Rancho Cucamonga, California

Rancho Cucamonga, California is a general law city located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Rancho Cucamonga is situated in the western portion of San Bernardino County, just south of the San Gabriel Mountains (one of California’s Transverse Ranges) and Angeles National Forest. Rancho Cucamonga is about 37 miles east of Los Angeles. The City is built in an alluvial plain. The City has a council-manager form of government. An elected city council hires a professionally trained manager to carry out policies and direct the delivery of public services. The mayor presides over city council meetings. The City of Rancho Cucamonga, Office of Economic Development, acts as a liaison between the City and the business community. Rancho Cucamonga has around 180,000 residents. Rancho Cucamonga has a hot-summer Mediterranean-type climate. The City averages 287 sunny days per year. The former U.S. Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard) passes through what is now Rancho Cucamonga.

The vast San Bernardino County is home to 63,000 businesses, many of those in Rancho Cucamonga. Like neighboring Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga is a major hub for the logistics and distribution industry. Large tracts of flat agricultural land on the southern portion of the City are now home to large warehouses and massive distribution centers. Access to three freeways, a major rail line, and Ontario International Airport make the area attractive to the logistics and distribution industry. Rancho Cucamonga has a lower unemployment rate than many other cities in the vicinity. The Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce provides education for small business start-ups, expansion, and business development. Mercury Insurance, California Edison, Coca Cola, Frito Lay, Nongshim America, Inc., and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals have all established facilities in Rancho Cucamonga. Alshin Tire Corporation, which manufactures tires for motorized scooters and wheelchairs, is based in Rancho Cucamonga. The City is home to a number of industrial parks. Top employers include Inland Empire Health Plan and Etiwanda School District. Another top employer is Chaffey College. Chaffey College is a community college based in Rancho Cucamonga, where it has a 13-acre-campus. Steno Employment Services is also based in Rancho Cucamonga. Victoria Gardens is a regional shopping center and a major source of retail job employment for area residents.

The Kucamongan Native Americans were established in the area centuries before the arrival of Europeans. Cucamonga is derived from “Kucamonga,” the Tongva word interpreted variously to mean either “sandy place” or “place of many springs.” The area was under the control of Spain for more than half a century until Mexico won its independence in 1833. In 1839, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted Tubercio Tapia 13,000 acres of land around what is now Rancho Cucamonga. Along with raising cattle, Tubercio Tapia founded the first winery in California on the land he was granted. The land was later purchased by John Rains. A post office was established in the area in 1864. Union Pacific Railroad later arrived in the area. Irrigation tunnels were dug into nearby Cucamonga Canyon and irrigation became available in the area in 1887. Early settlors then began cultivating olive and citrus along with other crops and vineyards. The Pacific Electric Railway line arrived in the area in 1913. The word “Cucamonga’ was used as part of a gag on Jack Benny’s long running radio show. Due to a prolonged drought cycle, the Cucamonga County Water District was established in 1955 to raise sufficient funds to ensure an adequate supply of water to the area. Rancho Cucamonga later began receiving imported water from the State Water Project. Prior to that tine, almost all of the water used in the area was sourced locally from mountain canyons and wells. In 1977, voters approved combining the unincorporated towns of Alta Loma, Etiwanda, and Cucamonga to create the City of Rancho Cucamonga.

The North Etiwanda Preserve protects land featuring the Alluvial Fan Sage Scrub plant community. The preserve covers over 1,200 acres. Trail elevations range from 2,075 to 2,685 feet above sea level. The trek to Etiwanda Falls is reputed to be one of the prettiest in the area. Established in 1998, the preserve provides refuge for rare and endangered species.

Just north of the City, the Cucamonga Wilderness, in the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, is known for its steep, rugged terrain. The wilderness area covers 12,781 acres and includes mixed conifer woodlands populated by Ponderosa, Jeffrey, and Douglas-Fir pines. Peaks within the wilderness reach almost 9,000 feet above sea level. In times past, tons of ice were hauled down from Icehouse Canyon, which lies just outside of the wilderness, to make ice cream.

The John Rains House is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built in 1860. Its flat roof was waterproofed using tar from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.

Red Hill Community Park has an exercise trail, picnic areas, a lake, and over 40 acres of parkland. Central Park has over 103 acres of parkland.

LoanMart Field is the home of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, a minor league baseball team and affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sycamore Inn Prime Steakhouse dates back to 1939 and is situated on what was once Route 66, the then primary route from Los Angles to points east and eventually Chicago, Illinois. During those halcyon days, the Sycamore Inn Prime Steakhouse regularly hosted the rich and famous.

Victoria Gardens Cultural Center and the Lewis Family Playhouse hosts performances and events, including musicals.

The Cucamonga Service Station is a restored service station along the former Route 66. Reported to have been built in 1915, it includes a museum and gift shop.

The attorneys at Kokozian Law Firm, APC practice employment law and represent workers throughout San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties, including the City of Rancho Cucamonga and neighboring communities such as Ontario and Upland. We represent workers concerning Sexual Harassment and Wrongful Termination claims based on Pregnancy, Disability, and other protected characteristics. We also represent workers concerning Wage and Hour claims. If your employer or former employer has violated your rights, call the experienced employment attorneys at Kokozian Law Firm, APC or Contact Us via our online form.