Chino Hills was first counted by the census in 1990
More historic than 3% of U.S. towns · #829 of 847 in California. What drives it
Most of Chino Hills was built recently: 0.6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1990. Below: maps from 1935 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Chino Hills is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #829 of 847 in California. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Chino Hills’ overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Chino Hills’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (31% of California towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±0.3 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Chino Hills’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Prior to the colonization of the area by the Spanish Empire in the late 18th century, the Tongva village of Wapijanga (submerged by the building of the Prado Dam in 1941) was the major point of influence in what would later become Chino Hills. The village was an important point of connection between the Tongva and the Serrano. Another Tongva village, Pasinogna, was also located in present day Chino Hills
The Chino Hills post office opened in 1990, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1991.
How does Chino Hills rank for history?
Chino Hills is more historic than 3% of U.S. towns, #829 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Chino Hills?
0.6% of Chino Hills’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1990.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (9), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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