Editing Colton, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Colton, California
| native_name              = 
| named_for                = [[David D. Colton]]
| nickname                 = Hub City
| settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| image_skyline            = Colton_junction.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = A [[St. Louis Southwestern Railway]] train passes through [[Colton Crossing|Colton Junction]], 1989
| image_flag               = Flag of Colton, California.jpg
| image_seal               = Seal of Colton, California.png
| image_map                = File:San Bernardino County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Colton Highlighted 0614890.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Colton in San Bernardino County, California.
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = USA
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
| pushpin_label            = Colton
| pushpin_relief           = 1
| coordinates              = {{coord|34|04|26|N|117|18|49|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=GNIS/>
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Frank J. Navarro
| established_date         = July 11, 1887<ref>{{Cite web
  | url=http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
  | title=California Cities by Incorporation Date 
  | format=Word 
  | publisher=California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s 
  | access-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=dead 
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103002921/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc 
  | archive-date=November 3, 2014 
}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi         = 16.06
| area_land_sq_mi          = 15.55
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.51
| area_total_km2           = 41.59
| area_land_km2            = 40.27
| area_water_km2           = 1.32
| area_water_percent       = 4.46
| area_note                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=GNIS>{{Cite GNIS|1652688|Colton|access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft             = 1004
| elevation_m              = 306
<!-- Population ----------->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 53909
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 3466.82
| population_metro         = 
| timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset               = -8
| timezone_DST             = PDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -7
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 92313, 92324
| area_code                = [[Area codes 909 and 840|909]], [[Area codes 909 and 840|840]], [[Area code 951|951]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|14890}}
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|1652688}}, {{GNIS 4|2410200}}
| website                  = {{URL|www.ci.colton.ca.us}}
| footnotes                = 
| population_density_km2   = 1338.56
| official_name            = 
}}

'''Colton''' is a city in [[San Bernardino County, California]], United States. Nicknamed "Hub City", Colton is located in the [[Inland Empire]] region of the state and is a suburb of [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], approximately {{convert|4|mi}} south of the city's [[Downtown San Bernardino|downtown]]. The population of Colton is 52,154 according to the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], up from 47,662 at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].

Colton is the site of [[Colton Crossing]], which was one of the busiest at-grade [[rail transport|railroad]] crossings in the United States. The crossing was installed in 1882 by the [[California Southern Railroad]] to cross the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] tracks while building northward from [[San Diego]]. As a result of railroad acquisitions and mergers, this became the point at which the Burlington Northern Santa Fe's "Southern Transcontinental Route" crossed the Union Pacific's "Sunset Route". As traffic on each line began to soar in the mid-1990s, fueled largely by the vast increase in imports passing through the ports of [[Port of Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] and [[Port of Long Beach|Long Beach]], the primitive crossing became a serious [[traffic bottleneck|bottleneck]]. On August 28, 2013, the at-grade crossing was officially replaced by a fly-over that raises the east–west UP tracks over the north–south BNSF tracks.

Despite its status as a railroad town, Colton does not have passenger rail service. Passenger trains operated by [[Amtrak]] and [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] pass through Colton but do not stop there.

==History==
[[File:Eighth Street, Colton late 1910s.jpg|thumb|Eighth Street, Colton, late 1910s. [[Willets department store]] on the left.]]
[[Image:Colton Area Museum.jpg|thumb|[[Colton Carnegie Library]], now Colton Area Museum]]

===Indigenous peoples===
Before Spanish settlement, the area was inhabited by the [[Tongva]], [[Serrano people|Serrano]], and Cahuilla.<ref name="Colton">{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.colton.ca.us/colton_history_070505.html |title=Colton – History |access-date=December 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327202443/http://www.ci.colton.ca.us/Colton_History_070505.html |archive-date=March 27, 2010 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite book |last=Gunther |first=Jane Davies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CwwSAQAAIAAJ&q=homhoa+canyon |title=Riverside County, California, Place Names: Their Origins and Their Stories |date=1984 |publisher=J.D. Gunther |pages=240–41 |language=en}}</ref> The Tongva village of [[Homhoangna]] was located in the area that is now Colton, situated near the base of the foothills of [[Reche Canyon]], historically known as Homhoa Canyon, derived from the [[Tongva language]] word ''homhoabit'' or "hilly place."<ref name="auto"/>

===Spanish and Mexican settlement===
During the Mission Era the [[Mission San Gabriel]] established a Spanish settlement [[Politana, California|Politana]] in 1810, just northeast of what is now Colton.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of San Bernardino Valley from the padres to the pioneers, 1810–1851 (1902)|year=1902|publisher=San Bernardino, Cal., Times-index Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofsanbern00caba/page/37 37]–41|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsanbern00caba}}</ref> By 1840, Colton was part of two private ranchos, Jurupa and San Bernardino Rancho.<ref name=Colton />  From southwest area of modern-day Colton was known as "[[Agua Mansa]]" (Gentle Waters). It had been settled by New Mexico pioneers in 1842.<ref name=Colton />  What is currently known as Cooley Ranch was known as Indian Knolls for nearly 100 years. This is because the Indians living in what is now the San Bernardino Valley found refuge on the knolls of the property during the [[Great Flood of 1862|flood of 1862]].<ref name=Colton />

===American settlement===
The original owner of the property was George Cooley of [[Kent]], England who had moved to Colton in 1853 and who purchased 200 acres at $3.50 an acre along the [[Santa Ana River]] the next year.<ref name=Colton /> Cooley was chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors in [[San Bernardino County]].<ref name=Colton /> By 1873, the property had mushroomed into a 400-acre property. Eventually, when property taxes had increased, the property was sold to Villelli Enterprises of [[La Habra, California|La Habra]].<ref name=Colton />  The city was named after [[David Douty Colton]], who had been a [[brigadier general]] of the [[California State Militia]] in 1855, prior to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt5d5nf3cs/|title=Finding aid of the Gen. David Douty Colton Papers – C057959|website=www.oac.cdlib.org|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>  He was later the vice president of the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]] Company.<ref name=Colton />

Colton was created in its modern form when the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railway]] was built heading east from [[Los Angeles]] in 1875.<ref name=Colton /> It was founded in 1875 and [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1887. Colton was the site of conflict between the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company]] and the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] at [[Colton Crossing]] when both railroads wanted to cross through the town.

[[Virgil Earp]] lived in Colton at 528 West "H" Street<ref>San Bernardino County Register of Deeds Book (entry dated July 7, 1888)</ref> where he was the town's first marshal.<ref>Colton City News, November 2, 2006</ref> He resided in Colton from 1883 to 1889. [[Morgan Earp]] is buried at Hermosa Cemetery.

===1950s to present===
In 1953, a significant portion of the historic downtown of Colton was bulldozed to make room for the Ramona Freeway, which would later be named the [[San Bernardino Freeway]]. This included the block on the west side of Eighth Street north of J, including the then 70-year-old Helman's Department Store building, originally housing the First National Bank of Colton, on the corner and the [[Willet's Department Store]] building to its north. Both stores moved to locations further north on Eighth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Colton News: Pioneer Business Blocks Slated for Demolition: State to Lease Cleared Area for City Parking Lot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=55337210&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjQ5NDkwODM1LCJpYXQiOjE1OTQ3MzcyOTMsImV4cCI6MTU5NDgyMzY5M30.ofTbtdJYacSSuaWbgB3v90gV5xvpLv8ElBo5TaUpHms |publisher=San Bernardino Sun-Telegram |date=February 8, 1953}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|16.0|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|15.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} of it (4.46%) is water.

[[Slover Mountain]], once the highest point in San Bernardino Valley and the site of the [[Colton Liberty Flag]], is located in the city.<ref name=Muckenfuss>{{cite web |url=http://www.press-enterprise.com/news/NEWS_nmark17.html |title=Old Glory Kept Perpetual Shine |last=Muckenfuss |first=Mark |publisher=Press-enterprise.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175759/http://www.press-enterprise.com/news/NEWS_nmark17.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |date=November 17, 2008 |access-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref>

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Colton has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=722864&cityname=Colton,+California,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Colton, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1315
|1900= 1285
|1910= 3980
|1920= 4282
|1930= 8014
|1940= 9686
|1950= 14465
|1960= 18666
|1970= 20016
|1980= 21310
|1990= 40213
|2000= 47662
|2010= 52154
|2020= 53909
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Colton had a population of 52,154. The population density was {{convert|3,251.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Colton was 22,613 (43.4%) White (13.0% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614890.html|title=Colton (City) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau|access-date=December 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323011427/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0614890.html|archive-date=March 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 5,055 (9.7%) African American, 661 (1.3%) Native American, 2,590 (5.0%) Asian, 176 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 18,413 (35.3%) from other races, and 2,646 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37,039 persons (71.0%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614890|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024223/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0614890|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Colton city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 51,824 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 85 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 245 (0.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 14,971 households, 7,826 (52.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,167 (47.9%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 3,233 (21.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,340 (9.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,268 (8.5%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 106 (0.7%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 2,452 households (16.4%) were one person and 614 (4.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.46. There were 11,740 families (78.4% of households); the average family size was 3.86.

The age distribution was 16,671 people (32.0%) under the age of 18, 6,360 people (12.2%) aged 18 to 24, 14,965 people (28.7%) aged 25 to 44, 10,495 people (20.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,663 people (7.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 28.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

There were 16,350 housing units at an average density of 1,019.4 per square mile, of the occupied units 7,766 (51.9%) were owner-occupied and 7,205 (48.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%. 28,063 people (53.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23,761 people (45.6%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Colton had a median household income of $41,496, with 22.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name="quickfacts.census.gov"/>

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 47,690 people in 14,520 households, including 10,904 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,154.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 15,680 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,037.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 42.7% White, 11.0% African American, 1.3% Native American, 5.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 34.5% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 60.7%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>

Of the 14,520 households 46.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.4% of households were one person and 4.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.3 and the average family size was 3.8.

The age distribution was 34.9% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median household income was $35,777 and the median family income was $37,911. Males had a median income of $32,152 versus $25,118 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,460. About 18.2% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |title=ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT(ACFR) {{!}} Colton, CA - Official Website |url=https://coltonca.gov/743/ACFR-Documents |website=coltonca.gov |access-date=September 24, 2022}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[Arrowhead Regional Medical Center]]
|3510
|-
|2
|[[Colton Joint Unified School District]]
|2320
|-
|3
|Walmart
|1148
|-
|4
|Lineage Logistics
|550
|-
|5
|County of San Bernardino
|427
|-
|6
|Ashley Furniture
|330
|-
|7
|City of Colton
|286
|-
|8
|Brill, Inc
|250
|-
|9
|Reche Canyon rehabilitation & Health Center
|245
|-
|10
|Stater Bros
|
|-
|}

== Government ==
In the [[California State Senate]], Colton is split between {{Representative|casd|29|fmt=sdistrict}}, and {{Representative|casd|19|fmt=sdistrict}}. In the [[California State Assembly]], Colton is in {{Representative|caad|50|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Colton is in {{Representative|cacd|33|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|31}}</ref>

==Education==
Most of Colton is in the [[Colton Unified School District]]. A portion is in the [[Rialto Unified School District]].<!--UNI 32370--><ref name=CensusSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06071_san_bernardino/DC20SD_C06071.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Bernardino County, CA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|page=8 (PDF p. 9/12)|access-date=2024-10-04}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st06_ca/schooldistrict_maps/c06071_san_bernardino/DC20SD_C06071_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Notable people==
{{More citations needed section|date=October 2016}}{{Prose|section|date=October 2016}}
* [[40 Glocc]] (born 1974) – rapper<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/09/03/18951/injunction-rapper/|title=Well known Colton rapper loses bid to get removed from gang injunction|first=Southern California Public|last=Radio|date=September 3, 2010|website=scpr.org|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Jordan Adebayo-Smith]] (b. 2001) – soccer player
* [[Tyler Ankrum]] (born 2001) – [[NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]] driver
* [[Allen Bradford (American football)|Allen Bradford]] NFL Football player
* [[Adriana Briscoe]] - [[National Academy of Sciences]] member<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2024 |title=National Academy of Sciences Elects Members and International Members |url=https://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2024-nas-election.html |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=www.nasonline.org}}</ref>
* [[Cam Carreon]] (1937–1987) – baseball player
* [[Kit Carson (baseball)|Kit Carson]] (1912–1983) – baseball player
* [[George Caster]] (1907–1955) – baseball player
* [[Dennis Crane]] – football player, [[Detroit Lions]]
* [[Jay Dahl]] (1945–1965) – baseball player
* [[Rich Dauer]] – baseball player, World Series champion
* [[Nicholas Porter Earp]] (1813–1907) – father of [[Wyatt Earp]]
* [[Wyatt Earp]] (1848–1929) – frontier lawman
* [[Virgil Earp]] (1843–1905) – frontier lawman, older brother of Wyatt Earp; 1st city marshal of Colton
* [[Morgan Earp]] (1851–1882) - Lawman
* [[Gene Evans]] (1922–1998) – actor
* [[Jada Hart]], tennis player 
* [[Rodolfo Hernandez]] (born 1931) – Medal of Honor recipient, [[Korean War]]
* [[Kat Von D]] aka Kathrine Drachenburg (born 1982) – tattoo artist, star of ''[[LA Ink]]''
* [[Ken Hubbs]] (1941–1964) – [[Chicago Cubs]] infielder, 1962 Rookie of the Year
* [[Jim Messina (musician)|Jim Messina]] (born 1947) – musician ([[Buffalo Springfield]], [[Loggins & Messina]])<ref>{{Cite news| last = Muckenfuss| first = Mark | title = Jim Messina recalls getting his musical start in Colton| newspaper = Press–Enterprise| date = April 17, 2009| url = http://www.pe.com/columns/markmuckenfuss/stories/PE_News_Local_N_nmark18.4701266.html| access-date = December 4, 2009}}</ref>
* [[George T. Sakato]] – Medal of Honor recipient, World War II 
* [[Jeremy Suarez]] (born 1990) – actor, ''[[The Bernie Mac Show]]''
* [[Jimmy Webb]] (born 1946) – songwriter
* [[Susan Woodstra]] (born 1957) – silver medalist, [[1984 Summer Olympics]], women's volleyball
* [[Shareece Wright]] NFL Football player
* [[Jimmy Smith (cornerback)|Jimmy Smith]] NFL Football Player

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*''History of the Colton Fire Department 1889–2011'' (2012), Dennis Bickers (retired Colton Fire)
*''Images of America, Colton'' (2004), Larry Sheffield

==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/about/history/streets_n_places/colton.asp History of Colton] at the city of San Bernardino website

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = [[Rialto, California|Rialto]]
|North = [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
|Northeast = [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]]
|West = [[Bloomington, California|Bloomington]]
|Center = Colton
|South = [[Grand Terrace, California|Grand Terrace]]
|Southwest = ''[[Santa Ana River]]''<br />[[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
|Southeast = ''[[Box Springs Mountain]]''
|East = [[Loma Linda, California|Loma Linda]]
|}}
{{Colton, CA}}
{{Cities of San Bernardino County, California}}
{{Inland Empire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Colton, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Santa Ana River]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in California]]