Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Encyclopedia
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
s that became part of the city of Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga, California
Rancho Cucamonga is a suburban city in San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,269, up from 127,743 at the 2000 census. L. Dennis Michael was elected as Mayor on November 2, 2010. Jack Lam is the City Manager...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1977. The community is located in the foothills of the south face of the San Gabriel Mountain range, near Cucamonga Peak and Mount Baldy
Mount San Antonio
Mount San Antonio, commonly known as Old Baldy or Mt Baldy, at , is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, and the highest point in Los Angeles County...
. It is located in the 91701 and 91737 zip codes. The latitude of Alta Loma is 34.122N. The longitude is -117.597W. Its lowest elevation is approximately 1371 feet (417.9 m) and extends to about 3000 feet (914.4 m). The name comes from the Spanish, meaning "high hill" or "high hillside." Alta Loma had previously been known as Iamosa.
Overview
Alta Loma is one of the more affluent areas in San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. It is almost completely residential and as per city ordinance no commercial business may exist above 19th Street, with exception to several businesses already in place when the ordinance was enacted (notably at the intersection of Lemon Avenue and Haven Avenue). In addition, homes north of Banyan Road must have a minimum of 1/2 acre lots, with the exception of the development known as Compass Rose Phase II found directly west of Chaffey College between Banyan and Wilson. Compass Rose Phase II was granted permission for smaller lots provided the development connected to city sewer systems instead of septic tanks. For some reason all of the homes in Compass Rose are on septic tanks.
The community of Alta Loma is located mostly in the northwest corner of Rancho Cucamonga. The exact definitions of the three communities (Cucamonga, Etiwanda
Etiwanda, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Etiwanda is the easternmost of three formerly unincorporated communities that became part of Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States in 1977.-History:...
, and Alta Loma) within the City of Rancho Cucamonga are debatable; however, residents typically consider Alta Loma to be above Baseline Street (Old Route 30), between the eastern edge of Upland
Upland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and west of Day Creek, a boundary later moved to Day Creek Boulevard when the then-future road was plotted on Chamber of Commerce maps dating to about 1980. Most street signs in the Rancho Cucamonga area stretching from Carnelian Street to Milliken Avenue, and Baseline Road to the mountains, have an Alta Loma logo.
Some residents of Rancho Cucamonga, especially those in the former Cucamonga area, have challenged the city council to get rid of the names 'Alta Loma' and 'Etiwanda,' accusing residents in those areas of keeping the names out of arrogance. The three communities incorporated after years of debate and at least one failed attempt on the ballot. Residents of Alta Loma and Etiwanda finally agreed to incorporation provided their identifying community names would be kept along with separate post offices and zip codes. In addition, businesses are permitted to use either Alta Loma or Rancho Cucamonga on letterheads, business permits, and other records.
Alta Loma and the rest of Cucamonga was formerly home to old citrus groves and grape vineyards. The reason many homes above Banyan Street, in particular, have orange and lemon trees on their property may be attributed to this; many horse trails are lined with eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees, which are former windbreaks for the groves. This is also the reason why grape vineyards can still be seen in the City of Rancho Cucamonga between office buildings and shopping malls, however, many of these vineyards have been replaced with housing and business developments.
Geography
Most of the homes in the foothills of Alta Loma and Etiwanda sit on alluvial fans punctuated by deep debris canyons. Some of these canyons are used for water collection and thus the area does not typically take water from the Colorado RiverColorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
.
Cucamonga Canyon in particular is a favorite among hikers, although dangerous due to the rough terrain, loose rocks, possible flooding, poison oak, bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, bobcats, and other wildlife. Far up the canyon are the Cucamonga Falls, which have occasionally caused contention between the city council, residents, and developers, due to developers wanting to build homes over the falls.
Several high voltage transmission lines cross the community's northern edge just at the base of the mountains creating an effective barrier to further development except in the case of the hills above Beryl Street, home to a former Christmas tree farm, which has been slated for development of sixty, $1 million homes across approximately 300 acres (1.2 km²).
The Alta Loma area experiences high winds known in the Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
and the rest of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
as the "Santa Ana Winds." Heavy rain storms in the past created the need for 12–18 ft (3.7–5.5 m) concrete flood control channels to prevent severe flooding that historically killed many people, including a young mother and her two children in 1981 at the intersection of Beryl and 19th Streets.
The northern parts of Alta Loma are also frequently visited by private planes, sometimes performing acrobatic stunts, using VFR.
Alta Loma rests on the Cucamonga-Sierra Madre earthquake fault. It is a thrust fault
Thrust fault
A thrust fault is a type of fault, or break in the Earth's crust across which there has been relative movement, in which rocks of lower stratigraphic position are pushed up and over higher strata. They are often recognized because they place older rocks above younger...
, meaning the sides of the fault push toward each other. Several other earthquake faults pass through the area, too.
Grand Prix Fire
Old Fire
The Old Fire was a wildfire that started on October 25, 2003 in the San Bernardino Mountains, in San Bernardino County of southern California.It was one of over a dozen wildfires burning in Southern California wildlands at the same time...
.
The Grand Prix fire, which began October 21, 2003, ripped across the mountains behind Alta Loma and Etiwanda for six days. Overgrown brush fueled fire, which ran across the mountain tops and higher foothills to eventually fly into the canyons that are surrounded by homes. The Grand Prix fire destroyed 13 homes (including 2 mobile homes) and damaged 9 others in Alta Loma. Five outbuildings were also destroyed.
Notable residents
- Sam MaloofSam MaloofSam Maloof was a furniture designer and woodworker. He was born in Chino, California, USA, to parents who emigrated to the United States from Lebanon...
, world-renowned woodworker, lived in Alta Loma. His work is featured in museums around the United States, including the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. His home is a State of California historical landmark. During the construction of the 210 freeway, Maloof's home was moved from the 210 freeway corridor to the top of Carnelian street, where the home is now a museum. The official buildings for the Inland Empire's Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts is currently being built on the property. - George ChaffeyGeorge ChaffeyGeorge Chaffey was a Canadian–born engineer who with his brother William developed large parts of Southern California, including what became the community of Etiwanda and cities of Ontario, and Upland...
- William ChaffeyWilliam ChaffeyWilliam Benjamin Chaffey was a Canadian engineer and irrigation planner who with his older brother George Chaffey developed what became the cities of Etiwanda, Ontario, and Upland in California, United States of America; and the city of Mildura, Victoria, Australia, as well as the town of Renmark,...
- Erik Emerson Shilling, one of the "Flying TigersFlying TigersThe 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force in 1941–1942, famously nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was composed of pilots from the United States Army , Navy , and Marine Corps , recruited under presidential sanction and commanded by Claire Lee Chennault. The ground crew and headquarters...
" pilots with the American Volunteer GroupAmerican Volunteer GroupThe American Volunteer Groups were volunteer air units organized by the United States government to aid the Nationalist government of China against Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War...
(AVG) who fought the Japanese in the skies over China and Burma only days the United States entered World War II. Mr Shilling was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Clusters, World War II Victory Ribbon, and the Chinese Cloud Banner. Mr. Shilling is also the author of "Destiny: A Flying Tiger's Rendezvous With Fate". - Alan HaskvitzAlan HaskvitzMr. Alan Paul Haskvitz is a teacher and author. He has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame and was named as a "Hero in Education" by Reader's Digest. He currently teaches eighth grade history at Suzanne Middle School in Walnut, California...
, National Teacher's Hall of Fame educator served as a city commissioner for many years. - Thomas Gnyra, Actor and Screenwriter
- Eric WeddleEric WeddleEric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:...
, current free safety for the San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Carlos BocanegraCarlos BocanegraCarlos Manuel Bocanegra is an American soccer player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and is the captain of the United States national team.-Chicago Fire:...
, captain of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team.
Other notable Alta Loma landmarks
- Demens-Tolstoy house (c.1890) 9686 Hillside, east of Archibald. Surrounded by several acres eucalyptus, lemon groves, and orange trees until 2005, when developers began building homes, the Demens-Tolstoy house is a famous place in Alta Loma. It was built and owned by Peter DemensPeter DemensPeter Demens born Pyotr Alexeyevitch Dementyev is one of the founders of the U.S. city of Saint Petersburg, Florida.-Early life:Peter Demens was born to a wealthy family in the Tver Oblast of Russia. Demens was a well educated aristocrat who was also liberal-minded. "Demens' father had left him...
, a Tolstoy family relative. Although families have lived in the Demens-Tolstoy home since the original owners, these people must keep the grounds and house in a good condition. - Sam Maloof house
- Old Alta Loma post office (c. 1906), Baseline and Amethyst, now home to the famous Dr. Strange Records.
Structures and monuments
- Cherbak House (c. 1921) 9983 Hillside
- Schowalter House (c. 1913) 5495 Hermosa
- Schowalter Rock Pile (c. 1913) north side of Hillside, east of Hermosa
- Thorpe House (c. 1916) 9588 Wilson
- G.P. Ledig House (c. 1898) 5767 Hellman
- Warren/Thorpe House (c. 1877) 6112 Hellman
- Goerlitz House (c. 1902) 6156 Hellman
- Alta Loma School (c. 1921) 9480 19th
- Alta Loma Honor Roll (c. 1942) 6623 Amethyst
- Ledig House (c. 1895) 9404 La Vine
- Alta Loma Heights Citrus Association Packing House (c. 1914) 7125 Amethyst
- Henry Albert Building (c. 1920s) 7136 Amethyst
- Alta Loma Fire Hall (c. 1938) 7152 Amethyst
- Roth's Store/Post Office (c. 1915) 7157 Amethyst
- Roberds House (c. 1910) 7201 Amethyst
- Charles Stoebe House (c. 1895) 6710 Beryl
Native American ruins
- Similar to the Mount San AntonioMount San AntonioMount San Antonio, commonly known as Old Baldy or Mt Baldy, at , is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, and the highest point in Los Angeles County...
area of the Eastern San Gabriel range, which includes Mount Baldy, Alta Loma's foothills contain artifacts left by the original Native Americans. Some of these were burned and partially destroyed by the Grand Prix Fire in 2003. Many of the ruins also sit on land owned by Paul Biane, the current second district supervisor for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and former Rancho Cucamonga councilman.
Schools
Higher education- Chaffey CollegeChaffey CollegeChaffey College is a public community college in the San Bernardino County city of Rancho Cucamonga, California, in the northern part of the community of Alta Loma. Chaffey provides students with different classes and programs, including business, science, the arts, history, philosophy,...
; known in the colloquial as Harvard on the Hill or UHTR (Up Haven, Turn Right) or UCLH (University of California, Left on Haven).
High schools
- Alta Loma High SchoolAlta Loma High SchoolAlta Loma High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States, that was established in 1963...
- Los Osos High SchoolLos Osos High SchoolLos Osos High School is one of eight public schools in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. LOHS is locate in the city of Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California's Inland Empire in the United States.-Academics:...
- Rancho Cucamonga High SchoolRancho Cucamonga High SchoolRancho Cucamonga High School is one of nine high schools in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. RCHS is located in the city of Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California's Inland Empire. Rancho Cucamonga High School opened in August 1992 with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 ninth to...
Junior high schools
- Alta Loma
- Vineyard
- Etiwanda Intermediate School
- Alta Loma Christian School
Alta Loma Junior High School has won the Presidential Physical Fitness
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition , is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sport"...
testing nine years in a row, shown on the District Website.
Elementary schools
- Alta Loma
- Carleton P. Lightfoot
- Banyan
- Carnelian
- Deer Canyon
- Hermosa
- Jasper
- Floyd M. Stork
- Victoria Groves
- Alta Loma Christian School
- Terra Vista
External links
- LAtimes.com, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
article on Rancho Cucamonga - Rancho-Cucamonga.ca.us (pdf), Official City of Rancho Cucamonga timeline, October 2003 Grand Prix Fire
- Home.att.net, Personal webpage on Inland Empire history with local maps and bibliographies
- Ranco-Cucamonga.ca.us, Official City of Rancho Cucamonga historical landmarks bike tour