If you are old enough to remember the late comedian, Jack Benny you might remember his references to the funny, exotic sounding "Cucamonga" in a comedy routine involving a train announcer (Mel Blanc) who would announce over the loudspeaker, "Train now leaving on track five for Anaheim, Azusa, and Cuc... amonga," taking progressively longer pauses between "Cuc" and "amonga." Part of the joke, for the Los Angeles audience, was that no such train route existed. The name "Cucamonga" comes from the Shoshonean Indian word kukamonga, which means "sandy place." Located in San Bernardino County and located 37 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga was incorporated in 1977 and is one of the nation?s fastest growing metropolitan areas. It occupies an area of approximately 39.08 square miles surrounded by the scenic San Gabriel mountain range. In addition to its many newer planned communities, the area retains much of its rural heritage of vineyards, ranchos, orchards, and wineries with their historic buildings blending into the new suburban landscape.
Rancho Cucamonga is served by Omnitrans Bus Service, Metrolink Train Service, and nearby Ontario International Airport. Interstate 15 and the relatively new 210 freeway extension run through Rancho Cucamonga as well as the historic Route 66. The population as of 2005 was approximately 161,830 with an average household income of $83,150. The Uniform Crime Report, released annually by the FBI, has identified Rancho Cucamonga as one of the safest cities in the country populations over 100,000. Rancho Cucamonga has multiple K-12 schools districts within its borders including: Alta Loma School District, Central School District, Cucamonga School District, Etiwanda School District, and Chaffey Joint Union High School District. In addition to these schools, Rancho Cucamonga is the home to Chaffey College and satellite campus of the University of La Verne and University of Redlands, as well as the automotive trade school, Universal Technical Institute. There are 26 parks in the city, a new Cucamonga Public Library opened in September 1994 and a regional shopping center is currently under construction that will also feature a civic Performing Arts Center and Public Library. An Arnold Palmer-signature Empire Lakes championship golf course opened in 1995.