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| Redlands History |
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This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of it's residents. If you have lived in Redlands for many years, the neighborood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by.
If you have just come to call Redlands home, it is a way to learn more about the community you have joined.
REDLANDS
Redlands-known in 1900 as "The City Of Millionaires"; and later as "The City of Beautiful Homes"-welcomes you!
Founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1888, Redlands is a quintessential "big town" with a '"small town" feel. For much of its history, it was the "Washington Navel Orange Growing Capital of the World," with the citrus industry as the main focus of it's economy. Through the years the economy may have changed, but that special feeling of community in a small town hasn't.
This is clear as you take a look around Redlands. Tree-lined State Street is still comprised primarily of beautiful historic buildings and locally-owned shops and boutiques. Some of it's most famous buildings, like A.K. Smiley Public Library, a Moorish-style library built in 1898, and the Redlands Bowl, built in 1930 and home of the oldest continuously free outdoor concert series in California, are merely steps from historic downtown. Just to the west, one can stroll through the Smiley Park neighborhood, filled with turn-of-the-century bungalows as well as landmark homes. With a short drive, one can cruise by some famous homes, like "America's Favorite Victorian," the Morey House on Terracina Boulevard, see the stately homes of Olive Avenue, and Highland Avenue, the "Butler Belt," so known because at one time that was the most dense population of homes employing butlers in the city! You can visit Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, a home museum featured on the PBS series "America's Castles" and don't miss a walk through Prospect Park, just next door. Redlands' parks are perfect for picnicing, and are designed with this in mind. While you're at it, the beautiful campus of the University of Redlands founded in 1907 is worth seeing.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF REDLANDS
Once part of the Spanish Mission lands, Redlands was incoperated in 1888 following an influx of wealthy easterners and mid-westerners. Early settlers brought their cultures, traditions and, and treasures, adding to the city's reputation as a cultural and educational community. Agriculture prospered with the navel orange and many citrus groves still surround Redlands today.
More than a hundred years ago the seed which became the city of Redlands was planted by two young easterners who shared a dream of idyllic agricultural and residential community. Redlands was the shared dream of Frank E. Brown, a civil engineer and Yale graduate, and E. G. Judson, a New York stock broker, who met in Southern California in the late 1870's.
Naming their Redlands colony for the color of the adobe soil, the two busily laid out a city, brought water from the mountain to the community, introduced the newly discovered Washington navel orange, and recruited settlers. It wasn't before long Redlands proudly proclaimed itself the Navel Orange Capital of the World.
One group of early settlers called itself the Chicago Colony and created what is now the downtown business district. They named the principal shopping street for State Street in Chicago.
In 1889, twins Alfred H. and Albert K. Smiley came to Redlands, and the town has changed forever. The Smiley brothers, well known educators and resort owners from New York, established a tradition of philanthropy with their donation of the A. K. Smiley Public Library and Park in 1889. Two decades later, the Clarence G. Whites gave the prosellis at the Redlands Bowl, and the Robert Watchorns built the Lincoln Shrine next to the library. These and many others built the city that was known as the "Jewel of the Inland Empire." Many of the Jewels are still with us today.
(35.5 sq miles) (elevation 1,360') (population 02' 66,749)
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