San Bernardino is a city located in Riverside County and San Bernardino County California. San Bernardino has a 2024 population of 218,628. It is also the county seat of San Bernardino County. San Bernardino is currently declining at a rate of -0.39% annually and its population has decreased by -1.53% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 222,028 in 2020.
The average household income in San Bernardino is $76,725 with a poverty rate of 20.18%. The median age in San Bernardino is 31.2 years: 31 years for males, and 31.5 years for females.
This city plays a vital role within the diplomatic missions of the Inland Empire. It also has numerous attractions that draw in visitors and residents.
The city’s top employer according to its annual financial report taken in 2010 is California State University at San Bernardino, which employs over 2,500 residents. Other top employers include the City of San Bernardino and the Community Hospital of San Bernardino.
The city of San Bernardino, despite suffering from hardships such as bankruptcy and terrorist attacks, has seen continuous population growth since the census taken in 1880. At times, it has even seen a percentage growth of over 100%. The city surpassed 100,000 inhabitants by the time of the 1970 census. In 2010, it saw another milestone, exceeding over 200,000 people. Today, its population has grown about 3% since the last poll taken in 2010. While comparing this to previous census data shows that some slowdown has occurred, the city is continuing to become more populous.
The city of San Bernardino was incorporated as a city in 1857. Before this, however, a Spanish settlement by the name of Politana was established in 1810. However, it was destroyed by local tribesmen following earthquakes that struck the San Bernardino Valley. Politana was rebuilt, and in 1819, missionaries returned to establish San Bernardino de Sena Estancia.
The present location of the city was mostly settled during the 1850s after California was designated as a state. It is considered to be one of the oldest cities in California. The town of San Bernardino was established in 1851, with the county being developed just two years later. It was incorporated as a city in 1857.
It was during the 1860s when San Bernardino saw a surge in its population. A gold rush began nearby when gold was discovered. The city was also a hub for trade in the southern region of the state. The city continued to grow throughout the century after a hotel was built along a spring that was believed to have healing properties. Water from the springs was bottled and shipped to Los Angeles, further boosting the city’s economy.
During the 20th century, many events occurred, including the development of Norton Air Force Base during World War II, the founding of McDonald’s chain of restaurants, and the Panorama Fire that destroyed hundreds of San Bernardino homes. The air force base was closed during the 1990s and later became the San Bernardino International Airport.
The 2000s brought another wildfire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes in the city. Some additional hardships also occurred, including the city’s filing of bankruptcy in 2012, with the city bouncing back after five years, as well as the 2015 terrorist attack. Today, the city has many attractions including the largest outdoor amphitheater in the nation, a baseball team, and the ADU Fox Theatre. The city’s economy is reliant on the government, retail and service industries.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of San Bernardino was:
White
Other race
Two or more races
Black or African American
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 62,486 | 3.4 | 48.9 | 51.1 |
Married | 26,609 | 4.22 | 65.3 | 34.7 |
Non Family | 16,252 | 1.33 | 36.9 | 63.1 |
Female | 13,302 | 4.06 | 32.5 | 67.5 |
Male | 6,323 | 3.84 | 44.8 | 55.2 |
3.92
Average Family Size
3.4
Average Household Size
48.9%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 91.29%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 41.48%.
All
Male
Female
$36,530
Average Earnings
$41,354
Average Male
$31,395
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
47.27% of San Bernardino residents speak only English, while 52.73% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 47.93% of the population.
rate
20.18%
Overall Poverty Rate
17.5%
Male Poverty Rate
22.82%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in San Bernardino is Islander, with 51.07% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in San Bernardino is Native, with 12.98% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.95%. Among those working part-time, it was 19.41%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 31.08%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
37.7%
Overall Marriage Rate
38.5%
Male Marriage Rate
36.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.7%
Veteran Poverty Rate
35.21%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
60.9%
Labor Force Participation
56%
Employment Rate
7.6%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
67.66%
Born in San Bernardino
78.17%
Native Born
21.83%
Foreign Born
13.07%
Non Citizen
8.77%
Naturalized
78.17% of San Bernardino residents were born in the United States, with 67.66% having been born in California. 13.07% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 214,378 | -850 | -0.39% |
2028 | 215,228 | -850 | -0.39% |
2027 | 216,078 | -850 | -0.39% |
2026 | 216,928 | -850 | -0.39% |
2025 | 217,778 | -850 | -0.39% |
2024 | 218,628 | -850 | -0.39% |
2023 | 219,478 | -850 | -0.39% |
2022 | 220,328 | -914 | -0.41% |
2021 | 221,242 | -786 | -0.35% |
2020 | 222,028 | 5,291 | 2.44% |
2019 | 216,737 | -132 | -0.06% |
2018 | 216,869 | 51 | 0.02% |
2017 | 216,818 | 630 | 0.29% |
2016 | 216,188 | 1,093 | 0.51% |
2015 | 215,095 | 1,126 | 0.53% |
2014 | 213,969 | 592 | 0.28% |
2013 | 213,377 | 570 | 0.27% |
2012 | 212,807 | 1,016 | 0.48% |
2011 | 211,791 | 1,307 | 0.62% |
2010 | 210,484 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 185,401 | 21,237 | 12.94% |
1990 | 164,164 | 45,370 | 38.19% |
1980 | 118,794 | 11,925 | 11.16% |
1970 | 106,869 | 14,947 | 16.26% |
1960 | 91,922 | 28,864 | 45.77% |
1950 | 63,058 | 19,412 | 44.48% |
1940 | 43,646 | 6,165 | 16.45% |
1930 | 37,481 | 18,760 | 100.21% |
1920 | 18,721 | 5,942 | 46.5% |
1910 | 12,779 | 6,629 | 107.79% |
1900 | 6,150 | 2,138 | 53.29% |
1890 | 4,012 | 2,312 | 136% |
1880 | 1,700 | 760 | 80.85% |
1860 | 940 | -213,438 | -99.56% |