CHINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA

'Chino Hills' is a suburb of Los Angeles located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The city had a total population of 290,000 as of 2007.^[1]
Chino Hills was ranked 68th in Money Magazine's "Best places to live 2005".^[2] Chino Hills is generally considered a part of the Chino Valley.

Contents

History

Pre-development

Development

Government

City council

Police and fire

Geography

Physical geography

City layout

Demographics

Asian American population

Demographic history

Education

Notable natives

Transportation

Highways in or near Chino Hills

Public transportation

Media

References

External links

History

Pre-development

After the Spanish founded Mission San Gabriel in 1771, the Chino Hills were used extensively for grazing by mission cattle. During the Mexican Republic era, the hills were used as spillover grazing from such surrounding Mexican ranchos as Santa Ana del Chino and La Sierra Yorba. After Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848, the land was still used primarily for grazing.
This land was sold to Richard Gird, the founder of nearby Chino.^[3] With the building of the Carbon Canyon Mineral Springs in the modern-day Sleepy Hollow region of the city and the new Los Serranos Country Club in Los Serranos, Chino Hills, California, the area became a destination for both Los Angeles tourists and bootleggers during the prohibition because of its isolation. For the same reason, Sleepy Hollow became a destination for hippies and artists during the 60s. During the late 1980s, an incorporation effort began and in 1991, the city was incorporated with a population of 42,000.^[4]

Development

Due to its topography of rolling hills, Chino Hills was primarily rural prior to the mid 1970s; most land was utilized for equestrian purposes and for dairies. Rapid and extensive housing developments followed throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, only slowing down in recent years. Most neighborhoods are arranged in a village-type format with strategically placed shopping centers and parks designed to be within walking distance of nearby homes.^[5]
Areas of the city adjoining the Orange County line are still primarily rural due to their relative isolation from transportation networks.

The future Shoppes at Chino Hills

Chino Hills is home to the Vellano Country Club, a private golf course and housing development designed by golf champion Greg Norman, his first project in the Los Angeles area. With home prices expected to exceed $2 million, ''Vellano'' was touted (as of 2005) as the most expensive housing development in the Inland Empire,^[6] a region considered a bastion of affordable housing in the Los Angeles area.
Chino Hills also includes the large neighborhood of Los Serranos. Other large master-planned communities include "Woodview", ''Gordon Ranch'', ''LeBand Village'', ''Butterfield Ranch'' and ''Payne Ranch''.
Chino Hills is also the future location of The Shoppes at Chino Hills. Aside from featuring 40 upscale stores, and restaurants, The Shoppes will also be home to a new civic center, and up to 200 apartments and Live/Work townhomes.
There has been much controversy regarding ''The Shoppes'', specifically among residents who frequently access Chino Hills Community Park. In order to build the center, the park had to be torn down. To alleviate the frustration expressed by residents, the City Council opted to move rebuild the park at a larger location about a mile away. ^[7]
The average home price in Chino Hills as of August 2006 is $623,758.

Government

Chino Hills follows the Council-Manager model of government. The city is governed by a city council which establishes all city ordinances, approves plans, adopts budgets, etc. The council appoints the city manager who enforces laws and, in essence, runs the city's day-to-day operations.^[8]

City council

The city council is elected by city residents and, within the council, rotates the position of mayor. Once elected, the city council members serve a four-year term. The five city council members meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month,^[9] with opportunity for residents to voice their opinion during the open forum. The meetings are broadcasted via the city's television station and streaming via the city's website.

Fire Station #62, located on the southern end of Chino Hills

Police and fire

Chino Hills does not have its own police department. Rather, it contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Chino Hills station.^[10] The Chino Hills station also serves the unincorporated area between Montclair and Chino,^[11] which includes an area known as Narod.
The city contracts with the Chino Valley Independent Fire District. The department has three stations located throughout Chino Hills.^[12]

Geography

Physical geography

Chino Hills is located at (33.975267, -117.723054).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.2 km² (44.9 mi²)
much of which is undeveloped rolling hills
including the Chino Hills State Park.
116.1 km² (44.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.16%) is water.

City layout

The city of Chino Hills is bounded by the Los Angeles County cities of Pomona and Diamond Bar to the north and to the northwest, the San Bernardino County city of Chino to the east, unincorporated Riverside County near Corona to the south and southeast, and the Orange County cities of Brea and Yorba Linda to the west and southwest, respectively.
The eastern border of Chino Hills is formed the Chino Valley Freeway (SR-71), which offers access to the Pomona Freeway (SR-60) to the north and the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) to the south. Undeveloped hills form the western border, which also serves as the San Bernardino - Orange County line. Because this area is mostly undeveloped, there is only one road directly connecting Chino Hills and Orange County, Carbon Canyon Road (SR-142), which is long, winding, and prone to landslides.^[13][14]
Chino Hills' main arterial roads are:

★ 'Grand Avenue', which runs from the Chino Valley Freeway, at the city's eastern end to well past its western end into Los Angeles County

★ 'Chino Hills Parkway', which begins in Chino and terminates in the Pomona community of Phillips Ranch. It is signed as State Route 142 between Carbon Canyon Road and the Chino Valley Freeway.

★ 'Peyton Drive', which begins in the residential areas of south Chino Hills and bisects Chino Hills Parkway and Grand Avenue and turns into Riverside Drive as it passes under the Chino Valley Freeway.

★ 'Soquel Canyon Parkway', which starts near undeveloped south Chino Hills and turns into Central Avenue at the Chino / Chino Hills border.

★ 'Pipeline Avenue', which runs from the beginning of Soquel Canyon and runs all the way through Chino.
Chino Hills is generally divided into two sections: North Chino Hills and South Chino Hills. The border is usually considered to be the intersection of Chino Hills Parkway and Carbon Canyon (the area to the north and west of the intersection is north Chino Hills, the area to the south and east is south Chino Hills).
Most of the city is residential, and the few commercial areas are at the intersections of the arterial streets. These commercial areas are usually small community centers, anchored by supermarkets and fast food restaurants. The major commercial centers are at Chino Hills Parkway and Pipeline Avenue, and at Chino Avenue and Peyton Drive, where big-box retailers are located.

Demographics

As of the American Community Survey of 2005, there were 80,897 people, 22,146 households, and 19,246 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.5/km² (1,490.6/mi²). There were 20,414 housing units at an average density of 175.9/km² (455.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.21% White, 2.75% African American, 0.001% Native American, 39.37% Asian, 10.14% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.97% of the population.
There were 22,146 households out of which 52.47% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.93% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.1% were non-families. 10.16% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.65 and the average family size was 3.91.
In the city, the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $95,990, and the average family income in the city is $107,360. Males had a median income of $67,201 versus $48,906 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,574. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Asian American population

As is the case with adjacent hillside communities of Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut, and Diamond Bar, the upper-middle-class, often immigrant professional Asian American populations of Chino Hills are growing quickly. Such populations, including Filipino Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, Indian Americans, and Taiwanese Americans, are drawn by fairly new suburban sub-divisions in Chino Hills. As a result of this emerging demographic, the public library in Chino Hills has stocked some Chinese-language materials.^[15]

Demographic history

★ 1990.....27,608 (Z)

★ 2000.....66,787^[16]

★ 2002.....72,500

★ 2005.....80,897

(Z): Population figure was taken prior to incorporation

Education

Chino Hills High School

Chino Hills is served by the Chino Valley Unified School District, as well as a number of private elementary schools. It contains two regular high schools, Ruben S. Ayala High School (named after former California State Senator Ruben S. Ayala) and Chino Hills High School, and ''Boys Republic High School'', a treatment center for troubled boys ages from 12 - 18.^[17]

Notable natives

★ A Thorn for Every Heart, musical group

★ A Static Lullaby, musical group

★ Leah O'Brien-Amico, U.S. Olympic softball gold-medalist[1]

★ Ron Roenicke, Anaheim Angels baseball coach

★ Ryan Mount, Anaheim Angels baseball player[2]

★ Tim Woods III, NASCAR driver [3]

Transportation

Highways in or near Chino Hills

★ California State Route 60

★ California State Route 71

★ California State Route 91

★ California State Route 142

Public transportation

Public transportation is virtually non-existent. However, Chino Hills has the OmniLink dial a ride service open to the general public. For $2.50 one way, one can travel throughout the city and transfer for free to the Omnitrans public bus at the Chino Hills Marketplace and the Chino Hills Civic Center. The dial a ride service operates five days a week, mostly during daytime hours.^[18]

Media

★ Chino Hills Champion - Weekly newspaper serving Chino and Chino Hills, California.

References

1. Chino Hills city, California - General Demographic Characteristics: 2005
2. MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2005 Top 100 (3)
3. Los Serranos Country Club History
4. Chino Hills - Demographics
5. Room to Roam, Family Style Susan Sullivan

6.
Buyers Lining Up To Live in Vellano Michael Rappaport

7. Chino Hills - The Shoppes
8. Council managers are running
more and more American cities Mayraj Fahim

9. Chino Hills - City Council
10. Chino Hills Police Department
11. Chino Hills Sheriff Station
12. CVIFD: Locations
13. 1998 Landslide Inventory
14. Southern California Landslide Localities
15.
16. Chino Hills city, California - Fact Sheet 2000
17. Boys Republic: Who We Are
18. Omnitrans: Omnilink

External links

★ City of Chino Hills Web site

★ Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce