20 Surprising Facts about San Bernardino

20 Surprising Facts about San Bernardino

When I started researching San Bernardino for the first time, I had no idea there was so much to uncover about this California city. Digging into its history and culture, I was amazed by the fascinating facts I learned. For example, did you know San Bernardino is home to the very first McDonald’s restaurant? 

Throughout this article, we will highlight some of the most surprising facts about San Bernardino. From its spectacular highlights to its role in sports history, this city is so much more than meets the eye. We will share some of the coolest details that offer a sneak peek into what makes San Bernardino so special. Stick around to learn something new about this captivating city!

Here are 20 Surprising Facts about San Bernardino.

1. San Bernardino prides itself in many firsts

IIP Photo Archive, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This city cemented its place in California history in 1854 when it became the very first city incorporated in the Inland Empire area. At a time when much of the region remained undeveloped, San Bernardino’s official establishment as a city paved the way for the future growth of inland Southern California.

Moreover, the city’s early incorporation enabled it to begin building critical infrastructure, attracting settlers, and establishing itself as the political and economic center of the region. San Bernardino embraced its first-mover advantage, setting into motion the Inland Empire’s rapid development in the following decades. The city’s pioneering status as the birthplace of inland Southern California remains an important distinction even today.

2. Route 66 legacy influenced San Bernardino’s growth 

Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Amboy (California, USA), Hist. Route 66 — 2012 — 5705” / CC BY-SA 4.0

As a major stop along the renowned Route 66 highway, San Bernardino has an enduring connection to this iconic “Main Street of America.” During Route 66’s heyday in the early 20th century, countless roadtrippers and weary cross-country travelers passed through San Bernardino, making the city an important pit stop.

Subsequently, this steady flow of visitors left a lasting impact, shaping San Bernardino’s culture and politics by exposing residents to outside influences. The city’s restaurants, motels, gas stations, and curiosities expanded to serve Route 66 travelers.

Today, San Bernardino’s identity remains deeply tied to its strategic position along America’s Mother Road, securing its status as a classic Route 66 destination. The famous highway left a mark on the city’s landscape and heritage.

3. The city represents diverse cultures

As one of California’s most diverse cities, San Bernardino stands out for its rich blend of cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities living side by side. People from all walks of life call San Bernardino home, creating a vibrant community where no single group dominates.

Additionally, the city’s neighborhoods contain a mosaic of businesses, places of worship, cuisine, and customs representing its many residents. This harmonious diversity is a point of pride and strength for San Bernardino. The city embraces its multicultural makeup rather than let it divide people.

Thus with so many origins and backgrounds represented, San Bernardino provides a glimpse into the larger American melting pot ideal in action. The city’s inclusive character and demographic variety make it a one-of-a-kind cultural destination in California.

4. San Bernardino is home to California State University 

Amerique, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As the host city of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), San Bernardino enjoys an intellectual and cultural vibrancy fueled by this major institution. With roots dating back to 1965, CSUSB has grown into a pillar of higher education in the region and a source of pride for the city.

On top of that, the university’s impact resonates throughout San Bernardino, with thousands of students injecting youth and energy into the community. CSUSB provides top-notch academic programs, Division II athletics, and enriching cultural events for residents.

Further, the university represents a knowledge hub that elevates San Bernardino’s offerings as a diverse, modern city. CSUSB’s continued success and prominence enhance the city’s reputation and quality of life, making it an invaluable asset.

5. Nature lovers appreciate the easy access to San Bernardino National Forest

Nature lovers delight in the easy access San Bernardino provides to the immense San Bernardino National Forest in the city’s backyard. Encompassing over 1,000 square miles of woodlands, mountains, and streams, this protected national forest represents a prized recreational gem offering boundless opportunities for outdoor fun.

Thus hiking trails, campgrounds, and scenic vistas throughout the forest allow residents and visitors to immerse themselves in the area’s natural splendor and tranquility. The forest’s proximity to San Bernardino makes it a convenient escape into the beauty of the great outdoors. With its endless pine-scented wilderness right outside the city, San Bernardino truly provides the best of both worlds – vibrant city life and unspoiled nature.

6. The Little Mountains make some of San Bernardino’s iconic natural sights 

The Fun Chronicles, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The scenic Little Mountain stands out as one of San Bernardino’s most iconic natural landmarks, dominating the city’s skyline and providing a beautiful green space within the urban environment. Rising nearly 1,400 feet above the valley floor, the Little San Bernardino Mountains offer sweeping panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape from the peak.

Beyond aesthetics, this small mountain plays a valuable ecological role for San Bernardino, providing a nature preserve full of native vegetation and wildlife habitats within city limits. The Little Mountains’ beauty and biological diversity enhance San Bernardino’s appeal and environmental health. Whether hiking the trails or gazing at the peak from downtown, Little Mountains are a beloved part of the city’s identity and a testament to the natural splendor that abounds there.

7. California Theatre represents the city’s arts and culture scene

Anchoring San Bernardino’s arts and culture scene is the majestic California Theatre of the Performing Arts. This storied venue opened in 1928 and still awes audiences today with its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and ornate interior.

To boot, for nearly a century, the California Theatre has hosted generations of performers, from music legends to Broadway stars, cementing its status as the city’s premier performance space. Beyond its glamorous history, the theater’s ongoing event lineup and opulent, preserved design reflect San Bernardino’s enduring appreciation for the arts.

This iconic cultural destination demonstrates the city’s commitment to creative expression and talent that enlightens and entertains. The California Theatre remains a source of civic pride and a must-visit historical treasure.

8. Annual Route 66 Rendezvous appreciates San Bernardino’s vibrancy

inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Every year, San Bernardino proudly hosts the Route 66 Rendezvous, a massive event that celebrates the city’s enduring bond with the iconic Mother Road highway. For over 25 years, this popular happening has attracted thousands of visitors to downtown San Bernardino to admire classic hot rods and vintage cars while enjoying live music, food, and entertainment.

Over and above that, the Rendezvous truly displays the culture and history of the city, paying tribute to its legacy as a major stop along Route 66. Part automotive rally and part rockabilly throwback festival, this lively annual event shows why San Bernardino’s tie to Route 66 still runs deep today. The Rendezvous has become a beloved local tradition and a testament to the vibrancy of the city.

9. San Bernardino has become a hub of logistics

With its prime location at the center of major transportation networks, San Bernardino has emerged as a strategic hub for logistics and distribution operations. The city provides easy access to essential infrastructure like highways, rail lines, and the Ontario International Airport. This connectivity enables the seamless flow of goods through the region, powering national and international trade.

Additionally, major retailers and e-commerce giants operate massive distribution centers in San Bernardino to leverage these logistical advantages. The city’s warehouses, freight depots, and intermodal facilities fuel the operations of companies moving products worldwide.

San Bernardino’s logistical muscle and web of transport options solidify its status as a critical node for getting goods where they need to go efficiently. This strength provides economic opportunities and cements the city’s reputation as a dynamic hub of commerce.

10. The city hosts one of Amazon’s largest fulfillment centers

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

As a leader in logistics, San Bernardino is proud to host one of Amazon’s largest fulfillment centers in the world. This massive, high-tech facility employs thousands of city residents who pick, pack, and ship items to customers globally. The center’s operations are a testament to San Bernardino’s ideal location and infrastructure to support major distribution hubs.

Furthermore, Amazon‘s investment in the city reinforces its position as a strategic hub of commerce in Southern California. The fulfillment center stimulates local economic growth through job creation and cementing San Bernardino’s reputation. It also provides residents with accessible employment and catalyzes the expansion of the city’s logistics sector. This major Amazon site exemplifies the crucial role San Bernardino plays in powering modern supply chain operations.

11. San Bernardino is credited as the original McDonald’s site

As the location of the very first McDonald’s restaurant, San Bernardino occupies a special place in fast food history. The original restaurant opened in 1940 as a BBQ drive-in before evolving into the McDonald’s we know today. That original building now houses a museum commemorating the birthplace of the McDonald’s empire.

What’s more, as the site where Ray Kroc first collaborated with the McDonald brothers to begin franchising their revolutionary fast food concept, San Bernardino will forever be tied to the origin story of McDonald’s.

The city embraces this history, which represents a point of pride, tourist attraction, and cultural contribution that shaped the landscape of the fast food industry worldwide. San Bernardino’s connection to the first McDonald’s is a classic American success story.

12. The city is the birthplace of the infamous Hells Angels

Lee Brimelow from San Francisco Bay Area, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An unexpected part of San Bernardino’s history is its distinction as the birthplace of the infamous Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. The renegade group first emerged in the city in 1948 when several road-hardened World War II veterans formed the club’s first chapter. Though later condemned as an outlaw gang, the Hells Angels’ origins reflect postwar unrest and the rise of counterculture.

Besides its notorious reputation today, the Hells Angels represent an intriguing footnote in San Bernardino’s past as the original home of this ultimately influential motorcycle club. Rightly or wrongly, this unconventional legacy adds a layer of surprise and intrigue to the city’s cultural background.

13. San Bernardino Music and Arts Festival keeps its creative spirit alive

Showcasing the city’s vibrant creative spirit is the annual San Bernardino Music and Arts Festival. Since its start, this lively event has drawn together a diverse array of local artists, musicians, and performers to fill the streets with color and sound. The festival celebrates creativity in all its forms – paintings, photography, mixed media, live music, and more.

Spotlighting talents from all walks of life fosters inclusion and communal joy. For both participants and attendees, the festival promotes cultural exchange and inspires fresh artistic expression.

Better still, as a creative hub welcoming all voices, San Bernardino consistently produces this dynamic event to bring people together through the universal languages of music and art. The festival has become a cherished tradition that embodies the city’s embrace of diversity and passion for the arts.

14. Waterman Gardens stands as a model for sustainable urban communities

Constructed to temporarily house WWII workers, Waterman Gardens is now a model for sustainable urban communities. By adaptively reusing the existing structures and incorporating ample green space, the neighborhood provides affordable housing without sacrificing livability. Waterman Gardens shows how San Bernardino repurposes its assets to meet modern needs.

15. Inland Empire 66ers are a pride to San Bernardino residents

Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Baseball enthusiasts in San Bernardino support their hometown Inland Empire 66ers, a Minor League Baseball team. Playing in downtown San Manuel Stadium, the 66ers offer an affordable and fun outing for families and sports fans alike. With competitive play and special events, the 66ers reinforce civic pride while providing accessible entertainment options that appeal to all residents.

16. San Bernardino is a hotspot of multicultural festivals

As a diverse city, San Bernardino showcases its varied cultures through vibrant multicultural festivals. These events feature food, music, dance, and customs from around the world, allowing everyone to savor new experiences. Whether honoring Mexican heritage or Asian traditions, the festivals promote understanding and inclusivity. They offer a taste of the city’s rich mosaic of identities.

17. The Asistencia serves as a reminder of the Spanish colonial era

inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A valued historic site, the Asistencia was an outpost of Mission San Gabriel in the early 19th century. Today, it provides a window into California’s Spanish colonial past. From the chapel ruins to the restored adobe buildings, this landmark immerses visitors in another era.

To add on, its preservation enables future generations to make personal connections with their history. The Asistencia is a cultural treasure that keeps San Bernardino linked to its origins.

18. Norton Air Force Base closure affected San Bernardino’s economy

When Norton Air Force Base closed in 1994, it initially devastated San Bernardino’s economy. Thousands lost jobs and businesses suffered. But, the city showed resilience by reimagining the base for civilian use. With strategic redevelopment and new opportunities, San Bernardino evolved beyond its military dependence. Adaptability turned a major setback into progress.

19. The city undertakes countless community development initiatives

Committed to its future, San Bernardino undertakes many projects to enrich residents’ lives. New parks, updated facilities, and youth programs are examples of initiatives that make the city more livable.

Furthermore, public transit expansions also connect people to jobs and services. Through purposeful development, San Bernardino actively builds community and empowers its citizens. The city evolves creatively to improve life for all.

20. San Bernardino has many historical districts

Cogart Strangehill, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

San Bernardino pays tribute to its storied past through many historic districts that capture the city’s evolution. From stately Victorian mansions to mid-century modern architecture, the diverse neighborhoods provide a living timeline. The Arrowhead Springs district contains retro hot spring resorts, while the original McDonald’s site preserves fast food history.

Additionally, the Orangescape district spotlights citrus-growing heritage. Other areas like Del Rosa showcase postwar suburban expansion. Each district reveals another chapter of San Bernardino’s identity through preserved architecture, landmarks, and community character.

These connective threads to the past add richness and beauty, making San Bernardino’s historic districts both cultural treasures and popular destinations for learning about the many facets of the city.

San Bernardino is a city that goes beyond its surface allure, revealing a multitude of surprising facts across political, social, environmental, cultural, and economic spheres. From the historical significance of Route 66 to the diverse demographics shaping its social fabric, San Bernardino’s charm lies in its ability to blend tradition with progress.

As this city continues to evolve, these facts stand as testaments to its rich heritage and promising future. Whether you’re a resident or a curious traveler, San Bernardino invites you to explore its hidden treasures and be a part of its ongoing story.