Updated 9/26/23
Prayer Podcasts: for city 5/6/22 | for officials 8/19/22
Mission Statement: driven by the desire to connect our community by respecting its diversity and understanding the social, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of the residents; strive to improve the quality of life for Colton's residents by connecting them with programs, services, and information for individual and family health and enrichment.
Demographics: Est. population [2022] 54,911; surrounded by Rialto, San Bernardino, Bloomington, Grand Terrace and Loma Linda. Demographics: 40% Hispanic; 17% white; 24% other races; 7% African American; Asian 5%; American Indian 1%; Other 4%; Median age 31; Male to female: 47% to 52%; 51% own; 49% rent; 64% married; 23% less than High school; 27% high school grads; 30% some college; bachelors and above 17%; Average earnings $35K; 49% speak English; 45% speak Spanish; 6% other languages; 15% poverty; average household income $53K; The median rental costs in recent years comes to $1,189 per month, and the median house value is $257K.
About 300 years ago, Colton was a crossroads and center of regional activity. In the late 1700s, explorers from Mexico first passed through on their way north to Monterey. The first permanent settlement occurred in the early 1800s which were Mexican land grants that supported agricultural activity including ranches and citrus orchards. After Southern Pacific Railway pushed through in 1875 on its way to Los Angeles, a formal town was laid out on a traditional grid street pattern, evidenced today in Colton's downtown and the south Colton neighborhood south of Interstate 10. Business included railroad and citrus with some residents building their own homes using disassembled wooden crates from railroad shipments as building materials. Railroad activity grew to both east-west and north-south regional lines crossed in Colton. The citrus industry diminished. Other businesses were dependent upon rail for materials delivery and shipment were established along the rail lines, thus creating large tracts of land devoted to industrial operations, many of which continue today. The original residential settlements remained adjacent to the rail and industrial operations, allowing local residents to walk to their jobs.
The Carnegie Library was built in 1891 and now houses the Colton Area Museum. During the 1920s and Great Depression, Colton again experienced a development boom. Construction of Interstates 10 and 215 through the city brought transportation-based industries. The frenzied residential building period of post-World War II, followed 30 to 40 years later by explosive subdivision growth throughout the Inland Empire, created many new neighborhoods. A modest amount of commercial development followed to support demand for goods and services.
“A Place for Fun, A Place for Commerce"
Location of Colton in SBC
Specific Prayer Points
Environment: current air quality, current fire outlook with potential wildfire, recent earthquakes, current drought is moderate, flood potential due to dam; Hazardous material facilities are present; landslides; severe wind
Major employers: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Lineage Logistics, Ashley Furniture, Reche Canyon Convalescent Center, Best Brands Corp/CSM, Wal-Mart, City of Colton, County of San Bernardino, Stater Brothers Market
Government: City council; 3rd District in County
School district: Colton Joint Unified
Crime grade: [2022] overall crime grade is C-; violent C; property C-; other D+; A crime occurs every 2 hours 45 minutes (on average) in Colton. Top issues vandalism at 15% [high], drug crimes 13% [high] and theft 7%, auto theft & burglary at 6%.
Poverty %: 18.3% [15% is CA avg] One out of every 5.5 residents of Colton lives in poverty.9,817 of 53,788 Colton residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.
Colton City Crips are one of the most active criminal street gangs in the city of Colton, and has been around for over two decades, along with the Colton East Side. 40 Glocc (rapper) who is signed to G-Unit, is affiliated with the Colton City Crips, and has also contribute to this gang international awareness thru media exposure. [In 1996, he had been arrested after a shootout in Colton and was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer.]
Spiritual: Intercessors to arise and pray until the crime diminishes because of lives transformed by the gospel, believers emboldened to share their faith with signs and wonders to help the unbelievers see God is real, recovery groups rise up and reach out to those dealing with drug addictions, neighborhoods create prayer groups to intercede for higher crime areas to go down; justice served to those committing crimes, ministries to reform gang members rise up, Paul to Saul conversions that show people God truly can set people free; more prayer groups that are active in the community, identifying the issues and praying about them to be overcome, more bold courageous laborers to go into the harvest; ministries to help those who are poor and destitute; programs to teach children how to be good citizens and not succumb to gang pressure.