San Bernardino County

1853

In April, the state legislature creates the County of San Bernardino from what was formerly Los Angeles County.
The first Court of Session creates three townships: San Bernardino, San Salvador, and Chino.
Lyman, Rich, and Thorpe start the second sawmill in Mill Creek Canyon.
County schools have a total enrollment of 263 children.

1854

Isaac Slover, one of the original settlers of Politana in 1844 (1842?), is killed by a bear somewhere near present-day Wrightwood.
The City of San Bernardino is incorporated as the county seat. Amasa Lyman is elected mayor.
Andrew Lytle constructs an adobe home in San Bernardino which will become known as the Atwood Adobe. It remains standing until 1975.
Stage line service starts between San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
John Brown Jr. discovers gold in Bear Valley.
The Cram brothers start a chair factory in the old Asistencia building, using water power from the Zanja.

1855

The first recorded meeting of the County Board of Supervisors is held on May 7. Louis Robidoux was elected chairman. Their first official business was the division of the county into five road districts.
The county has seven schools and 651 pupils.
Two camels belonging to the U.S. Army came through Cajon Pass to San Bernardino en route to Fort Tejon in Los Angeles County.
Mormons are recalled to Salt Lake City from San Bernardino.
The citrus industry is established when Anson Van Leuven plants six orange trees in old San Bernardino (today's Loma Linda) from stock obtained from the Mission San Gabriel. He planted a full grove in 1857.
Dr. Benjamin Barton is named County Superintendent of Schools.

1858

Butterfield stage coaches from St. Louis, Missouri, start rolling through San Bernardino County.
The first county building, a jail, is erected.
Lewis Jacobs establishes a private bank, the only one in southern California east of Los Angeles. It became the Bank of San Bernardino in 1874.

1858-1860

Military forts at Camp Cady, Soda Lake, Rock Springs, Piute Springs, and along the Colorado River at Fort Mojave are established in the Mojave Desert to protect travelers on the Old Government Road.

1859

A Library Association, a Temperance Association, and a Dramatic Association are organized in San Bernardino.
California's first commercial winery is built at Cucamonga.

1860

L. Mecham brought bees to the county and established a flourishing honey industry.
William F. Holcomb and Ben Ware discovered gold in Holcomb Valley and a gold rush started. The discovery was the largest in southern California. Gold was also discovered in Lytle Creek.
Major Carleton and eight Native American chiefs reach a treaty agreement that ended raids. When the army withdraws from the desert forts during the Civil War, the treaty is broken.

1861

There are 230 voters at the Holcomb Valley precinct: nearly as many as the entire rest of the county combined. A margin of only two votes kept Belleville (in Holcomb Valley) from becoming the county seat.
John Brown Sr. builds a toll road from Devore to Cajon Pass summit.
Colton Marble and Lime Company starts a quarry on the south side of Slover Mountain.

1862

The Board of Supervisors order that "all persons confined to county jail ... be placed in chain gang with ball and chain and required to labor on public roads in the county."
The Santa Ana River floods, inundating the Agua Mansa area and its settlement of 200 families. Only San Salvador Church and a single home remain standing.

1863

By a margin of 83 votes, Abraham Lincoln wins the first Republican victory in the county.
San Bernardino is dis-incorporated because local government is too costly.
Arrowhead Springs starts its career as a resort area with the founding of Dr. David Smith's hygienic sanitarium.

1865

The San Bernardino Fire company is organized. The volunteer company raises money for a fire hall by holding concerts. In 1889 the company becomes a paid fire department; horses are purchased so the engine no longer had to be pulled by hand. Motorized fire equipment is purchased in 1910.

1867

Citizens petition the Board of Supervisors to impose a road poll tax of twenty cents per every able-bodied citizen between ages 21 to 50 (except Indians).
The first brickyard in the San Bernardino Valley is established, and the first brick block in the city of San Bernardino is constructed at the corner of 3rd and D.

1868

The first artesian well is dug in San Bernardino.

1869

The City of San Bernardino is reincorporated.
The California Silk Center Association is formed for the purpose of growing silk worms and mulberry grees, citrus fruit, and grapes. Four thousand acres of Roubidoux Rancho are purchased. Silk worm raising is abandoned with the death of the Association's president (the only member who knew anything silk worm culture).

1870

San Bernardino County's population is 3,988.
Muscat grapes are introduced and the first raisins from the county go to market.
Ivanpah, in the northeast corner of the county, becomes a major silver-producing district.

1871

Welfare programs begin in San Bernardino with an order that a blind woman receive ten dollars a month.

1872

The Brotherhood of Kindred Manifestations changes its name to San Bernardino Association of Spiritualists.

1873

The San Bernardino Borax Mining Company is organized on Searles Lake.
Prospectors find rich silver ore in the Panamint Mountains.
With the formation of the Slover Mountain Association, Colton is born.
San Bernardino gets a telegraph line from Anaheim.

1874

Honey from San Bernardino takes first prize at the World's Fair in St. Louis.
A brick courthouse is constructed in San Bernardino. In 1875 the Board of Supervisors order a suitable clock and bell, not to exceed $1,500.

1875

Southern Pacific begins operating trains between Los Angeles and Colton.

1876

San Bernardino County's public health services begin with an order that Dr. Rene vaccinate every person in thirteen school districts. Dr. Condee vaccinated the other eight districts.

1877

To combat parking problems, the Board of Supervisors orders a "Hitching Post" rack, at a cost of $139, for court house use.

1878

The Board instructs County Surveyor Fred Perris to cooperate with Inyo County in establishing the boundary between the two counties.

1880

The first cannery in the county opens in Colton.
The population of San Bernardino County reaches 7,786.
The townsite of Rialto is laid out.
A survey is made for a reservoir site in Big Bear Valley. Work on the dam starts in 1883.

1881

Silver is discovered at Calico, destined to become one of the richest and most famous mining towns in the West.
Etiwanda is founded by W. B. and George Chaffey.

1882

Telephone service is established between Colton and San Bernardino.
Ontario is started as a model fruit colony by the Chaffey brothers.
The first orange packing house in the region was built.
California Southern Railroad is completed between San Diego and Colton. It did not proceed into San Bernardino because of disagreements between competing railroad companies. It finally crosses the tracks in Colton and reaches San Bernardino in 1883.
Daggett is named for John Daggett, who was to become the Lt. Governor of California (1883-87).

1883

The colony of Etiwanda is established.
Ontario's first public school opens in a loft over a carpenter's shop. Fourteen children are enrolled.

1884

Borax is discovered in the Calico district. Successful mining includes hauling ore by 20-mule teams.

1885

The first irrigation water from Big Bear Lake comes to Redlands.
The first train of the Southern California Railway (a Santa Fe subsidiary) passes through Cajon Pass, en route from San Bernardino to Barstow.
Marion "Borax" Smith organizes the Pacific Borax Salt and Soda Company. By 1890, Borate in the Calico Mountains is the nation's chief source of borax.

1886

Railroad rate wars start a California population boom.
Needle's first school starts in a wickiup-type structure of poles and adobe. It later moves to a railroad tool house.

1887

Colton becomes an incorporated city.
The townsite of Chino is laid out by Richard Gird, and Chino's first business, the Chino Valley Champion, is established.
The first streetcar line in the City of San Bernardino starts operations.
Upland is founded as "Magnolia Villa," a community along the Santa Fe right of way.
Fontana is laid out, but does not succeed. "Modern" Fontana dates from 1913.
Mentone is founded northeast of Redlands.

1888

Redlands becomes a city, although it was planned and named in 1881.
Colton gains its first street lights.
Robert Whitney Waterman of San Bernardino becomes Governor of California.
San Bernardino approves an ordinance against firing cannon, anvils, bombs, or firecrackers within its city any day except the Fourth of July.
Railroad and motor lines are completed to Redlands.

1889

Santa Fe constructs Topock Bridge across the Colorado River at Needles.
Sales of intoxicating liquors on streets and sidewalks of San Bernardino are prohibited.
When President Benjamin Harrison is inaugurated, a group from Redlands climbs Mt. Harrison, plants flag, and names it after him.
The first Citrus Fair was held in San Bernardino.

1890

A sugar beet factory is built in Chino.
25,477 people live in San Bernardino County.
Mound City is renamed Loma Linda.

1891

California Portland Cement incorporates and begins manufacturing cement at Slover Mountain.
The Hall of Records is constructed in San Bernardino.

1892

San Bernardino sets up a block system of street numbers, starting north from First Street (today's Rialto Avenue) and west from A (today's Sierra Way).
The first street lights appear in San Bernardino.
Riverside County is created from San Bernardino and San Diego counties, taking with it Riverside, Corona, Beaumont, and Banning.
The Redlands Electric Light and Power Company becomes the first 3-phase hydroelectric plant in the world.

1893

The Lemon Growers Exchange is formed in Ontario; it becomes the first organization in California to market lemons.
Redlands gets its first street lights and may be the first town in the county to have electrical street illumination.
President Benjamin Harrison creates the San Bernardino Forest Reserve, which becomes the San Bernardino National Forest in 1907.

1894

San Bernardino declares it is a nuisance to throw scrap iron, glass, nails, or tacks on public streets.

1895

The Yellow Aster gold mine is discovered in Randsburg.

1896

Albert Smiley offers an annual prize of $200 for the best kept lawn in Redlands.

1897

A group of Redlands citizens climbs up Mt. McKinley and names it on the day that President McKinley is inaugurated.

1899

San Bernardino changes from horse cars to electric trolley cars.
The Waterman Condensing Company moves its plant to Ontario to manufacture fruit juices and fruit extracts.

1900

Upland incorporates.

1901

The post office changes the name "Victor" to "Victorville."

1902

The Board of Supervisors amends the 1897 rates for toll roads to include a toll of $25.00 (one way) for automobiles. This was to discourage automobiles as a danger to persons and property on the roads.
The San Bernardino Valley Traction Line begins service.

1903

The newly-organized Automobile Club of Southern California stages a race from Los Angeles to Redlands.
The Electric Railway is completed to Redlands.

1904

The Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad is built to Death Valley.

1905

A dam is erected to form Little Bear Lake, now Lake Arrowhead.

1907

The first automobile reaches the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains.

1908

Hinkley gets a school and a post office.
California Fruit Growers Exchange first advertise "Sunkist Oranges."

1909

George Hinkley, city engineer of Redlands, paints a line on the street at a dangerous corner with aluminum paint to help guide motorists: this is probably the first "white line" ever used on a roadway.

1910

The first truck reaches the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains, hauling cement for the Lake Arrowhead dam.

1911

The first National Orange Show is held in a tent at 4th and E Streets, San Bernardino.
Rialto becomes incorporated.

1912

California Interstate Telephone Company extends service to San Bernardino County.
Lanfair agricultural center is started in the Mojave Desert; the Lanfair School District is organized in 1913. By 1926 the post office had closed because dry years and opposition from cattle ranchers overcame attempts to farm.

1913

4,000 people attend the opening of the Fontana townsite.
Needles becomes an incorporated city.
Baker records the national high temperature record: 134 degrees F. In the 1990s, Baker constructs the world's tallest thermometer, 134 feet in height.

1914

Pacific Electric big red cars start running from Los Angeles to San Bernardino.
The Llano del Rio Colony was founded between Victorville and Palmdale. This socialistic agricultural community started with five members and by 1917 had 900.

1916

A steel arch highway bridge is erected at Topock. Celebrations are held in Needles and Kingman.

1917

Southwestern Portland Cement Company opens at Victorville.

1920

David Thompson, a water-supply author with the U.S. Geological Survey, estimates that as many as 100 cars per day use desert roads.

1921

The Fontana Farms hog ranch opens. It was the largest of its kind in the world.

1923

A state highway is built over the top of Big Bear Dam.
CalTrans engineer E. Q. Sullivan proves that an automobile trip from San Bernardino to Redlands took three days when he tried to accomplish the journey in just two.

1924

The National Orange Show erects permanent buildings.

1925

The first vineyards are planted in Adelanto.
Lyndon B. Johnson, eventually to become President of the United States, works as an elevator operator in downtown San Bernardino.

1926

San Bernardino Valley College opens.

1927

The Harris Building is erected at 3rd and E Streets in San Bernardino.

1931

A new Post Office and Federal Building are erected at 5th and D Streets in San Bernardino.

1933

President Herbert Hoover establishes Death Valley National Monument.

1936

Joshua Tree National Monument is established.

1937

The Asistencia, a recreated outpost of the Mission San Gabriel, opens at the site of the original mission estancia.

1938

A major flood decimates homes in Lytle Creek and elsewhere in the valley.
The first airmail is delivered direct from San Bernardino.

1942

Kaiser Steel starts operating its first blast furnace in Fontana.
A bus system replaces streetcars in San Bernardino.
The San Bernardino Army Air Base (later Norton) is established.

1946

Apple Valley opens up to lot buyers.

1947

The City of Barstow is incorporated.

1952

The first meeting of the San Bernardino County Museum Association is held.

1955

The world's first fully automatic weather reporting station opens in Ontario International Airport.

1956

The San Bernardino Air Pollution Control District is established.

1959

The Board of Supervisors declares its intention to establish and maintain a San Bernardino County Museum.

1960

The Yorba Slaughter Adobe in Chino is dedicated as a California State Historical Landmark.

1964

Scientific excavation begins at the Calico Mountains Archaeological Site in Yermo. This "Early Man Site" will gain world-wide attention when Dr. Louis Leakey and the National Geographic Society become involved.
San Bernardino is the site of the first official U.S. concert of The Rolling Stones.

1966

Agua Mansa Pioneer Cemetery in Colton gains protection as a county museum historical site.

1970

The historic John Rains House in Cucamonga (now Rancho Cucamonga) is threatened with demolition; citizen groups mobilize to save it.

1971

The Yorba-Slaughter Adobe is purchased by the county to assure its preservation as a branch of the county museum.
The world's most modern rail switching yards are constructed in Colton.

1973

Ground is broken for a new county museum facility in Redlands; the old museum facility in Bloomington closes in 1974.

1975

The Atwood Adobe in San Bernardino, built in 1854, is demolished.

1977

The historic Stone Hotel and Peoples General Store in Daggett are acquired by the county for preservation as historic sites.
Battles rage over the disposition of the huge "Old Woman Meteorite", found by prospectors near Essex.

2000

The population of San Bernardino County reaches 1.7 million, an increase of 20% over 1990. San Bernardino County has the fourth largest population among counties in California.

2002

The San Bernardino County Museum Association celebrates its 50th birthday.

2003

The sesquicentennial year of the County of San Bernardino.