Chino Hills is a city in the Greater Los Angeles area, located in the southwestern corner of San Bernardino County, California. Before Spanish colonization in the late 18th century, the area was home to Tongva villages, including Wapijanga and Pasinogna, which were important cultural and trade centers.
During the Spanish and Mexican periods, the land was used for mission cattle grazing and became part of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino. The Battle of Chino occurred here in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. After California became part of the United States, the land continued to be used for cattle ranching and later as a stagecoach stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the land changed hands multiple times, eventually leading to the development of the town of Chino, incorporated in 1910. The area became known for resorts like La Vida Mineral Springs, country clubs, and as a quiet getaway during Prohibition. Suburban growth in the 1980s led to rapid development, and Chino Hills was officially incorporated as a city in 1991 with a population of 42,000.
