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WHEN
Year discovered/founded and incorporated:
1881 and was incorporated in 1888.
WHERE
​Where in California is it located?
Redlands, is part of, San Bernardino county, in southern California. It is located about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is situated in the southwestern corner of the San Bernardino Valley, surrounded by peaks more than 10,000 feet high.
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Who were the original tribal land inhabitants on which it was built?
The area now occupied by Redlands was originally part of the territory of the Morongo and Aguas Calientes tribes of Cahuilla people.
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WHO
Who were the historical people that discovered/established this city and where were they from?
In 1842, Don Antonio Maria Lugo and his family bought the Rancho San Bernardino Mexican land grant, and this became the first fixed settler civilization in the area. Don Lugo was born in California that belonged to Spain but after independence he became a Mexican Citizen. The area northwest of current Redlands, astride the Santa Ana River, would become known as Lugonia. In 1851, the area received its first Anglo inhabitants in the form of several hundred Mormon pioneers, who purchased the entire Rancho San Bernardino, founded nearby San Bernardino, and established a prosperous farming community watered by the many lakes and streams of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Mormon community sold the property to Dr. Ben Barton and left in 1857.
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​HOW
​How did the city come together?
The first settler on the site of the present Redlands is recorded to have erected a hut at the corner of what is now Cajon St. and Cypress Ave.; he was a sheep herder, and the year, 1865," reported Ira L. Swett in "Tractions of the Orange Empire." Lugonia attracted settlers; in 1869, Barry Roberts, followed a year later by the Craw and Glover families. "The first schoolteacher in Lugonia, George W. Beattie, arrived in 1874.
How did the city of Redlands change the shape and impact the State of California?
Redlands – known in 1900 as “The City of Millionaires” and later as “The City of Beautiful Homes,” is a quintessential “big town” with a “small town” feel. For much of its history Redlands was the “Washington Navel Orange Growing Capital of the World” with the citrus industry as the focus of its economy. In the mid-late 20th Century, Redlands was home to various light manufacturing firms, and became a bedroom community for the military personnel. and contractor employees of the aerospace industry that supported missions at Norton Air Force Base, as well as the Lockheed Propulsion Company plant in Mentone. Education levels in Redlands are quite high compared to the national average, and the public-school system is ace.
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​WHAT
What did I see on my travels to this city?
I went on a field trip with my 4th grade class in Redlands and we saw a lot of big and old mansions. Redlands is known for its Orange groves and we usually see these while we drive to our Indian Church some Saturdays. I've been to its weekly farmers’ market events. I've also visited the San Bernardino County Museum, in Redlands, a regional museum and saw special exhibits, the Exploration Station live animal discovery center, and, extensive research collections.
What are some Historical landmarks?
The Kimberly Crest House, The Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands Bowl.
What are some of the fun facts of these cities?
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Redlands was the first city in the state to require driver’s licenses.
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Redlands High School is the oldest high school in California still operating in its original spot.
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The Redlands Bowl, built in 1930, is the longest running venue in the world where no admission is charged.
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Sources
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. (2013, May). Redlands. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Redlands
Kids Encyclopedia Facts. (2020, May 22, Modified). Redlands, California Facts for Kids. Retrieved from https://kids.kiddle.co/Redlands,_California
Triposo Travel Guide. (Accessed May 2020). Redlands, California History. Retrieved from https://www.triposo.com/loc/Redlands2C_California/history/background
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