Editing Ontario, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{distinguish|text=the Canadian [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[Ontario]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Ontario, California
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
| named_for          = [[Ontario]], Canada
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
  | photo1a                 = Ontario City Library05apr2006 (cropped).jpg
  | photo1b                 = City National Bank building portrait - Ontario, California (cropped).JPG
  | photo2a                 = GardinerWSpring05apr2006 (cropped).jpg
  | photo2b                 = Ontario Convention Center.jpg
  | spacing                 = 2
  | position                = center
  | color_border            = white
  | color                   = white
  | size                    = 275
  | foot_montage            = Clockwise: Ovitt Family Community Library; Empire Towers; Ontario Convention Center; [[Chaffey High School]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Ontario, California.png
| image_seal         = Seal of Ontario, California.png
| image_shield       = Logo of Ontario, California.png
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| motto              = Southern California's Next Urban Center<ref name=about>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=783|title=City Facts|publisher=City of Ontario|access-date=February 26, 2015|archive-date=December 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219170600/http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=783|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| image_map          = San Bernardino County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ontario Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location in [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]] in [[California]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| pushpin_map        = Los Angeles#California#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location relative to Los Angeles County
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[California]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|City Council / City Manager]]<ref name=about/>
| leader_title       = [[City Council]]<ref>{{cite web
  | url = https://www.ontarioca.gov/public-officials
  | title = Public Officials
  | publisher = City of Ontario, California
  | access-date = February 24, 2020
}}</ref>
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]] Paul S. Leon<br />[[Mayor Pro Tem]] Alan D. Wapner <br /> Debra Dorst-Porada <br />Jim W. Bowman<br />Daisy Macias
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = December 10, 1891<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/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
  | archive-date = February 21, 2013
  | df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 50.00
| area_land_sq_mi    = 49.97
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| area_total_km2     = 129.50
| area_land_km2      = 129.43
| area_water_km2     = 0.08
| area_water_percent = 0.13
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652764|Ontario|access-date=November 17, 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_ft       = 1,004
| elevation_m        = 306
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name=cemsus2020>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ontariocitycalifornia/POP010220|title=QuickFacts: Ontario city, California|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=September 6, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 175265
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_rank    = [[San Bernardino County, California|3rd]] in San Bernardino County<br />[[List of largest California cities by population|25th]] in California<br />[[List of United States cities by population|143rd]] in the United States
| population_density_km2 = 1354.1
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = <!-- Time zones ----------->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
| utc_offset         = −8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −7
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|03|10|N|117|37|40|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 91758, 91761, 91762, 91764
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 909|909]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|06|53896}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
| blank1_info        = {{GNIS 4|1652764}}, {{GNIS 4|2411323}}
| website            = {{URL|https://www.ontarioca.gov|ontarioca.gov}}
}}

'''Ontario''' is a city in southwestern [[San Bernardino County, California]], United States, {{convert|35|mi}} east of [[downtown Los Angeles]] and {{convert|23|mi}} west of [[downtown San Bernardino]], the county seat. Located in the western part of the [[Inland Empire]] metropolitan area, it lies just east of [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]] and is part of the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a population of 175,265.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0653896|title=Census - Geography Profile: Ontario city, California|access-date=September 5, 2022}}</ref>

The city is home to [[Ontario International Airport]], which is the 9th-busiest airport in the United States by cargo carried, as of 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |date=December 2022 |title=Top 25 Airports by Landed Weight of All-Cargo Operations |url=https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/freight-facts-and-figures/top-25-airports-landed-weight-all |work=Freight Facts and Figures}}</ref> Ontario handles the mass of freight traffic between the ports of [[Port of Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] and [[Port of Long Beach|Long Beach]] and the rest of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inlandempireoutlook.org/2009/11/26/ontario-the-inland-empire%E2%80%99s-new-urban-center/ |title=Ontario: Inland Empire Urban Center |publisher=Inlandempireoutlook.org |date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=December 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320160905/http://inlandempireoutlook.org/2009/11/26/ontario-the-inland-empire%E2%80%99s-new-urban-center/|archive-date=March 20, 2012}}</ref>

It takes its name from the Ontario Model Colony development established in 1882 by the Canadian engineer [[George Chaffey]] and his brothers [[William Chaffey]] and Charles Chaffey.<ref>[http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.cfm/21956/17099 History of Ontario] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415011446/http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.cfm/21956/17099 |date=April 15, 2010 }} Retrieved May 12, 2010.</ref> They named the settlement after their home [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[Ontario]].
<!-- why in name of their home province Ontario, but not in name of their home famous lake Ontario? -->

==History==
=== Tovaangar (before 1771) ===
{{Main|Tongva}}
Ontario was inhabited by the [[Tongva]] people for over 1,000 years.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WA4vBQAAQBAJ&q=images+of+america+california |title=Early Ontario |publisher=Arcadia |year=2014 |isbn=9781467132404}}</ref> Their country is now known as [[Tovaangar]]. The Ontario area was connected to the village of [[Rancho Cucamonga, California|Cucamonga]], whose location is not  precisely known.

The [[Spanish Empire]]'s [[New Spain]] [[Portolá expedition]] found and named the [[Santa Ana River]] in 1769.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Patrick |title=From Crest to Coast—110 Miles Along Southern California's Largest River System |publisher=Wilderness Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-89997-411-2 |pages=37}}</ref> They also explored the Cucamonga area.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2020 |title=Rancho Cucamonga |url=https://www.blm.gov/blog/2020-09-17/rancho-cucamonga |website=[[Bureau of Land Management]]}}</ref>

=== Spanish Empire (1771–1822) ===
{{Main|Spanish missions in California}}
In 1771, [[Franciscans]] from [[New Spain]] settled nearby, and established the [[Mission San Gabriel Arcángel]], founding what is today [[San Gabriel, California|San Gabriel]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2009 |title=San Gabriel Arcangel |url=http://missions.bgmm.com/sgabriel.htm |access-date=March 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327033851/http://missions.bgmm.com/sgabriel.htm |archive-date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref> They enslaved the Tongva people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author-first1=Hadley|author-last1=Meares|date=June 29, 2016 |title=Genocide, Slavery, and L.A.'s Role in the Decimation of Native Californians |url=https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/lost-la/genocide-slavery-and-l-a-s-role-in-the-decimation-of-native-californians |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=PBS SoCal |language=en}}</ref> The area was now part of the New Spain [[Province of Las Californias]].

[[Juan Bautista de Anza]] passed through the area on his 1774 expedition, which created a land route between the province of [[Sonora]] and San Gabriel.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=De Anza Park {{!}} City of Ontario, California |url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/de-anza-park |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=www.ontarioca.gov}}</ref> An Ontario city park<ref name=":3" /> and a middle school<ref>{{Cite web |title=De Anza Middle School / Homepage |url=https://www.omsd.net/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omsd.net%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FDomainID%3D34 |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=www.omsd.net |language=en}}</ref> now bear his name. The route became known as the [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]].

In 1804, the northern part of Las Californias became the new province of [[Alta California|Nueva California]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nuttall |first=Donald A. |date=1972 |title=The Gobernantes of Spanish Upper California: A Profile |journal=California Historical Quarterly |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=253–280 |doi=10.2307/25157389 |jstor=25157389 |issn=0097-6059}}</ref>

In 1810, the San Gabriel Franciscans took over the Tongva village of [[Kaawchama]] (in today's west [[Redlands, California|Redlands]]), replacing it with the [[Guachama Rancheria|Guachama rancheria]]. This included a chapel devoted to San Bernardino (beginning the association of the saint with the area). The rancheria was destroyed by the [[Serrano people|Serrano]] in 1812, and was rebuilt nearby as the [[San Bernardino de Sena Estancia|San Bernardino de Sena estancia]] in 1819.

=== Mexico (1822–1847) ===
{{Main|Californios}}
In 1822, word of the Mexican triumph in the [[Mexican War of Independence]] reached Nueva California,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mexican California {{!}} Early California History: An Overview {{!}} Articles and Essays {{!}} California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900 {{!}} Digital Collections {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/california-first-person-narratives/articles-and-essays/early-california-history/mexican-california/ |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> and the lands previously controlled by the Spanish Empire passed to the custody of the [[Mexican government]].

In 1824, the province of Nueva California was renamed [[Alta California]].

In 1826, American explorer [[Jedediah Smith]] passed through what is now [[Upland, California|Upland]] on the first known overland journey from the east coast to the west coast of North America. He used Native American trails that he helped establish as the [[California Trail]]. (This later became the [[National Old Trails Road]], [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]], and today's [[Foothill Boulevard (Southern California)|Foothill Boulevard]].)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delja |first=Beatrice |title=CHL # 781 National Old Trails Monument San Bernadino &#91;sic&#93; |url=http://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-781 |access-date=February 16, 2017 |website=www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com}}</ref>

Use of the San Gabriel mission's [[Rancho Cucamonga]] was in 1839 granted to [[Tiburcio Tapia]] by Alta Californian governor [[Juan Bautista Alvarado]] as part of the [[Mexican secularization act of 1833|secularization of California land holdings]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/267557 |title=Cucamonga [San Bernardino County] Leon V. Prudhomme, Claimant. Case no. 214, Southern District of California |editor-last=Prudhomme |editor-first=Leon Victor |date=1852–1864 |editor-last2=Tapia |editor-first2=Tiburcio |editor-last3=Prudhomme |editor-first3=Leon Victor |editor-last4=United States District Court (California: Southern District)}}</ref> This emancipated the Tongva enslaved there.

The name ''Mount San Antonio'' was probably bestowed by [[Antonio Maria Lugo]], owner of [[Rancho San Antonio (Lugo)|Rancho San Antonio]] near present-day [[Compton, California|Compton]] circa 1840, in honor of his patron saint, [[Anthony of Padua]].<ref name="hps1969">Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section, 100 Peaks Lookout newsletter, May 1969</ref>

In 1845, Rancho Cucamonga was inherited by Tapia's daughter, Maria Prudhomme, and her husband Leon Prudhomme.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=24 April 1973 |title=NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/5fc8a379-98c2-404b-b33c-9cd5ab6399fa |website=National Park Service}}</ref>

=== United States (1847 onward) ===

==== 1800s ====
In January 1847, the area became controlled by the United States following the [[conquest of California]] as part of the [[Mexican–American War|Mexican-American War]], and was formalised by the [[Treaty of Cahuenga]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dale L. Walker |url=http://archive.org/details/bearflagrisingco00walk_0 |title=Bear Flag rising |date=1999 |publisher=Forge |isbn=978-0-312-86685-3}}</ref> Under the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] in 1848, the United States recognised the existing land tenure, and took formal control of the land. It ruled it under a [[Interim government of California|military administration]] until a new civilian body was established in December 1849, which became the state of [[California]] in September 1850. In February 1850, the interim California government established [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]. (The earlier Los Angeles municipal government did not cover today's Ontario.)<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Guinn |first1=J. M. |last2=Stearns |first2=Abel |last3=Valdez |first3=Bacillo |last4=Herrera |first4=Jose M. |date=1907 |title=FROM PUEBLO TO CIUDAD. The Municipal and Territorial Expansion of Los Angeles |journal=Annual Publication of the Historical Society of Southern California |volume=7 |issue=2/3 |pages=216–221 |doi=10.2307/41168646 |issn=2162-9145 |jstor=41168646}}</ref>

The new Californian administration soon began a war of extermination against the Tongva, which came to be known as being part of the [[California genocide]].<ref name=":0" /> 1850's [[Act for the Government and Protection of Indians]] ensured that slavery of the people it covered remained legal.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yLbNA_3CdcQC&dq=%22Act+for+the+Government+and+Protection+of+Indians%22&pg=PA822 '''Compiled laws of the State of California: containing all the acts of the Legislature of a public and general nature, now in force, passed at the sessions of 1850-51-52-53''', Benicia, S. Garfeilde, 1853. pp. 822-825 An Act for the Government and Protection of Indians]</ref>

[[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]] was founded in 1853, following the establishment of [[San Bernardino, California|a new Mormon settlement]]. A road was built between San Bernardino and Los Angeles that year, passing through Rancho Cucamonga.<ref name=":1" />

Rancho Cucamonga was sold in 1858 to [[John Rains House|John Rains]].

Slavery of Native Americans became illegal in California in 1865.<ref name="OHP2">{{cite web |last1=Dutschke |first1=Dwight |date=2014 |title=A History of American Indians in California |url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1054/files/american%20indians%20in%20california.pdf |access-date=October 10, 2016 |website=California Office of Historic Preservation, Five Views: An Ethnic Historic Site Survey for California}}</ref>

John Rain's heirs sold Rancho Cucamonga in 1870 to an [[Isaias W. Hellman|Isaias Hellman]]-led syndicate,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Katie |title=Guides: Pomona Valley Historical Collection: Ranchos |url=https://libguides.library.cpp.edu/c.php?g=771946&p=6014369 |access-date=January 1, 2024 |website=libguides.library.cpp.edu |language=en}}</ref> the "Cucamonga Company".<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last1=Brown |first1=John |url=http://archive.org/details/historyofsanbern01brow |title=History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties / with selected biography of actors and witnesses of the period of growth and achievement.. |last2=Boyd |first2=James |date=1922 |location=Madison, WI |publisher=The Western Historical Association |others=Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center}}</ref> 20 years after the initial application, the California government formally converted the title of the rancho to freehold in 1872.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Surveyor General 1844–1886 |url=http://www.slc.ca.gov/Misc_Pages/Historical/Surveyors_General/reports/Willey_1884_1886.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320000647/http://www.slc.ca.gov/Misc_Pages/Historical/Surveyors_General/reports/Willey_1884_1886.pdf |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |publisher=[[California|State of California]] |via=slc.ca.gov}}</ref>

In 1881, the Chaffey brothers, [[George Chaffey|George]] and [[William Chaffey|William]], purchased a parcel of Hellman's Rancho Cucamonga land, and rights to Mount San Antonio water. The brothers established a settlement they named "Ontario" in honor of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]] of [[Ontario]] in [[Canada]], where they were from.<ref>[https://www.ontarioca.gov/Planning/HistoricPreservation#:~:text=The%20township%20of%20Ontario%2C%20California,for%20the%20Community%20of%20Ontario. Historic Preservation | City of Ontario, California]</ref>

The land was sometimes referred to the "San Antonio lands", as they included half the water rights to [[Mount San Antonio]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hackenberger |first=Benjamin C. |date=January 2015 |title=The San Antonio Wash: Addressing the Gap Between Claremont and Upland |url=https://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/136/ |journal=Pomona Senior Theses}}</ref> (colloquially known as "Mount Baldy"). They engineered a drainage system channelling water from the foothills of the mountain down to the flatter lands below that performed the dual functions of allowing farmers to water their crops and preventing the floods that periodically afflict them.

They also created the main thoroughfare of Euclid Avenue ([[State Route 83 (California)|California Highway 83]]), with its distinctive wide lanes and grassy median. A mule-drawn passenger tramway was used from 1887 to 1895 on the central reservation the Avenue, operated by the [[Ontario and San Antonio Heights Railroad Company]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pacific Electric Ontario & San Antonio Heights Line |url=https://www.erha.org/peeosah.htm |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=www.erha.org}}</ref>

The San Antonio Water Company was incorporated in October 1882. Since then it has served the area that is today Ontario, Upland and, San Antonio Heights, and to a lesser extent Montclair.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.sawaterco.com/history |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=San Antonio Water Company |language=en}}</ref>

In 1885, the Chaffey brothers opened a campus of the [[University of Southern California]]. This included a secondary school.

Also in 1885, the ''[[The Daily Report (Ontario, California)|Ontario Record]]'' newspaper was founded. (It would later be known as ''The Daily Report''.)

The new "Model Colony" (called so because it offered the perfect balance between agriculture and the urban comforts of schools, churches, and commerce) was originally conceived as a [[Teetotalism|dry]] town, early deeds containing clauses forbidding the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages within the town.
[[File:Interior_of_citrus_packing_house,_Ontario,_ca.1905_(CHS-1677).jpg|thumb|Interior of citrus packing house in Ontario, 1905]]
Ontario attracted farmers (primarily growing [[citrus]]) and ailing Easterners seeking a drier climate (often to treat [[tuberculosis]]). To impress visitors and potential settlers with the "abundance" of water in Ontario, a fountain was placed at the [[Ontario station (Amtrak)|Southern Pacific railway station]]. It was turned on when passenger trains were approaching and frugally turned off again after their departure. The original "Chaffey fountain," a simple spigot surrounded by a ring of white stones, was later replaced by the more ornate "Frankish Fountain", an art nouveau creation now located outside the Ontario Museum of History and Art.<ref>{{cite web |title=The City of Ontario's Citrus Industry |url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/sites/default/files/Ontario-Files/Planning/Historic_Preservation/citrus_industry.pdf}}</ref> Agriculture was vital to the early economy, and many street names recall this legacy. The [[Sunkist Growers, Incorporated|Sunkist]] plant remains as a living vestige of the citrus era.

The Chaffey brothers left in 1886 to found the Australian irrigation settlements of [[Mildura, Victoria|Mildura]] and [[Renmark, South Australia|Renmark]], selling their Ontario assets to the Ontario Land & Improvement Company. Its president was Charles Frankish.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 1980 |title=NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY &ndash; NOMINATION FORM |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/5038fc9f-c181-414a-8b78-cffcf286ff6b |website=National Park Service}}</ref> He founded the [[Ontario State Bank Block|Ontario State Bank]] in 1887, the settlement's first bank.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=California Genealogy Trails - Californian American Bios page 8 |url=http://genealogytrails.com/cal/americanbios_page8.html |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=genealogytrails.com}}</ref>

Central Ontario was incorporated as a city in 1891.<ref name=":12" /> The San Antonio Electric Light & Power Company was organized in 1891 to provide electricity to Ontario, Pomona and Redlands.<ref name=":12" /> 
[[File:GraberOliveHouseVatRoom.JPG|thumb|The olive vat room at [[Graber Olive House]] in Ontario, California. In 1894, two years after planting olive trees in Ontario, C. C. Graber began selling [[Back olive|vat cured olives]] from the pictured vat room in vats similar to the ones pictured. Graber Olive House is the oldest operating olive packer in the United States.]]
The [[Graber Olive House]] was established in 1894, and is now the longest operating olive packing business in the United States.

In 1895, the Ontario Electric Company was established by Charles Frankish.<ref name=":22" /> In its first year it took over the mule-cars, and replaced them with electrical powered vehicles.<ref name=":22" />

==== 1900s ====
The City of Ontario's territory was greatly expanded in 1900.<ref name=":12" />

Tens of thousands of European immigrants came to work in agriculture. In the early 1900s, the first [[Filipino American|Filipinos]] and [[Japanese American|Japanese]] farm laborers arrived, and later many came to own plant nurseries.<ref>{{cite web |title=City History - DOIA |date=September 9, 2020 |url=https://downtownontario.org/city-history/}}</ref>

In 1901, the original college closed, and a new [[Ontario High School (California)|Ontario High School]] replaced it. This soon became [[Chaffey College]], and offered college courses as well as high school education.

Ontario was declared a "model colony" by an act of Congress in 1903.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Preservation {{!}} City of Ontario, California |url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/Planning/HistoricPreservation |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=www.ontarioca.gov}}</ref>

North Ontario broke away from the city in 1906, calling itself [[Upland, California|Upland]].<ref name=":12" />

In 1912, the streetcar line became the [[Upland–Ontario Line]] of [[Pacific Electric]]. It was closed in 1928.

In 1929, the city of Ontario established the Ontario Municipal Airport. This is now the [[Ontario International Airport]], and is the largest employer in the city.

AM radio station [[KSPA|KOCS]] began in 1946,<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 18, 2021 |title=Radio, radio {{!}} The David Allen Blog |url=http://www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2008/04/25/radio-radio/ |access-date=March 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418134338/http://www.insidesocal.com/davidallen/2008/04/25/radio-radio/ |archive-date=April 18, 2021 }}</ref> which was followed by sister station [[KDEY-FM|KOCS-FM]] in 1947. The stations initially operated as part of The Daily Report, and would go on to change their name, format and ownership many times.

In 1960, the higher education part of Chaffey College moved to nearby Rancho Cucamonga.

From 1970 to 1980, the [[Ontario Motor Speedway]] hosted motor racing events including the [[California 500 (IndyCar)|California 500]], and music events like [[California Jam]].

The [[Cardenas (supermarket)|Cardenas]] supermarket chain began in Ontario in 1981.

''[[The Daily Report (Ontario, California)|The Daily Report]]'' merged with the nearby ''[[Progress Bulletin]]'' to become the ''[[Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]]'' in 1990.

An [[Ontario–East station|Ontario station]] of the [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] rail service opened in 1993 (it later became known as "Ontario – East").

Large shopping mall [[Ontario Mills]] opened to the public on November 14, 1996, on the old Ontario Motor Speedway parking lot.

On December 13, 1996, [[AMC Theatres]] opened AMC Ontario Mills 30 in Ontario, which it billed as the "world's largest theater".<ref name="open2">{{cite book |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |url=https://archive.org/details/openwidehowholly00haye |title=Open Wide: How Hollywood Box Office Became a National Obsession |last2=Bing |first2=Jonathan |publisher=Miramax Books |year=2004 |isbn=1401352006 |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/openwidehowholly00haye/page/311 311]-[https://archive.org/details/openwidehowholly00haye/page/317 317] |url-access=registration}}</ref> Three months later, [[Edwards Theaters]] opened the Edwards Ontario Palace 22 across the street.<ref name="open2" /> Ontario now had 52 screens on the one site, more than any other location in the United States.<ref name="open2" /> The opening of that many screens in the Inland Empire came about as the culmination of a lifelong rivalry between AMC's Stanley Durwood and Edwards Theaters' James Edwards.<ref name="open2" />  Edwards was infuriated when he learned Durwood had beaten him to a deal with Ontario Mills, and later told him, "I had to teach you a lesson".<ref name="open2" />

The Ontario Convention Centre opened in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Ontario Convention Center Celebrates 25 Years! |url=https://gocvb.org/city-news/2022/03/01/ontario-convention-center-celebrates-25-years/ |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=GOCal |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1999, the large agricultural area in the south of Ontario (the "ag preserve") was rezoned for residential and commercial use. This area was now described as the "New Model Colony", before being renamed [[Ontario Ranch, California|Ontario Ranch]], and finally New Haven.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Homes in Ontario, CA {{!}} New Haven Community |url=https://newhavenlife.com/ |access-date=March 11, 2024 |website=newhavenlife.com}}</ref>

==== 2000s ====
The [[University of La Verne]] opened a law-focused campus in Ontario in 2001.

In 2008, the [[Ontario Community Events Center]] opened. It hosts a number of professional minor-league indoor sports teams. Also that year, [[West Coast University]] opened a campus in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Coast University - University History |url=https://westcoastuniversity.smartcatalogiq.com/en/summer-2024/summer-2024/about-west-coast-university/university-history/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=westcoastuniversity.smartcatalogiq.com}}</ref>

The headquarters of the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist Convention's]] [[Gateway Seminary]] moved to Ontario in 2016.

[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] opened their largest United States warehouse in Ontario in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Amazon's largest U.S. warehouse is in this Inland Empire city |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2024/10/01/amazons-largest-u-s-warehouse-is-in-this-inland-empire-city/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|50.0|sqmi|km²}}. Of that, {{convert|49.9|sqmi|km²}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km²}} is water. The total area is 0.13% water.

===Climate===
The climate of Ontario is influenced by ''[[BSh]]'' [[semi-arid]] conditions, with hot summers and mild winters. Santa Ana Winds hit the area frequently in autumn and winter. Extremes range from {{convert|118|°F|0|abbr=}} down to {{convert|25|°F|0}}. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Ontario has a [[hot-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "[[Mediterranean climate#Hot-summer mediterranean climate|Csa]]" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=568227&cityname=Ontario-California-United-States-of-America|title=Ontario, California Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Ontario, California ([[Ontario International Airport]]) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998&ndash;present)
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 90
| Feb record high F = 90
| Mar record high F = 94
| Apr record high F = 101
| May record high F = 103
| Jun record high F = 112
| Jul record high F = 117
| Aug record high F = 112
| Sep record high F = 118
| Oct record high F = 107
| Nov record high F = 98
| Dec record high F = 87
| year record high F = 118
| Jan avg record high F = 82.2
| Feb avg record high F = 82.9
| Mar avg record high F = 88.5
| Apr avg record high F = 94.1
| May avg record high F = 96.2
| Jun avg record high F = 101.4
| Jul avg record high F = 104.9
| Aug avg record high F = 106.0
| Sep avg record high F = 106.9
| Oct avg record high F = 98.9
| Nov avg record high F = 92.0
| Dec avg record high F = 80.7
| year avg record high F = 110.5
| Jan high F = 67.7
| Feb high F = 68.1
| Mar high F = 71.7
| Apr high F = 75.7
| May high F = 79.8
| Jun high F = 86.4
| Jul high F = 93.8
| Aug high F = 94.9
| Sep high F = 91.3
| Oct high F = 82.6
| Nov high F = 74.7
| Dec high F = 66.9
| year high F = 79.5
| Jan mean F = 56.1
| Feb mean F = 57.1
| Mar mean F = 60.2
| Apr mean F = 63.4
| May mean F = 67.7
| Jun mean F = 73.2
| Jul mean F = 79.2
| Aug mean F = 80.1
| Sep mean F = 77.6
| Oct mean F = 69.8
| Nov mean F = 61.9
| Dec mean F = 55.2
| year mean F = 66.8
| Jan low F = 44.6
| Feb low F = 46.2
| Mar low F = 48.7
| Apr low F = 51.1
| May low F = 55.6
| Jun low F = 60.0
| Jul low F = 64.7
| Aug low F = 65.2
| Sep low F = 63.8
| Oct low F = 57.1
| Nov low F = 49.0
| Dec low F = 43.6
| year low F = 54.1
| Jan avg record low F = 33.9
| Feb avg record low F = 35.0
| Mar avg record low F = 39.2
| Apr avg record low F = 44.0
| May avg record low F = 48.5
| Jun avg record low F = 54.9
| Jul avg record low F = 59.3
| Aug avg record low F = 59.7
| Sep avg record low F = 55.9
| Oct avg record low F = 48.4
| Nov avg record low F = 39.3
| Dec avg record low F = 33.1
| year avg record low F = 31.3
| Jan record low F = 25
| Feb record low F = 29
| Mar record low F = 33
| Apr record low F = 33
| May record low F = 42
| Jun record low F = 46
| Jul record low F = 56
| Aug record low F = 56
| Sep record low F = 51
| Oct record low F = 41
| Nov record low F = 32
| Dec record low F = 28
| year record low F = 25

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.57
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.07
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.64
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.76
| May precipitation inch = 0.30
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.02
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.05
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.03
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.10
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.41
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.80
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.89
| year precipitation inch = 11.64

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.1
|Feb precipitation days = 6.4
|Mar precipitation days = 5.3
|Apr precipitation days = 3.6
|May precipitation days = 1.7
|Jun precipitation days = 0.3
|Jul precipitation days = 0.6
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 0.7
|Oct precipitation days = 2.2
|Nov precipitation days = 3.7
|Dec precipitation days = 5.6

| source = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006&ndash;2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=sgx |title= NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date= January 28, 2016 }}</ref><ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00003102&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ontario INTL AP, CA
|access-date = May 25, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
The most common country of origin in Ontario besides the United States is Mexico. 19.04% of Ontario's population is Mexican-born. The other most common countries of origin outside the United States in Ontario are the [[Philippines]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Vietnam]], [[Korea]], [[China]], [[Honduras]], [[Thailand]] and [[Peru]]. The most common spoken languages in Ontario besides English are Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, other Pacific Island language, Korean, Portuguese, Urdu and Arabic. Roman Catholicism is the most practiced religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/sites/default/files/Ontario-Files/Housing-Municipal-Services/_Ontario%20AFH%20Final%20adopted%202020-06-16.pdf|title=
_Ontario AFH Final Draft}}</ref> German, Irish, English, Italian and Dutch are the most common ancestries.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/ontario | title=Ontario, CA Real Estate Market Data - NeighborhoodScout }}</ref>

{{US Census population
|1890= 683
|1900= 722
|1910= 4274
|1920= 7280
|1930= 13583
|1940= 14197
|1950= 22872
|1960= 46617
|1970= 64118
|1980= 88820
|1990= 133179
|2000= 158007
|2010= 163924
|2020= 175265
|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>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Ontario, California – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ontario city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US0653896&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ontario city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0653896&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ontario city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0653896&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|42,048
|29,898
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23,997
|26.61%
|18.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.69%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|11,317
|9,598
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,336
|7.16%
|5.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.90%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|475
|361
|style='background: #ffffe6; |409
|0.30%
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|5,914
|8,078
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15,693
|3.74%
|4.93%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.95%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|519
|448
|style='background: #ffffe6; |415
|0.33%
|0.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|284
|386
|style='background: #ffffe6; |933
|0.18%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,840
|2,070
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,554
|1.80%
|1.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.03%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|94,610
|113,085
|style='background: #ffffe6; |119,928
|59.88%
|68.99%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68.43%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''158,007'''
|'''163,924'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''175,265'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020===
The U.S. Census accounts for race by two methodologies. "Race alone" and "Race alone less Hispanics" where Hispanics are delineated separately as if a separate race.

According to the [[2020 U.S. Census]], the racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 24.15% (42,332) [[White (U.S. Census)|White alone]], 6.30% (11,045) [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black alone]], 2.39% (4,184) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American alone]], 9.27% (16,243) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian alone]], 0.31% (549) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander alone]], 38.04% (66,663) [[Race (United States Census)|Other Race alone]], and 19.54% (24,249) [[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial or Mixed Race]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=P1: Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ontario city, California|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=p2&g=160XX00US0653896|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

According to the [[2020 U.S. Census]], the racial and ethnic makeup (where Hispanics are excluded from the racial counts and placed in their own category) was 13.69% (23,997) [[Non-Hispanic whites|White alone (non-Hispanic)]], 5.90% (10,336) [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black alone (non-Hispanic)]], 0.23% (409) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American alone (non-Hispanic)]], 8.95% (15,693) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian alone (non-Hispanic)]], 0.24% (415) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic)]], 0.53% (933) [[Race (United States Census)|Other Race alone (non-Hispanic)]], 2.03% (3,554) [[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial or Mixed Race (non-Hispanic)]], and 68.43% (119,928) [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]].<ref name=2020CensusP2/>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0653896|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032151/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0653896|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Ontario city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Ontario had a population of 163,924. The population density was {{convert|3,278.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Ontario was 83,683 (51.0%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (18.2% Non-Hispanic White),<ref name="census2010">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0653896.html|title=Ontario (city) QuickFacts|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 12, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818132429/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0653896.html|archive-date=August 18, 2012}}</ref> 10,561 (6.4%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1,686 (1.0%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8,453 (5.2%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 514 (0.3%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 51,373 (31.3%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7,654 (4.7%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 113,085 persons (69.0%).

The Census reported that 163,166 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 411 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 347 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 44,931 households, out of which 23,076 (51.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 23,789 (52.9%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 7,916 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,890 (8.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,470 (7.7%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 384 (0.9%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 6,741 households (15.0%) were made up of individuals, and 2,101 (4.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.63. There were 35,595 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (79.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.98.

The population was spread out, with 49,443 people (30.2%) under the age of 18, 19,296 people (11.8%) aged 18 to 24, 49,428 people (30.2%) aged 25 to 44, 34,703 people (21.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,054 people (6.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

There were 47,449 housing units at an average density of {{convert|948.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 24,832 (55.3%) were owner-occupied, and 20,099 (44.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 90,864 people (55.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 72,302 people (44.1%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Ontario had a median household income of $54,249, with 18.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.<ref name="census2010"/>

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<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 2000, there were 158,007 people, 43,525 households, and 34,689 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,173.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 45,182 housing units at an average density of {{convert|907.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 47.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 34.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]] and 5.3% were from two or more races. 59.9% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race.

There were 43,525 households, out of which 49.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.6 and the average family size was 4.0.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.4% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,452, and the median income for a family was $44,031. Males had a median income of $31,664 versus $26,069 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,244. 15.5% of the population and 12.2% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. 19.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Economy==
[[File:Ontario Mills sign.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ontario Mills]] in 2005]]

In the years following Ontario's founding, the economy was driven by its reputation as a health resort. Shortly thereafter, citrus farmers began taking advantage of Ontario's rocky soil to plant lemon and orange groves. Agricultural opportunities also attracted [[vintner]]s and [[olive]] growers. The [[Graber Olive House]], which continues to produce olives, is a city historical landmark and one of the oldest institutions in Ontario.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} [[Dairy]] farming is also prevalent, as it continues to be in neighboring [[Chino, California|Chino]]. Much of southern Ontario still contains dairy farms and other [[agriculture|agricultural]] farms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Maanvi |date=September 13, 2022 |title='Monstrosities in the farmland': how giant warehouses transformed a California town |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/13/ontario-california-amazon-warehouses |access-date=September 13, 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref> However, the area is currently under planning to be developed into a mixed-use area of residential homes, industrial and business parks, and town centers, collectively known as the New Model Colony.<ref>Khouri, Andrew (November 6, 2014) [http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-property-report-ontario-20141106-story.html "Ontario housing development restarts after stalling during recession"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''</ref>

A major pre-war industry was the city's [[General Electric]] plant that produced clothing [[Ironing|irons]]. During and after [[World War II]], Ontario experienced a housing boom common to many suburbs. The expansion of the Southern California defense industry attracted many settlers to the city.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Bakken, Gordon Morris|author2=Alexandra Kindell|date=2006|title=Encyclopedia of immigration and migration in the American West|location=Thousand Oaks, Calif|publisher=Sage Publications}}</ref> With California's aerospace industry concentrated in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the Ontario International Airport was used as a pilot training center.<ref>[http://www.ontarioca.gov/about-ontario/city-history City History] Retrieved October 21, 2017</ref> Today, Ontario still has a manufacturing industry, the most notable of which are [[Maglite]], which produces flashlights. Manufacturing has waned, and Ontario's economy is dominated by service industries and [[Warehouse|warehousing]]. Major distribution centers are operated by companies such as [[AutoZone]], [[Cardinal Health]], [[McLane Company|MBM]], [[Genuine Parts Company|Genuine Parts/NAPA]], and [[Nordstrom]].<ref name="acfr">{{cite web |url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/sites/default/files/Ontario-Files/Administrative-Services/fiscal-services/Annual_Comprehensive_Financial_Report_for_Fiscal_Year_Ended_June_30_2023.pdf |title=City of Ontario ACFR |access-date=October 23, 2024 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref>

Ontario is also home to [[Niagara Bottling]], [[The Icee Company]], clothing companies [[Famous Stars and Straps]] and [[Karmaloop|Shiekh Shoes]], [[Scripto|Scripto U.S.A.]], and to [[Phoenix Motorcars]], who employs over 150 employees in Ontario.<ref>{{cite news|title=Road for electric car makers full of potholes|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-garage5apr05,0,626587.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Ken Bensinger|date=April 5, 2008|access-date=December 3, 2011}}</ref>

===Top employers===
According to the city's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref name="acfr"/> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
| 1
|[[Ontario International Airport]]
|5,000–9,999
|-
|2
| [[United Parcel Service]] (UPS)
|5,000–9,999
|-
|3
| Workforce Personnel, Inc
|5,000–9,999
|-
|4
| [[Chaffey Joint Union High School District|Chaffey Union High School]]
|1,000-4,999
|-
|5
|City of Ontario
|1,000-4,999
|-
|6
|[[Ontario-Montclair School District]]
|1,000-4,999
|-
|7
| Primary Care Assoc Med Group
|1,000-4,999
|-
|8
| [[FedEx]]
|500-999
|-
|9
| [[The Home Depot]]
|500-999
|-
|10
| [[QVC|QVC, Inc]]
|500–999
|}

===Tourism===
The Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau implemented a tourism marketing district and adopted an aggressive five-year strategic plan focusing on marketing initiatives to bring visitors to the region, build brand and destination awareness while enhancing the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Greater Ontario Visitors and Convention Bureau|url = http://www.discoverontariocalifornia.org/about|website = www.discoverontariocalifornia.org|access-date = December 30, 2015|archive-date = November 17, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024555/http://www.discoverontariocalifornia.org/about|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
Ontario is home to three museums, the Ontario Museum of History and Art, the Chaffey Community Museum of Art, and the Ontario Police Museum.

[[File:The Granada.jpg|thumb|Granada Theatre, {{Circa|1940}}]]

Built in 1925, The Granada Theatre was leased to West Coast Junior Theater. By the 1940s, the theater had become part of the Fox West Coast Theater chain. The Granada Theatre was designed by architect L.A. Smith.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Ontario Designated Landmarks |url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/sites/default/files/Ontario-Files/Planning/Historic_Preservation/designated_landmarks.pdf}}</ref>

Ontario is also the home to the second largest consumer Quilt Show in the United States, ''Road to California''. The quilt show books over 2,400 room nights and has a recorded attendance of over 40,000 attendees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/business/20160225/ontario-convention-center-attracting-more-and-more-conventions |title=Ontario Convention Center attracting more and more conventions |website=dailybulletin.com|date=February 25, 2016 }}</ref>

The Ontario post office contains two oil on canvas murals, ''The Dream'' depicting founder Chaffey with surveyors and ''The Reality'' which shows a view of the completed Euclid Avenue, painted by WPA muralist [[Nellie Geraldine Best]] in 1942.<ref>{{cite news|title=Murals will adorn walls of post office|newspaper=The San Bernardino County Sun |date=October 29, 1942 |page=15 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5071186/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |publisher=San Bernardino Country Sun|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref>

Since 1958, Ontario has placed three-dimensional [[nativity scene]]s on the median of Euclid Avenue during the Christmas season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christmas on Euclid |url=https://gocvb.org/christmas-on-euclid/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=GOCal |language=en-US}}</ref> The scenes, featuring statues by the sculptor Rudolph Vargas, were challenged in 1998 as a violation of [[Separation of church and state|church-state separation]] under the [[California Constitution]] by an atheist resident, but the dispute was resolved when private organizations began funding the storage and labor involved in the set-up and maintenance of the scenery in its entirety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chaffey.org/community/dailybulletin/1990s/1999/1999_12_22_ontario_declares_nativity_historical.html |title=chaffey.org |publisher=chaffey.org |date=December 22, 1999 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>  To support the nativity scenes the Ontario Chamber of Commerce started a craft fair called "Christmas on Euclid".

The All-States Picnic, an [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebration, began in 1939 to recognize the varied origins of the city's residents. Picnic tables lined the median of Euclid Avenue from Hawthorne to E Street, with signs for each of the country's 48 states. The picnic was suspended during [[World War II]], but when it resumed in 1948, it attracted 120,000 people. A 1941 [[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]] cartoon listed Ontario's picnic table as the "world's longest". As native Californians came to outnumber the out-of-state-born, the celebration waned in popularity until it was discontinued in 1981. It was revived in 1991 as a celebration of civic pride.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/livinghere/ci_2733033 |title=dailybulletin.com |publisher=dailybulletin.com |access-date=December 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204124349/http://www.dailybulletin.com/livinghere/ci_2733033 |archive-date=February 4, 2012  }}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Metallica 2008 Ontario California1.jpg|thumb|Toyota Arena]]

The [[Toyota Arena]] is a multipurpose arena which opened in late 2008. It is owned by Ontario, but is operated by SMG Worldwide. It is an 11,000-seat multi-purpose arena, the largest enclosed arena in the [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]]. Over 125 events are held annually featuring sporting competitions, concerts, and family shows.

The arena had been the home of the [[Ontario Reign (ECHL)|Ontario Reign]], a former team in the [[ECHL]], that called the arena home from 2008 to 2015. The [[Los Angeles Kings]]' affiliate played at the 9,736-seat Toyota Arena. In their debut season of 2008–09, they were second in the league in attendance, averaging 5856 fans per game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph_season.php?lid=ECHL1989&sid=2009|title=ECHL 2008-09 team attendance at hockeydb.com|work=hockeydb.com|access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref> The Reign led the [[ECHL]] in average attendance in every subsequent year.

In January 2015, the [[American Hockey League]], a minor league above the [[ECHL]], announced that it was forming a new Pacific Division and would be replacing the ECHL Ontario Reign with a relocated team. The Kings relocated the [[Manchester Monarchs (AHL)|Manchester Monarchs]], a franchise they had owned and operated since 2012, and became the [[Ontario Reign]] beginning with the [[2015–16 AHL season]].

The [[Ontario Motor Speedway]] was located in Ontario, and held races for [[United States Auto Club|USAC]], [[Formula One]], [[National Hot Rod Association|NHRA]], and [[NASCAR]]. It was demolished in 1980 after the [[Chevron Land Company]] bought the property.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-27-sp-7620-story.html|title=California 500 Dreaming : It Was Fun While It Lasted at Ontario Motor Speedway (1970-1980)|website=Los Angeles Times|date=November 27, 1995 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Championships
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Empire Strykers]]
| [[Major Arena Soccer League|MASL]], Indoor soccer
| [[Toyota Arena]]
| 2013
| 0
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal;" | [[Ontario Reign (AHL)|Ontario Reign]]
| [[American Hockey League]], Ice hockey
| [[Toyota Arena]]
| 2015
| 1
|}

==Government==
===Local government===
The city is governed by a five-member council.

[[File:Ontario City Library05apr2006.jpg|thumb|Ontario City Library in 2006]]

According to the 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $399.4 million in revenues, $305.3 million in expenditures, $1,606.0 million in total assets, $317.6 million in total liabilities, and $412.4 million in cash and investments.<ref>[http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=54 City Ontario CAFR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102201141/http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=54 |date=January 2, 2016 }} Retrieved August 14, 2009</ref>

===State and federal representation===
In the [[California State Legislature]], Ontario is in {{Representative|casd|22|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |title=22nd Senate District |url=https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/district#:~:text=22nd%20Senate%20District%20%7C%20Senator%20Susan%20Rubio |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Senator Susan Rubio |language=en}}</ref> and in the 52nd Assembly District by Democrat [[Freddie Rodriguez]].

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Ontario is in {{Representative|cacd|35|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|35}}</ref>

==Education==
Ontario has five school districts: Ontario/Montclair Elementary, Mt View Elementary, Cucamonga Elementary, Chino Unified and Chaffey Joint Union in the City borders. There are also several [[private schools]] throughout the city as well as two private [[military school]]s. Ontario also has nine [[trade school]]s. The [[University of La Verne]] College of Law is located in downtown Ontario. [[National University (California)|National University]], [[Argosy University]], [[San Joaquin Valley College]] and [[Chapman University]] have a [[satellite campus]] near the [[Ontario Mills]] mall. Ontario Christian is located there. [[Gateway Seminary]] has a campus in Ontario.<ref>[https://www.ontarioca.gov/Education#:~:text=Committed%20to%20providing%20a%20world,middle%20school%20Gifted%20and%20Talented Education | City of Ontario, California]</ref>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:EOntarioStation.JPG|thumb|Metrolink train at the East Ontario Station]]

===Transportation===
The [[Ontario International Airport]] provides domestic and international air travel. Because of the many manufacturing companies and warehouses in the city, the airport also serves as a major hub for [[freight]], especially for [[FedEx]] and [[United Parcel Service|UPS]].

Because Ontario is a major hub for passengers and freight, the city is also served by several major [[freeway]]s. [[Interstate 10 (California)|Interstate 10]] and the [[Pomona Freeway]] ([[California State Route 60|State Route 60]]) run east–west through the city. Interstate 10 is north of the Ontario airport while the Pomona freeway is south of the airport. [[Interstate 15 (California)|Interstate 15]] runs in the north–south directions at the eastern side of the city. [[California State Route 83|State Route 83]], also known as Euclid Avenue, also runs in the north–south direction at the western side of the city.

The [[Ontario (Amtrak station)|Amtrak station]] is serviced by the [[Sunset Limited]] and [[Texas Eagle]] lines. The [[Amtrak Thruway]] [[Amtrak Thruway#19|19]] provides twice daily connections from this station to/from  [[Bakersfield station (Amtrak)|Bakersfield]] to the north, and [[San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot|San Bernardino]] to the east, with several stops in between.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://amtraksanjoaquins.com/route19/ | title=Route19 }}</ref>

The Ontario-East [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] [[Ontario–East station|station]] is located off of Haven Avenue. It connects Ontario with much of the Greater Los Angeles area, Orange County, and the San Fernando Valley.

Public bus transportation is provided by [[Omnitrans]]. Additional bus and rail connections to Los Angeles and elsewhere are available at the nearby [[Montclair Transcenter|Montclair station]]. A [[bus rapid transit]] line known as the [[sbX#Purple Line|sbX Purple Line]] is currently being constructed, which will run through the city.

===Cemeteries===
The Bellevue Memorial Park is located on West G Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellevuememorialpark.com/|title=Bellevue Memorial Park|access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite GNIS|239197|Bellview Cemetery}}</ref> Spanish–American War Congressional [[Medal of Honor]] recipient [[Frank Fulton Ross]] is buried there, as is [[George Chaffey]], one of the two founders of the city.<ref>[http://www.vconline.org.uk/frank-f-ross/4594193863 vconline.org.uk]</ref>

===Shopping===
[[Ontario Mills]] is a major shopping mall in Ontario; it is also the largest outlet mall in all of California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-16 |title=Shop at California's Big-Bargain Outlet Malls |url=https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/big-bargain-outlet-malls/#:~:text=Inland%20Empire%20Outlets,you%20plan%20your%20next%20stops. |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Visit California |language=en}}</ref> [[Cardenas (supermarket)|Cardenas]], a supermarket chain specializing in [[Latin American cuisine]], was founded in and is based in Ontario.

==Notable people==
<!-- alphabetize by surname please -->
*[[Hobie Alter]], pioneer surfboard maker and catamaran builder<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hobart |url=https://www.skateboardingheritage.org/archive/skateboarding-heritage-hall-of-fame/hobie-alter-skateboarder/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Skateboarding Heritage Foundation |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=read |first=News·4 min |title=Surf Innovator “Hobie” Alter Passes Away |url=https://freesurfmagazine.com/surf-innovator-hobie-alter-passes-away/?srsltid=AfmBOoqZUchARWJrKaTT5J1m5L3-cFBN7Pck4imEXxmTsEc04wve4-hD |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Freesurf Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Jeff Ayres]], basketball player, [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] [[2014 NBA Finals|champion]] with the [[San Antonio Spurs]]
*[[Rod Barajas]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and six other MLB teams
*[[Madge Bellamy]], actress<ref>{{Cite web|title = Silent-movie star lived here, far from the limelight|url = http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/ZZ/20130422/NEWS/130428895|website = www.dailybulletin.com|access-date = January 7, 2016|date = May 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-01-27 |orig-date=January 27, 1990 |title=Madge Bellamy, 90, 1920's Film Actress |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/27/obituaries/madge-bellamy-90-1920-s-film-actress.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Paul |date=1990-01-26 |orig-date=January 26, 1990 |title=Silent Screen Actress Madge Bellamy, 89 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-26-mn-691-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Jim Brulte]], politician<ref name="chaffey">{{cite web|url=http://www.chaffey.org/alumni/famed_alumni/index.html |title=chaffey.org |publisher=chaffey.org |date=March 22, 2005 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Jason Bowles]], stock car racing driver
*[[Eudora Stone Bumstead]] (1860–1892), poet, hymnwriter
*[[Henry Bumstead]], [[Academy Award]]-winning cinematic art director and designer<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Henry Bumstead |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/henry-bumstead-480402.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220706135309/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/henry-bumstead-480402.html |archive-date=2022-07-06 |access-date=2025-04-16 |work=The Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |date=2006-05-27 |title=Henry Bumstead, 91; Veteran Film Production Designer |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-27-me-bumstead27-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Jack |date=2005-02-05 |title=Henry Bumstead 90th Anniversary Tribute {{!}} Below the Line |url=https://www.btlnews.com/community/henry-bumstead-90th-anniversary-tribute/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Beverly Cleary]], author and [[Newbery Medal]]-winning novelist (1984), ''The Luckiest Girl'' and memoir ''My Own Two Feet''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beverly Cleary |url=https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/beverly-cleary/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.scholastic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Egan |first=Elisabeth |date=2021-03-26 |title=Beverly Cleary Wrote About Real Life, and Her Readers Loved Her for It |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/books/review/beverly-cleary-ramona-quimby.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Andy Clyde]], actor, married in Ontario in 1932
*[[Del Crandall]], MLB player and manager, 11-time All-Star, member of [[1957 World Series]] champion Braves<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jerome |first=David |date=2021-06-02 |orig-date=June 2, 2021 |title=Del Crandall (1930-2021) |url=https://fullertonobserver.com/2021/06/02/del-crandall-1930-2021/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Fullerton Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=2021-05-06 |title=Del Crandall, All-Star Catcher With Champion Braves, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/sports/baseball/del-crandall-dead.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[William De Los Santos]], poet, screenwriter and film director
*[[Joseph Dippolito]], former underboss of the [[Dragna crime family]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-05 |title=Bellevue Memorial Park {{!}}{{!}} The Burial record for: JOSEPH , DIPPOLITO, 1974 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010240/http://bellevue.tombfinder.com/records/88523 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-01 |title=Back in 1969, Mafia leader got support from San Bernardino officials |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/01/01/mafia-leader-got-support-from-san-bernardino-officials/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Landon Donovan]], former [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] and USMNT player; born in Ontario, raised in [[Redlands, California|Redlands]]
*[[Prince Fielder]], baseball player for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Milwaukee Brewers]], and [[Detroit Tigers]]
*[[José Carrera García]], professional footballer 
*[[Ana Patricia González]], winner of [[Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010]] (Our Latin Beauty 2010) and currently appearing on ''[[¡Despierta América!]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleenespanol.com/article/ana-patricia-no-quisiera-vivir-nunca-en-la-mansion-de-la-belleza|title=Ana Patricia: "No quisiera vivir nunca en la Mansión de la belleza"|work=PeopleenEspanol.com|access-date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>
*[[Bill Graber]], pole vaulter
*[[Robert Graettinger]], composer
*[[Cle Kooiman]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Louis |date=2018-05-12 |title=Random thoughts: Cle Kooiman in biggest fight of his life |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/05/12/random-thoughts-cle-kooiman-in-biggest-fight-of-his-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Louis |date=2018-06-09 |title=Community rallies behind soccer coach Cle Kooiman as he fights for life |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/06/09/brewster-community-rallies-behind-cle-kooiman/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Ryan Lane]], actor
*[[Nick Leyva]], manager of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1989–1991)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Pleyvn801.htm |title=Nick Leyva |publisher=Retrosheet.org |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[T Lopez|Christina "T" Lopez]], singer, actress; former member of Latin girl dance-pop band [[Soluna]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qvmagazine.com/qv29/soluna.html |title=Soluna On Fire |publisher=QV Magazine|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070115005019/http://www.qvmagazine.com/qv29/soluna.html |archive-date=January 15, 2007 }}</ref>
*[[Sam Maloof]], furniture designer and woodworker<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |date=2024-05-26 |title=In Sam Maloof’s old workshop, woodworker carries on his legacy |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2024/05/26/in-sam-maloofs-old-workshop-woodworker-carries-on-his-legacy/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Shelly Martinez]], professional wrestler
*[[Anthony Muñoz]], 1998 [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] inductee<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Pete |date=2012-11-14 |title=Hometown Hero: Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz reconnects with Chaffey High |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2012/11/14/hometown-hero-hall-of-famer-anthony-munoz-reconnects-with-chaffey-high/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Press Telegram |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Louis |date=2016-07-23 |title=Anthony Munoz can go home again, to the thrill of football campers |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2016/07/23/anthony-munoz-can-go-home-again-to-the-thrill-of-football-campers/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Al Newman]], former MLB player <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=/Al-Newman.shtml |title=Al Newman Statistics |publisher=The Baseball Cube |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Douglas Northway]], Olympic bronze medalist, swimming<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/doug-northway-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417055230/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/no/doug-northway-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |title=Doug Northway Biography and Statistics |publisher=Sports-reference.com |date=April 28, 1955 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Joan O'Brien]], actress, graduate of [[Chaffey Union High School District]]
*[[Charles Phoenix]], pop culture humorist, historian, author and chef<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |date=2018-08-25 |title=Charles Phoenix: monorails, bowling and meeting the Brady Bunch in Ontario |url=https://www.sgvtribune.com/2018/08/25/charles-phoenix-monorails-bowling-and-meeting-the-brady-bunch-in-ontario/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=San Gabriel Valley Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritz |first=Jessica |date=2025-02-09 |title=Charles Phoenix, Pinup Girl Clothing partner on a capsule collection with kitschy '50s flair - Los Angeles Times |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209180213/https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-pinup-girl-clothing-20180503-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>
*[[Antonio Pierce]], football player
*[[Sol Ruca]], professional wrestler<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Brian |date=2023-03-29 |title=Ontario’s Sol Ruca is the NXT woman up in WWE |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2023/03/29/ontarios-sol-ruca-is-the-nxt-woman-up-in-wwe/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rueter |first=Sean |date=2022-12-24 |title=Sol Ruca’s viral finisher gets a name |url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2022/12/24/23525124/sol-ruca-viral-finisher-video-gif-wwe-name-snatcher |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Cageside Seats |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Joey Scarbury]], singer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1955/june_7_1955_116895.html |title=Joey Scarbury, born in Ontario, California, singer, Greatest American Hero June 7 in History |publisher=Brainyhistory.com |date=June 7, 1955 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Robert Shaw (conductor)|Robert Shaw]], conductor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chaffey.org/alumni/famed_alumni/index.html |title=Alumni Hall of Fame |publisher=Chaffey.org |date=March 22, 2005 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Mike Sweeney]], MLB player for the [[Kansas City Royals]], attended Ontario High School and led 1991 baseball team to undefeated record and state title<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikesweeney.org/content/baseball |title=mikesweeney.org |publisher=mikesweeney.org |access-date=December 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615032755/http://mikesweeney.org/content/baseball |archive-date=June 15, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewster |first=Louis |date=2009-08-04 |title=Sweeney to coach at Ontario again |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2009/08/04/sweeney-to-coach-at-ontario-again/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=writer |first=Lance Pugmire Lance Pugmire is the Los Angeles Times’ former boxing/MMA/Ducks beat |date=2009-02-06 |title=Mike Sweeney answers a call for help |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-06-sp-sweeney-baseball6-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Bobby Wagner]], football player, attended [[Colony High School]]; [[middle Linebacker]] for the [[Super Bowl]] champions [[Seattle Seahawks]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mackey |first=Ashley |date=2022-07-22 |title=Rams star Bobby Wagner hosts youth football camp at Ontario school where he graduated |url=https://abc7.com/bobby-wagner-rams-colony-high-school-ontario/12066375/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Gary |date=2022-06-03 |title=SoCal native Bobby Wagner explains why coming home to Rams literally hits home |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2022-06-02/socal-native-bobby-wagner-feels-at-home-as-a-mnem |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Joseph Wambaugh]], author<ref name="chaffey" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=David |date=2025-03-09 |title=Remembering Joseph Wambaugh, crime writer and Chaffey grad |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2025/03/09/remembering-joseph-wambaugh-crime-writer-and-chaffey-grad/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McFadden |first=Robert D. |date=2025-02-28 |title=Joseph Wambaugh, Author With a Cop’s-Eye View, Is Dead at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/books/joseph-wambaugh-dead.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Frank Zappa]], musician, [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] and [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]<ref name="miles">{{cite book| title = Frank Zappa| first = Barry| last = Miles| publisher=Atlantic Books| location = London| date = 2004|isbn = 978-1-84354-092-2|page=58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-21 |title=Frank Zappa zig-zagged around downtown Ontario in early 1960s |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2019/12/21/frank-zappa-zig-zagged-around-downtown-ontario-in-early-1960s/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-10 |title=Frank Zappa once shared pizza and advice with Ontario teen band |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2021/01/10/frank-zappa-once-shared-pizza-and-advice-with-ontario-teen-band/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
Ontario has five [[town twinning|sister cities]] around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=786 |title=Sister Cities |publisher=City of Ontario, California |access-date=February 2, 2015 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419051638/http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/index.aspx?page=786 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are:
* {{flagdeco|Canada}} [[Brockville, Ontario|Brockville]], [[Ontario]], Canada <small>''(since 1977)''</small>
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Guamúchil]], [[Sinaloa]], Mexico <small>''(since 1982)''</small>
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Mocorito]], Sinaloa, Mexico <small>''(since 1982)''</small>
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Los Mochis]], Sinaloa, Mexico <small>''(since 1988)''</small>
* {{flagdeco|Switzerland}} [[Winterthur]], [[Canton of Zürich]], Switzerland<ref group=note>However, according to the official website by the city of Winterthur, Ontario is not one of its partner cities.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stadt.winterthur.ch/stadt-politik/partnerstaedte/ |title=Partnerstädte |publisher=Stadt Winterthur |type=official site |language=de |location=Winterthur, Switzerland |date=2016 |access-date=September 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927072447/http://stadt.winterthur.ch/stadt-politik/partnerstaedte |archive-date=September 27, 2016  }}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|China}} [[Jieyang]], China<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ontarioca.gov/about-ontario/sister-cities# |title=Sister Cities}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Greater Los Angeles}}
* ''[[Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]]'' (newspaper)
* [[Ontario and San Antonio Heights Railroad Company]]
* ''[[The Daily Report]]'' (newspaper)
* [[List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations]]
* [[Greater Los Angeles Area]]
* [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire Metropolitan Area]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ontario, California}}
{{wikivoyage|Ontario (California)|Ontario, California}}
* {{Official website|www.ontarioca.gov|Official website}}
* [http://www.ontario.org/ Ontario Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Places adjacent to Ontario, California'''
|Northwest = [[Montclair, California|Montclair]]
|North = [[Upland, California|Upland]]
|Northeast = [[Rancho Cucamonga, California|Rancho Cucamonga]]
|West = [[Pomona, California|Pomona]]
|Centre = Ontario
|East = [[Fontana, California|Fontana]]
|Southwest = [[Chino, California|Chino]]
|South = [[Eastvale, California|Eastvale]]
|Southeast = [[Jurupa Valley, California|Jurupa Valley]]
}}
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{{Inland Empire}}
{{San Bernardino County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Southern California megaregion}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ontario, California| ]]
[[Category:Cities in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Pomona Valley]]
[[Category:Populated places in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Chicano and Mexican neighborhoods in California]]