California

San Bernardino

2,181,654
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 5,551. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 2,181,654.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Southern California Desert Warfare (Mojave), Action at Chino Rancho (California), Engagement at Chino, and 109 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20202,181,654
20102,035,210
20001,709,434
19901,418,380
1980895,016
1970684,072
1960503,591
1950281,642
1940161,108
1930133,900
192073,401
191056,706
190027,929
189025,497
18807,786
18703,988
18605,551
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in San Bernardino

Military engagements that took place in San Bernardino, California.

Southern California Desert Warfare (Mojave)
1000
Action at Chino Rancho (California)
1846
Engagement at Chino
1846

Historic places in San Bernardino

National Register of Historic Places listings in San Bernardino, California.

Barton Villa
Redlands
Crowder Canyon Archeological District
San Bernardino
Calico Mountains Archeological District
Yermo
Rains, John, House
Cucamonga
California Theatre, The
San Bernardino
Archeological Site CA SBR 3186
Silver Lake
Hofer Ranch
Ontario
San Bernardino County Court House
San Bernardino
Fontana Farms Company Ranch House, Camp No. 1
Fontana
Keys Desert Queen Ranch
Twentynine Palms
US Post Office-Downtown Station
San Bernardino
Harvey House Railroad Depot
Barstow
Washington, Henry, Survey Marker
Big Bear City
Yorba-Slaughter Adobe
Chino
Beverly Ranch
Redlands
Redlands Central Railway Company Car Barn
Redlands
Bono's Restaurant and Deli
Fontana
Redlands Santa Fe Depot District
Redlands
Cucamonga Service Station
Rancho Cucamonga
Kimberly Crest
Redlands
Smiley Park Historic District
Redlands
Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel
Kelso
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Passenger and Freight Depot
San Bernardino
Cow Camp
Twentynine Palms
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

San FranciscoSan JoaquinSan Luis ObispoSan MateoSanta BarbaraSanta ClaraSanta CruzShastaSierraSiskiyouSolanoSonomaStanislausSutterTehamaTrinityTulareTuolumneVenturaYolo
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Everything a full report reveals about San Bernardino County, California

This page charts the census history of San Bernardino County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about San Bernardino

When does San Bernardino first appear in the US census?
San Bernardino, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 5,551.
What is the population of San Bernardino?
At the most recent federal census (2020), San Bernardino had a recorded population of 2,181,654.
Were any battles fought in San Bernardino?
3 documented military engagements took place in San Bernardino, including Southern California Desert Warfare (Mojave), Action at Chino Rancho (California), Engagement at Chino.
How many historic places are in San Bernardino?
109 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Bernardino, California.
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