Introduction to Ontario, California
Incorporated in 1891, Ontario is within the metropolitan area of Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario. 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 and the average daily low is 63 degrees. January daily highs and lows average 68 and 45 degrees.
Some of the significant employers in Ontario, whose largest sector is manufacturing, 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.