San Bernardino, California Property Listings

San Bernardino City Description

The County seat of San Bernardino County, San Bernardino is one of the oldest communities in the State of California. It was settled in 1851 after statehood by the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) who purchased 35,000 acres of the San Bernardino Rancho in 1851, for $77,500, with a down payment of $7,000. In fear of Indian attacks, the Mormon settlers built a stockade around their land and named it Fort San Bernardino. The families lived inside the stockade where they built a grain mill and farmed the land outside until the Indians were no longer a threat. The City was incorporated in 1854. After the Latter-Day Saints were recalled in 1857 to Utah by their leader, Brigham Young the city became a trading hub for the region. The California Southern Railroad established a rail link with Los Angeles and the rest of the nation in 1883. One of the world's most famous restaurant chains had its start in San Bernardino when the first McDonalds fast food restaurant was opened there in 1940 by siblings Dick and Mac McDonald. The restaurant was later purchased by Ray Kroc leading the McDonald brother?s introduction of the "Speedee Service System" to worldwide expansion.

Like other Inland Empire cities, San Bernardino has experienced a lot of new residential development over the past several years bringing its estimated population as of 2006 to 201,823 occupying a total area of approximately 59 square miles. Despite the residential growth, manufacturing is still the city's major industry. In addition to freeway access from Interstate highways 10, 215, 210 (under construction, to be completed in late 2007), California State Routes 30 , 259, 330 and historic Route 66, the area is served by light rail, Amtrak, a bus rapid transit line and the San Bernardino International Airport which is located within the City limits. The San Bernardino Unified School District serves most of the City and parts of neighboring Rialtor and Highland. The City has both a community college, San Bernardino Valley College and California State University, San Bernardino which is part of the California State University System. The City hosts a variety of recreational activities either in the city or nearby. Outdoor recreational activities are 20-40 minutes away at Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear and the nearby San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino operates Las Vegas style dining, gaming and entertainment. The historic California Theater in Downtown features Broadway plays and musicals.

San Bernardino Real Estate