first in the Drag Race (franchise), ''Drag Race'' franchise, produced by World of Wonder (company), World of Wonder for Logo TV (season 1–8), WOW Presents Plus, ...
'' Season 8
* J.D.B. Stillman, author and physician
* Dave Stockton, professional golfer, two-time PGA Championship winner
* Dave Stockton Jr., professional golfer
* Dan Straily (born 1988), starting pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
* Tim Tackett, martial artist
* Mark Teahen, Major League Baseball player 2005-11
* Joan Tewkesbury, film director
* The Tornadoes, surf rock band featured on '' Pulp Fiction'' soundtrack
* Brett Waterman, home preservationist and host of DIY Network's ''Restored''
* Tom Wheeler, 31st Chairman of Federal Communications Commission
* Josh Whitesell, MLB player for Arizona Diamondbacks
In popular culture
*The sitcom ''Cheers
''Cheers'' is an American television sitcom, created by Glen and Les Charles, Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows, that aired on NBC for eleven seasons from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/C ...
'' was inspired by a now-defunct pizza-parlor/bar in Redlands called "The Gay 90s"
Sister cities
* Hino, Japan
* San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
See also
*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, ...
* Inland Empire Metropolitan Area
References
External links
*
Redlands Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in San Bernardino County, California
Populated places in San Bernardino County, California
Populated places on the Santa Ana River
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1888
1888 establishments in California
Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California