Any resident that lives in Rancho Cucamonga will tell you how much they love this city, which restaurants are their favorite and where they prefer to shop for groceries, but few can tell you the history of this culturally diverse and tranquil city.
In case you were curious, I decided to do a little research and give you some key points detailed below:
Around 1200 A.D. Native Americans, known as the Kucamongan Native Americans congregated and set up their living quarters around the landmass we now know as Red Hill.
When the Spaniards set out to explore North America, captain Gaspar de Portola led a group of soldiers and Franciscan monks in hopes to colonize the area in 1769.
As Spain started losing control of Baja California in the 19th century and Mexico gained its independence from the Crown, land was now open for granting by the governor of Mexico, Juan Bautista Alvarado. Tubercio Tapia was granted 13,000 acres of land around the area called Cucamonga, which he used to successfully establish a winery; known to us today as the Thomas Winery. He also used this newly acquired land to herd cattle.
In the mid 19th century, John Rains and his wife Maria Merced Williams de Rains purchased the Rancho de Cucamonga from Tapia’s daughter and Mr. Rains was able to vastly expand the vineyards before he was murdered in 1862.
The rancho period ended once transportation and the availability of water became readily accessible thanks to the formation of the Cucamonga Company by Isaias Hellman and other San Francisco businessmen. Soon thereafter many men and women gradually moved into the area.
After two colonies formed by Hellman, from the Cucamonga Homestead Association and Adolph Petsch along with four other investors combined to form Ioamosa in 1887, Alta Loma eventually came into existence in 1913.
George Chaffey significantly changed the eastern community of Etiwanda where by 1913 the small community could proudly say they had streetlights, rock curbs and paved streets. This wasn’t the only accomplishment; the first long distance call in Southern California from San Bernardino to Etiwanda happened thanks to Mr. Chaffey’s employment of hydroelectric power.
Once the need for affordable housing increased for families from the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, an influx of people headed to Alta Loma, Etiwanda and Cucamonga who were attracted by the low housing prices. On November 1977 the proposal of a new city became a reality when 59 percent of the majority agreed with the incorporation of Rancho Cucamonga.
This is how Rancho Cucamonga became the great city it is today full of rich history and local accomplishments.
Having lived in Rancho Cucamonga for over 10 years now, I can easily say that it is a wonderful city to live in and I want to help you find your next home in Rancho Cucamonga as well because I am confident that you will love it here! I look forward to your call at (909) 938-1388.
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