California San Bernardino Orange Tree Postcard

San Bernardino, California, has a rich history tied to citrus cultivation, though it’s often overshadowed by nearby Riverside, the historic centre of the navel orange boom. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, San Bernardino County became part of California’s Citrus Belt, with vast groves of oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits spreading across the Inland Empire. The city itself served as a hub for processing and shipping citrus, helping the region grow economically and shaping its identity as an agricultural powerhouse. The legacy of oranges is still visible today, even though urban development has replaced much of the original groves. San Bernardino celebrates this history through local landmarks, old packing houses, and community events that highlight the region’s citrus heritage. While fewer orange groves remain within the city limits, the surrounding county still produces Valencia oranges for juice and fresh-market citrus, and the region’s climate and soil continue to support commercial citrus agriculture.