San Bernardino, County seat in Southern California, United States
San Bernardino serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County in Southern California, spreading across a wide area between valleys and the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The downtown core clusters around several wide avenues, while residential neighborhoods stretch outward in every direction toward dry hills to the north.
Mexican authorities granted José del Carmen Lugo permission to settle on the land in 1839, which led to the founding of Rancho San Bernardino. The city was later established again in 1854 and grew during the 19th century into a major rail junction between Los Angeles and the eastern United States.
The San Bernardino International Airport Truck Trail draws hikers from across the region who meet on weekends to walk toward the surrounding mountains. The historic district around Court Street comes alive monthly during the local market, when residents gather to shop and eat together.
Most government offices and public facilities are located downtown along West Third Street and Arrowhead Avenue, where the bus terminal is also situated. Visitors planning to explore the area should keep in mind the warm weather and dry summers that last from May through October.
Aquifers beneath the city provide much of its water supply, while many neighboring cities rely entirely on external sources. Route 66 once passed directly through the heart of town, leaving behind several preserved motels and diners from the 1940s and 1950s along Foothill Boulevard.
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