Inland Empire Rail Hub
About Colton, CA
Welcome to Colton, the "Hub City" of California's Inland Empire—a San Bernardino County suburb at the historic crossroads of two transcontinental railroads and Interstates 10 and 215.
Colton is a city in San Bernardino County, California, in the heart of the Inland Empire. It lies about four miles south of downtown San Bernardino and roughly sixty miles east of Los Angeles, framed by the San Bernardino Mountains to the north. Colton had a population of 53,909 at the 2020 census. Its nickname, the "Hub City," captures its defining role: for well over a century, Colton has sat at a critical junction of the western rail network, where the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads converge at the historic Colton Crossing. The city's transportation roots shaped its growth from the start. Colton was incorporated in 1875, and its location on the region's major rail lines made it a natural center for railroading and freight movement. After a quieter period in the early twentieth century, the construction of Interstates 10 and 215 through the city reinforced its crossroads character and drew transportation-based industry. Following World War II, a surge of residential building and, later, the Inland Empire's broad subdivision expansion created the city's modern neighborhoods. Today Colton is a suburban city of San Bernardino with a strong logistics and distribution economy and convenient freeway access across the Inland Empire. The Colton Joint Unified School District educates the community's students across 28 schools and roughly 18,900 students. The city's parks, schools, and established residential streets give it a settled suburban character, while its rail and freeway connections keep it tied to the region's economy. Colton appeals to households seeking an affordable, well-connected base in the Inland Empire, with the mountains, desert, and greater Los Angeles all within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is Colton in?
Colton is in San Bernardino County, California, within the Inland Empire region of Southern California. It lies about four miles south of downtown San Bernardino, making it a close suburb of the county's largest city.
Why is Colton called the Hub City?
Colton is nicknamed the 'Hub City' because of its historic role as a railroad crossroads. The BNSF and Union Pacific railroads intersect at the Colton Crossing, making the city one of the West's most significant rail junctions.
What school district serves Colton?
Colton is served by the Colton Joint Unified School District, which operates 28 schools and enrolls about 18,900 students from preschool through high school across the city and the surrounding area of San Bernardino County.
What freeways serve Colton?
Interstates 10 and 215 pass through Colton, connecting the city to San Bernardino, Riverside, and the wider Inland Empire freeway network. The two interstates were built through the city in the mid-twentieth century, reinforcing its crossroads role.
How far is Colton from San Bernardino?
Colton is about four miles south of downtown San Bernardino, making it a close suburb of the county's largest city and a convenient base for commuting across the Inland Empire region of Southern California.
City Guide
About Colton
Real Estate & Housing
Colton's housing stock reflects its twentieth-century growth. The city expanded with a post-World War II wave of residential building, followed by decades of subdivision growth across the Inland Empire, producing a mix of mid-century single-family homes, established neighborhoods, and newer developments. The housing is predominantly suburban, with a substantial share of older homes concentrated near the historic core and along the freeway corridors. This gives buyers a range of established neighborhoods close to San Bernardino and the region's employment centers, with the mountains and desert within reach.
Neighborhoods
Lifestyle in Colton
Colton's daily life is shaped by its role as a working Inland Empire suburb with unusually strong regional connections. Residents benefit from quick access to downtown San Bernardino, the region's freeway network, and the employment centers of the broader Inland Empire, while the city itself retains a compact, established feel. Shopping, dining, and services cluster along the major corridors, and the nearby San Bernardino Mountains offer weekend recreation within a short drive. The community has a practical, commuter-oriented character, appealing to households tied to the region's logistics, healthcare, and service economies.
Schools & Education
Colton is served by the Colton Joint Unified School District, which operates 28 schools and enrolls about 18,900 students from preschool through high school, along with adult education programs. The district covers the city and portions of the surrounding area, making it a substantial educational presence in the western Inland Empire. In addition to its public schools, Colton benefits from proximity to colleges and universities in San Bernardino and Riverside. Local schools and their athletics and programs are a central part of community life in the city's neighborhoods.
Getting Around
Transportation defines Colton. The city sits at the Colton Crossing, where the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads—the two largest Class I railroads in the United States—intersect, giving it unmatched freight-rail connections across the West. On the highways, Interstates 10 and 215 cross through the city, linking Colton to San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and the broader Inland Empire network. This convergence of rail and freeway infrastructure is the source of the "Hub City" nickname and anchors the region's logistics economy, while also giving residents fast access to the surrounding metro area.
Parks & Recreation
MARKET SNAPSHOT
The Market at a Glance
How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.
Price & Sales History
Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.
For sale
Houses in Colton, CA
Handpicked properties hitting the scene in your area.
For sale
Townhomes in Colton, CA
Handpicked properties hitting the scene in your area.
For sale
Condos in Colton, CA
Handpicked properties hitting the scene in your area.
Zip Codes
BROWSE BY ZIP
Browse listings by postal code in this area.
- Grid
- Map
- List
Owen Real Estate and Property Management, LLC
Lonestar Ranch and Home Sales, LLC
801 Point Run Dr Pflugerville, TX
Yellow House Realty, LLC
2207 E. Hwy 114, Suite A Levelland, TX
Emoni Legacy, LLC
326 Silent Spring Dr. Cedar Park, TX
Regal Crown Realty
238 Somerset St Borger, TX
Luxe Modern Realty
5502 Berget Dr Amarillo, TX
Dallas Hills Real Estate,LLC
405 Allerton Ln Lancaster, TX
Nowlin Realty Group, LLC
2925 Richmond Avenue, Ste. 1200 Houston, TX
Star Spangled Real Estate and Property Management, LLC
14150 Pebble Hills Blvd, Ste B El Paso, TX
Blue Wave Realty, LLC
2 Clam Dr Rockport, TX
YM Realty Group, LLC
2205 Lanshire Dr Mckinney, TX
East Plano Realty, LLC
3817 Cloudcrest Dr Plano, TX
21st Century Realty Group
2231 Laurel Forest Way Houston, TX
Our Texas Real Estate
9702 Oxford Avenue Lubbock, TX
Rafters R Realty, LLC
600 S. Tyler Street, Suite 2100 Amarillo, TX
Acre Investments
9702 Oxford Avenue Lubbock, TX
Vintage Street Real Estate
18449 Cr 2341 Arp, TX
Dietz Real Estate, LLC
4012 Woodrow Rd Lubbock, TX
USA Land and Ranch, LLC
2300 N Western Ste 117 Amarillo, TX
Dream Catchers Realty
2716 South Medford Drive, Suite A Lufkin, TX
RedZone Realty LLC
4819 Big Cedar Cir Missouri City, TX
Mission Valley Realty Group, LLC
1613 N Zaragoza Dr Ste 205 El Paso, TX
Total Property Care, LLC
Cap Rate Real Estate Group LLC
1035 Belvidere St Ste 290 El Paso, TX
Legacy Oak Realty, LLC
11782 Jollyville Rd Ste 209 Austin, TX
Our Texas Real Estate Austin
Our Texas Real Estate Midland
Our Texas Real Estate Hill Country Area
Local Group, LLC
Homegirl Real Estate Consulting, LLC
3015 Wheeling Ave. El Paso, TX 79930
Our Texas Real Estate El Paso
Our Texas Real Estate Frisco/Southlake
Frisco Southlake, TX
Our Texas Real Estate Corpus Christi
Our Texas Real Estate Dallas
4B Real Estate, LLC
Prop, LLC
6510 70th Street Lubbock, TX 79424
