Adelanto, meaning “Advance” in Spanish, is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located about 9 miles northwest of Victorville in the Mojave Desert. As of the 2020 census, its population was 38,046.The area was first inhabited by the Serrano Native American tribe. Adelanto was founded in 1915 by E. H. Richardson, inventor of the Hotpoint electric iron, who planned one of Southern California’s first planned communities. Early on, the city was known for its fruit orchards and cider production, but the Great Depression led to their replacement by poultry farms. During World War II, nearby land was used for the Victorville Army Air Field, later renamed George Air Force Base.
Adelanto became an incorporated city in 1970 and a charter city in 1992. The Hi Desert Casino operated there from 1975 to 1997. During the 2000s housing boom, many new homes were built, but the city was hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis. In recent years, as housing costs rise elsewhere in Southern California, Adelanto has seen renewed growth, driven by demand for affordable housing and expansion in logistics and industrial development.









