San Bernardino County history: Colton – Welcome to San Bernardino County

The city of Colton has served as a crossroads and center of regional activity for more than 100 years. It was named after David Douty Colton, who was vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

Colton’s first inhabitants were the Serrano, Guachama and San Gorgonio Indians. The first settlement occurred in the 1800s with the Jurupa and San Bernardino ranchos. The ranchos supported agricultural activity that was critical to the region. Eventually, the ranchos were subdivided, and small ranches and citrus orchards spread throughout the area.

Railroad activity and citrus orchards made Colton a booming town with businesses and residents supporting railroad operations. The town became known as “Hub City” for its strategic location near transportation centers for businesses.

In south Colton, many residents built their own homes using disassembled wooden crates from railroad shipments. While the citrus industry eventually declined, railroad activity expanded to accommodate regional lines running both east-west and north-south.

Businesses that depended on the railroad for delivery and shipment were established along the rail lines, which created large tracts of industrial land, many of which still exist today. Residential settlements were also built adjacent to the rail and industrial operations, which allowed residents to walk to their jobs.

During that time, notable figures like Virgil Earp, a sibling of Wyatt Earp, lived in Colton from 1883 to 1889 and became the town’s first marshal. In 1875, Colton became incorporated, and today, the city’s population is over 53,000.

The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.

Additional County Update News – March 6, 2025