updated 10/17/23
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An unincorporated community filled with families who take pride in their roots; approximately 6.2 square miles of rural area; elevation 1,650. est. population 9,847 [2020]; a waypoint or a "Gateway" when heading to and from the San Bernardino mountains and ski resorts. Located above Yucaipa off of Interstate 10 or 330; east of Redlands; west is Oak Glen.
Demographics of Mentone ; [2022] Est. population 9,708; 43% white; 40% Hispanic; 8% Asian; 4% African American; 601 veterans; 62% own; 38% rent; $310K average cost of home; 28% speak Spanish; 72% English; 88% high school grad; 23% college degrees; $68K average household income; $30K average person income.
After the railroads were developed in the 1880s, people sought to move to a place with less cold winters and humid summers from the East when they heard of the “land of sunshine, orange blossoms and healthful living.” In 1886. the Mentone Co. purchased land north of what was then known as Crafton and south of the Santa Ana River. The city's name Mentone came about because it was similar to the climate in the Mediterranean. To market the area, they embellished what it looked like by showing green hills with sheep grazing but in reality, there were rocks from Mentone Beach.
In 1888, McIntosh, real estate agent, bought much of the land then the first orange grove and sold land to people who wanted to build homes. The LA Times raved about the area growing fruit in 1891: At the extreme upper end of the San Bernardino valley is the foothill fruit colony of Mentone. It contains 2000 acres, which are practically above the frost and fog line. Over 200 acres were planted last spring, two-thirds of this acreage being oranges and one-third olives.” This article helped Mentone grow. The post office and The Mentone Sandstone Co. started in 1891; the latter making stones for the San Bernardino County jail.
Olive groves came next then the Hotel Mentone in 1892, which was said to have the best croquet court in So. Cal. Due to the lack of tourists and business, the Hotel Mentone became a sanitarium for tubercular and asthmatic patients. The LA Times in1900, declared “NEW HEALTH RESORT” and “Local and Other Physicians and Hotel Men to Build a Large Sanitarium Near Redlands” “The Mentone Sanitarium Association has secured a large tract at Mentone about two miles from Redlands to be the most complete and up to date institution of this kind in this part of the country.” Unhappily, it was another failure and the building was taken down in 1917.
The people in the community attempted to have a newspaper promoting the area. The Chamber of Commerce boasted it was a place for “sunshine, health and opportunity” in the Mentone News in 1940: “The Mentone area is nationally recognized as a health center. One of the leading citrus sections of California, Mentone ships around one thousand cars of oranges annually. One of the fastest growing communities in Southern California, new homes and population have increased during the past five years, at rates far above the average town.”
Despite never living up to the LA Times, community news and other boasts, to be a big-time tourist destination, the residents enjoy the peace and quiet of a smaller town feel and have been known to say, "their little “resort” is just fine the way it is."
“Home of the Oranges on the Rocks. A small town feel."
Location of Mentone in SBC
Specific Prayer Points
Environmental issues: flooding, mudslides during rainstorms
Governed by: District 3 SBC County & Community of Mentone Empowered Together []COMET]
Schools/District: Redlands Unified School District; Mentone Elementary; Faith Chapel, Valley Star High school
Crime issues: [2022] A crime occurs every 2 days (on average) in Mentone; overall crime grade is A+; violent crime A+; property crime A- and other crime A+; no crime issues over 5%.
Poverty rate: 8.7% [CA average 15%] highest rates in 75-84%; children under 6 17%
Points of interest: Mentone Matters [city newspaper online]
Spiritual needs: Churches unite & experience revival, intercessors rise up, pray and claim this city for Jesus, believers commit to prayer walks through their neighborhoods, prayer groups arise and declare the city reforms on truth not exaggeration, repentance/conviction of sin that transforms lives by the power of the Gospel spoken in boldness, believers to share their faith at work and with friends and service people, churches to unite in prayer for revival and an awakening; external and internal growth by the transforming work of the Lord; evangelistic outreaches that meet the unique needs of this community; creative ways to share online; increase in children, young adults and millennial attendance; enough finances
Churches [not exhaustive]
Faith Chapel Assembly of God [Pastors Keith & Julie Short]
Mentone Congregational Church [Church of Christ; Pastor Rudolph Dimery];
Sandals Church [East Valley; Pastor Justin McVey]
Amethyst Bible Church [non-denominational]
Rocky Point Fellowship [American Baptist]