The Inland Empire Grows into its Name
by Amanda Bartley

Growth in the Inland Empire has been hitting proportions as this “once weigh-station” blossoms into its own self-sufficient hub.

Through the course of decades the lands of suburban overflow from Los Angeles have attempted to be distinguished as something more than a mere “afterword” to that great city to the West.  A span of roughly thirty to forty miles divides residents from the hub that has, in the past, so wholly been the center of life.  Residents of the Inland Empire still pay homage to the greater “mother city,” Los Angeles, from a distance. A typically 1-2 hour commute to work and recreation sharpens the pain that empties our pockets and unsettles our nerves.  But, most recently there has been born a welcoming change.
For years this distance from Los Angeles has induced a sense of dislocation amongst many residents, stimulating the extensive growth and development which is currently taking place in many cities, such as Claremont, Upland, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Fontana.  Through the development of these cities, a lack of identity and the need to commute has been lessened.  More jobs and types of recreation are becoming available.   Our once distant, “outsider” cities are uniting to recreate “the modern day village,” in order to better experience comfort, convenience, and a closely bonded community.

The initial need and desire for comfort and stability arose directly following the end of World War II.  As Los Angeles continued to grow over the expanse of the earlier half of the twentieth century, the onset of the 1950’s conceptualized and shaped what has come to be known as the “American Dream.”  Television captured the imagination of American families and urged them to participate in active consumerism.  Advertisements and the media continually stressed the urgency to modernize—to conform, even.  As with other major cities, such as New York and Chicago, a building pressure began to reverberate throughout Los Angeles.  One by one, middle-class families began to realize what was being placed before them: a new life.  America’s citizens were growing weary of rationed meat, victory gardens, and nickel and dime stores.  It was high time that society became capable of breaking free from despair and compromise; our exhausted parents and grandparents stood back and took a look at what was in store for them.  Small suburban cities started popping up all around Los Angeles, and a new trend began taking place.

Upper and middle-class families ventured away from the familiar (Los Angeles) and into the unknown.  Pasadena, Pomona, and Ontario were among the first suburbs that took shape and became independent of Los Angeles.  Although Pasadena had become incorporated much prior to WWII, for many years it had served as a winter home / getaway area for many affluent, eastern families that did not care to live directly within Los Angeles.  Because these families often chose to winter in Pasadena, rather than in Los Angeles, it is evident that Los Angeles, at that time, still represented the center of commerce, entertainment, and business in Southern California. 

Around the early 1900’s, Pomona and Ontario were formed, mostly out of necessity.  Ontario, originally rural farmlands, eventually grew with the development of the airfield that is widely known, today, as LAX/Ontario International Airport.  Pomona also served as a marker of change and development: it started out small, as a vast land full of citrus groves, accompanied by the fairgrounds.  It also served as a stopping place for travelers who were making their way to or from Los Angeles.  It is key to remember that before technology brought us modern cars, it was quite a lengthy trip even from San Bernardino to Los Angeles, so Pomona acted as a place where travelers could stop, get some rest, and have a bite to eat before finishing their trip.  These travelers and eventually developers who saw opportunity knocking were the visionaries who planted the seed that would grow over the following decades.  Other cities eventually spilled from this framework, creating a network of suburban life: the Inland Empire. 

It is quite obvious that suburbanization and the trend of moving inland took place (and still is taking place) for many reasons, one of which is transportation.  Transportation proved to change dramatically during the twentieth century.  In the early 1900’s, American citizens traveled within a much smaller radius of their home, either by carriage or by horseback.  In 1908, Henry Ford changed convention with the Model-T automobile; and a within a few decades, many Americans had the opportunity to move beyond their previous scope of the world. 

In 1956, Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act that delegated 33.5 billion dollars to building an Interstate Highway System, thus greatly increasing human mobility and the growth of the suburbs.  The 1970 U.S. Census recorded that this was the first year the suburban population outnumbered rural and city populations.  Finally, by 1998, the U.S. Census stated that half (49.9%) of the nation’s population lived within suburbs.

The relationship between transportation and the suburbs is an interesting one: while it once enabled middle-class Americans to escape crime, crowding, and other inhospitable conditions, this same relationship is one that now pains suburban residents via gas prices and traffic.  Suburbanization was once the quickest and most innovative solution to a number of social problems.  Now, it has succeeded in creating various new problems of its own. 

Just as driving time and gas prices have increased, housing prices, too, have skyrocketed in the suburbs.  The median price for homes in L.A. County is close to a half million dollars, while the prices of homes in San Bernardino are climbing not far behind. Comparatively, these two medians are representative of the largest and most significant relationship between an urban city and its suburbs.  While the U.S. Census illustrates proof that suburbs have been growing, comparative housing prices make evident the reason why this change has persistently occurred.  Buyers in this part of southern California often face two options: 1) spend more for a home in an urban city—possibly a home that is small in square-footage, lacks adequate parking, and has no yard, or 2) spend less for a home in the suburbs that often is brand-new or has been updated and is spacious with numerous accommodations. 

For these added benefits, Southern Californians have chosen to move out to areas like the Inland Empire and increase their drive time.  We still dream the American Dream.  In the suburbs, families can live a wholesome life, whether they are taking the dog for a walk, sending their children to a safe public school, or simply watching trees grow in their backyard. 
Communities have, therefore, been making recent efforts to enhance the quality of life in suburban cities. Cities are creating their own infrastructures: self-contained shopping areas, entertainment areas, and office areas. As land becomes more scarce, even in suburban areas, it becomes apparent that the next step is to improve and enhance parts of a city that have already been in existence. 

The development of “The Claremont Village West,” for example, is a project that offers a suburbanite all he or she needs just a few minutes from home.  In fact, this project is really a culmination of many projects.  One portion involves renovating the old packinghouse, directly west of Indian Hill Boulevard, utilizing the renovated building for a number of purposes, including restaurants, shopping, art galleries and various forms of entertainment.

Within the same area, a Laemelle theatre and new, live/work lofts are being established. Extending beyond the Packinghouse and lining once empty Indian Hill are dozens of new retail stores, restaurants, and cafes. As a final centerpiece, Casa 425, a “boutique hotel” offers high end respite to Claremont visitors. To accommodate the influx of traffic these new constructions will draw, a parking structure has been erected in an attempt to alleviate street parking saturation.  It is the city’s hope that these new constructions will encourage community interaction and business, provide new local recreation and job opportunities for residents, and attract consumerism from residents who reside outside of Claremont city limits. It is clear that the types of businesses Claremont has chosen to inhabit their new development are well thought out. The venues are quaint, elegant, original, or sophisticated.

With the assured success of a carefully planned Claremont growth, it is only a matter of time before other Inland Empire cities follow.

By making suburbia satisfy all needs of its residents, it will become easier to loosen the ties that Los Angeles has in connection with suburban cities.  The goal is not - and has never been - to destroy the ties which link these cities with their urban parent.  Los Angeles still will play a great role in offering a “big city” experience and sophistication. But it is key that each town can offer its own more humble and simpler diversions, as we attempt to combat global warming, economic downturn, and perpetual road rage.  Without the need to commute, we can spend our saved hours eating with our families, going to ballet practice, attending little league games, or simply improving and maintaining personal relationships.  It is important to remember why our relatives ventured out into suburban areas: to experience a simpler, more complete way of life.  May we hope that the Inland Empire’s responsible growth will continue to enable that dream to reach fruition.