Rialto has seen major growth over the years. At one point, the University of Southern California considered building a campus there.
Rialto’s history dates back to the 1800s when the Santa Fe Railroad developed town sites every 2,600 yards along its connector line between San Bernardino and Pasadena. The Rialto colony was founded in 1887 by the Semi-Tropic Land and Water Company. Shortly after, a group of settlers known as the Kansas Colony purchased the land.
There is a disagreement over how the city received its name. Some believe it comes from a contraction of the Spanish words “Rio” and “Alto,” meaning “high river.” Others believe it was named after the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy.
Rialto was first mentioned in local newspapers in May 1887, promoting new home opportunities for settlers in the region. In 1888, the San Bernardino Daily Courier reported that the University of Southern California was planning to establish a campus in Rialto. The university selected Rialto due to its ideal climate and proximity to San Bernardino, railroads and motor systems for students to use. Unfortunately, the plan fell through due to insufficient funding to purchase the land.
In 1891, the Congregational Church was organized with 18 members. By 1906, the congregation had built its first church designed by H.M. Patterson, which was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the Rialto Historical Society.
By 1911, the citizens of Rialto voted to incorporate as a city. The election results were 135 in favor of incorporation and 72 against it.
Over the decades, Rialto experienced an increase in development and population growth with Foothill Boulevard becoming Highway Route 66 by 1930. In 1950, the population was 3,156, and by 1956 it soared to 15,359.
Today, Rialto is home to several major regional distribution centers and serves as the headquarters for Pyro Spectaculars, one of the largest fireworks companies in the United States. Currently, Rialto’s population is estimated to be over 103,000.
The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.
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