Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County, California, and the second-most populous city in the county with over 223,000 residents. Located about 46 miles east of Los Angeles, it sits at a major crossroads of Southern California’s transportation network — the intersection of Interstate 10, Interstate 15, and State Route 210. Once an agricultural town of citrus orchards and chicken ranches, Fontana was transformed by World War II and the steel industry, and today serves as a major logistics and trucking hub for the Inland Empire and beyond.
From Citrus Orchards to Steel Mills
Fontana was founded in 1913 by Azariel Blanchard Miller and was originally an agricultural community of citrus orchards, vineyards, and chicken ranches along the old U.S. Route 66 (now Foothill Boulevard). The city’s name is Italian for “fountain” or “water source,” a reference to the Santa Ana River to the east. Fontana remained a small farming community until World War II brought dramatic change.
In 1942, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser built the Kaiser Steel plant just outside the city limits to produce steel for the war effort. At the time, it was one of only two steel mills west of the Mississippi River. The plant attracted thousands of workers and their families, transforming Fontana from a rural town into an industrial city almost overnight. To provide healthcare for the plant workers, Kaiser founded the Fontana Kaiser Permanente medical facility — one of the earliest HMOs in the country and a model for the national Kaiser Permanente system.
Logistics and Trucking Hub
Today, Fontana is a major logistics and transportation hub. The city sits at the intersection of three major freeways — I-10, I-15, and SR-210 — making it ideally located for warehousing and distribution. Some of the largest distribution centers in the country are located in Fontana, serving major retailers and e-commerce companies. The city is home to massive fulfillment centers for companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
The city has actively attracted logistics and manufacturing businesses, creating thousands of jobs in warehousing, transportation, and light industry. While this has brought economic growth, it has also created challenges related to air quality, truck traffic, and the need to balance industrial development with quality of life.
Auto Club Speedway
Fontana is home to the Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway), a 2-mile motorsports oval that hosts NASCAR and other racing events. The speedway seating capacity of over 92,000 and has hosted major NASCAR Cup Series races, IndyCar events, and other motorsports competitions since 1997. The venue is one of the largest sports facilities in the Inland Empire.
Parks and Community
Fontana has invested in parks and recreation, with over 30 city parks spread across the community. Over the years, the city has added aquatic centers, sports complexes, and community centers to meet the needs of its growing population. The Fontana Community Senior Center and numerous youth programs reflect the city’s commitment to serving residents of all ages.
The Lewis Library and Technology Center, a modern 70,000-square-foot facility, serves as the city’s main library and technology hub, offering computers, meeting rooms, and educational programs for the community.
Climate and Geography
Fontana sits at 1,237 feet above sea level in the Inland Empire, surrounded by the San Gabriel Mountains to the north. Summers are hot, with temperatures often exceeding 100°F (38°C). Winters are mild, with occasional frost. The city covers 43 square miles of mostly flat terrain, with the San Bernardino International Airport located just to the north.
The city’s official motto — “City of Action” — reflects its dynamic growth and its role as a hub of industry, logistics, and community life in the Inland Empire.
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