Business View Magazine | January 2020

293 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JANUARY 2020 home to thousands of acres of citrus orchards. The present-day City of Upland was originally the northern part of Chaffey’s Ontario Model Colony, and was known as “North Upland” or “Magnolia” after a local hotel. The name Upland was first used as the name of the “Upland Citrus Association.” However, by 1902, the name “Upland” was used to refer to the entire area of North Ontario, and the City of Upland, itself, was officially incorporated on May 15, 1906. The citrus industry in Upland and the surrounding region continued to thrive, and by the 1930s, citrus had become the dominant agricultural crop in California. At the height of citrus production, the industry produced sixty percent of the nation’s citrus supply and twenty percent of the world’s supply. This success continued for citrus growers until the mid-1940s, when the citrus industry, as a whole, began its decline. After World War II, land values began to skyrocket, and growers began to sell their land to developers. In 1954, the San Bernardino Freeway, later part of Interstate 10, was completed, connecting Los Angeles to San Bernardino. The freeway, one of the first in the nation, eased the commute to Los Angeles and accelerated the transition of Upland from a rural citrus area to a residential and commercial community. Today, Upland, with a population of 78,000, is one of the most desirable places to live, work, and play in the State of California. Its mild climate, its spectacular scenery, its prime location near Interstates 10 and 210 freeways, its Metrolink train station that provides access to Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, a quaint historic downtown, and other amenities, make Upland an ideal place to start or grow a business. Some of Upland’s significant current employers include the San Antonio Regional Hospital, which recently underwent a $160 million expansion project to better provide for the healthcare needs of the growing populations of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties; the privately- UPLAND , CAL I FORNI A San Antonio Regional Hospital/City of Hope