Fontana is a city located in San Bernardino County, California.

Originally a sleepy, dusty town of citrus orchards and cattle ranches astride Route 66 and numerous rail lines, Fontana was radically transformed during World War II by the construction of a steel mill belonging to the Henry J. Kaiser Company and the routing of the San Bernardino Freeway through a section of the town. Explosive growth soon followed, with the area becoming a prominent industrial exurb of Los Angeles. Its working-class orientation, and a population of largely rural Southern and Midwestern origins, led to the city receiving the derisive nickname "Fontucky." This reputation for provincialism was not aided by the rise to prominence of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, which had originally formed in Fontana.

Foreign competition and mismanagement led to the closure of the Kaiser Steel plant in the early 1980s, and Fontana and neighboring San Bernardino soon became infamous centers of white poverty. The production and consumption of methamphetamine, and its distribution by the Hell's Angels, rose to epidemic proportions during this time. However, Fontana's fortunes improved notably (along with the rest of the cities of the "Inland Empire") with the advent of the Southern California real estate boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s: as of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,929, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate showed the fast-growing city's population at 143,607. The completion of the Foothill Freeway extension in 2003 should contribute to Fontana's increasing prominence as both a bedroom community and a center of industry.

Fontana's principal cultural/entertainment attraction is the California Speedway, a racetrack that plays host to two NASCAR events a year. It is built on the former site of the Kaiser mill.

Geography

Fontana is located at 34°5'52" North, 117°27'30" West (34.097744, -117.458222).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 93.6 km² (36.1 mi²). 93.6 km² (36.1 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 128,929 people, 34,014 households, and 29,013 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,378.2/km² (3,569.7/mi²). There are 35,908 housing units at an average density of 383.8/km² (994.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 44.99% White, 11.83% African American, 1.12% Native American, 4.36% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 31.94% from other races, and 5.42% from two or more races. 57.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 34,014 households out of which 57.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% are married couples living together, 15.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% are non-families. 10.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.78 and the average family size is 4.02.

In the city the population is spread out with 37.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $45,782, and the median income for a family is $46,957. Males have a median income of $36,062 versus $26,305 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,208. 14.7% of the population and 12.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Notable people born in Fontana

• Troy Percival, relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
• Travis Barker, drummer for Aquabats, Blink-182, The Transplants and Box Car Racer
• Mike Davis, author and social commentator

External links