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Ontario, CA


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Ontario, California

Introduction to Ontario, California

Incorporated in 1891, Ontario is California's 23rd largest city. It is home to approximately 170,000 inhabitants. Ontario lies within the metropolitan area of Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario which houses about 3.5 million people. It is known as part of "The Inland Empire" because at one time there was no built-up urban landscape between it and Los Angeles. Ontario is 47 miles east of Los Angeles and 36 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

From 1881 to 1887, two brothers named George and William Chaffey, both engineers, founded Ontario. They named it after the Canadian province they hailed from. Like nearby Riverside, their "Model Colony" was intended to be dry and well balanced between work, education, and religion. Also like Riverside, they provided a system of irrigation for agriculture. Oranges, lemons, olives, and grapes were cultivated. Easterners were drawn to the city as they sought a warm climate conducive to their individual health needs.

In July, the average daily high temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the average daily low is 63 degrees. January daily highs and lows average 68 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some of the significant employers in Ontario, whose largest sector is manufacturing, with 20% of all employees, are:

  • Sunkist Growers, Incorporated
  • Mag Instrument, Inc., maker of Maglite flashlights
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Graber Olives
  • Ontario International Airport

Arts and Leisure

Ontario entertainment and leisure attractions include:

  • The Ontario Museum of History and Art
  • The Ontario Mills Mall, Southern California's largest outlet shopping mall
  • The Graber Olive House
  • The Scandia Amusement Park
  • GameWorks, an entertainment destination conceived by Steven Spielberg
  • The rest of Southern California, known for its culture and entertainment
  • Sports teams and cultural attractions in metropolitan Los Angeles

Comparative Profile of Ontario, CA

Comparing Ontario to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Children Under 5 Years Old1010
Male Share of the Population98
Racial Diversity88
Female Share of the Population23
Well-Paid Single Men13
Age of the Population12
Senior Citizens11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size109
Portion of People Married107

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty54
Median Family Income54
People in Middle Class or Better33
College Educated Adults13

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work55
Public Transportation Use57
Working at Home43
Short Commute Times23

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built87
Affordability of Property Taxes77
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals67
Affordability of Rents36
People Living Alone13
Seasonal and Vacation Housing12

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Property Crime73
Low Violent Crime73

Detailed pages on related topics: Ontario colleges • Ontario travel • Ontario mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Ontario CollegesOntario Colleges
Ontario colleges and trade schools.
Ontario Hotels & TravelOntario Hotels & Travel
Ontario hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Ontario MortgageOntario Mortgage
Ontario property, mortgage, and real estate.

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Places Similar to Ontario

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Additional Resources


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Info for Ontario Government Officials

Are you an official in the Ontario government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.

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