Alta Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, California Explained

Alta Loma (Spanish for "Tall Hill") is one of three unincorporated areas that became part of the city of Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States in 1977.[1] The community is located at in the foothills of the south face of the San Gabriel Mountain range, near Cucamonga Peak and Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy). Its ZIP codes are 91701 and 91737. Elevation ranges from 1400feet to 3000feet. The name comes from the Spanish words for "high hill."[2] Alta Loma had previously been known as "Iamosa".[3]

Overview

Alta Loma is an affluent area in San Bernardino County.[4] It is almost completely residential and, by city ordinance, no commercial business may exist above 19th Street, with the exception of several businesses already in place when the ordinance was enacted (such as the intersection of Lemon Avenue and Haven Avenue). In addition, homes north of Banyan Street must have a minimum of 1/2 acre lots, with the exception of the development known as "Compass Rose Phase II", directly west of Chaffey College (between Banyan Street and Wilson Avenue).

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 much of 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 trees, which are former windbreaks for the groves. Even among the office buildings and shopping malls that have been built in recent decades, the occasional patch of greenfield has a few rows of grapevines.

History

Grand Prix Fire

Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma and Etiwanda were most affected by the October 2003 Grand Prix fire, which combined with the Old Fire.[5] The Grand Prix fire, which began October 21, 2003, ripped across the mountains just above and, in some places, down into 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. It destroyed 13 homes (including 2 mobile homes) and five outbuildings, and damaged 9 others in Alta Loma.

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 River.

Cucamonga Canyon in particular is a favorite among hikers,[6] 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.

The Alta Loma area experiences high winds known in the Inland Empire and the rest of Southern California as the "Santa Ana winds." Heavy rain storms in the past created the need for 12- concrete flood control channels to prevent severe flooding.

Alta Loma rests on the Cucamonga-Sierra Madre Fault.[7] It is a thrust fault, meaning the sides of the fault push toward each other. Several other faults pass through the area, too, including the San Andreas Fault system, of which most of the area's faults are a part.

Notable people

Landmarks

Historical landmarks

Schools

Higher education

High schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Hickcox, Robert L.: "Dates in the History of Etiwanda, California"
  2. Book: William Bright. Erwin Gustav Gudde. 1500 California place names: their origin and meaning. 20 January 2012. 30 November 1998. University of California Press. 978-0-520-21271-8. 14. Note, however, that the words are in the wrong order for Spanish, in which it would properly be written as "Loma Alta".
  3. Shrieve, Krystn, "Losing Track 1998-1941 Tracing the past; eyeing the future (Turning those old rails into new trails)," Daily Bulletin, Sunday, September 13, 1998
  4. Web site: Census.gov . 2006-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120101212356/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0659451.html . 2012-01-01 . dead .
  5. http://www.incidentcontrol.com/grandprixfire/index.html IncidentControl.com
  6. http://www.dankat.com/advents/uprcuc.htm Dankat.com
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20031211072749/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/12/1208_031208_earthquakes.html NationalGeographic.com
  8. Web site: AmericanArt.si.edu . 2006-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060709094911/http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibits/maloof/ . 2006-07-09 . dead .
  9. Web site: Rossi . J.R. . AVG Books written by Flying Tigers . The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force.
  10. http://www.ci.rancho-cucamonga.ca.us/oral_history/peter_ann_tolstoy.htm Rancho-Cucamonga.ca.us
  11. Web site: Solomon. Marcus. Dr. Strange Interview. Spontaneous Combustion. 2013-03-16.
  12. Web site: 13th Annual / 2012 Report to the Community. Chaffey College. PDF. October 9, 2012.
  13. Web site: Chaffey Joint Union High School District: Schools. Chaffey Joint Union High School District. 2013-03-19.
  14. Web site: Alta Loma School District Website. Alta Loma School District. 2013-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20130404022701/http://www.alsd.k12.ca.us/alsd/site/default.asp. 2013-04-04. dead.
  15. Web site: Alta Loma Christian School Website. Alta Loma Christian School. 2013-03-19.

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