County of San Bernardino: Economic Development Agency

Population Growth Accelerates

San Bernardino County’s population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, due mainly to affordable housing and a strong economic job market. Nearly 50,000 new residents called the county home during 2004. The pace of growth is about 60 percent faster than California as a whole.

Today, the county serves a population of about 2 million. Six of the nation’s 50 fastest growing cities since the 2000 census are here. They are Victorville, Adelanto, Hesperia, Twentynine Palms, Yucca Valley and Rancho Cucamonga. The county has grown by more than a quarter million residents since 2000.

The Southern California Association of Governments forecasts that the Inland Empire will grow by 1.7 million between 2000 and 2020, or more than all but three states (California, Texas and Florida). In addition, it will add 377,200 jobs in the current decade, far outpacing Orange County and San Diego County.