Did you know that Redlands has been visited by three U.S. Presidents? 

 

This remarkable distinction places our city in exclusive company among American communities.

 

President William McKinley (1901) President McKinley's visit in 1901 came during the height of Redlands' citrus boom. At the time, Redlands was becoming known as the "navel orange capital of the world," shipping over one million boxes of oranges annually in more than 9,000 railroad cars.

 

President Theodore Roosevelt (1903) The energetic Roosevelt visited during his presidency, likely drawn by Redlands' reputation as a health resort destination. The clean mountain air and citrus groves made Redlands a popular destination for wealthy visitors seeking winter retreats.

 

President William Howard Taft (1909) Taft's visit capped off a remarkable decade of presidential attention. By 1909, Redlands had established itself as a sophisticated community with tree-lined streets, Victorian architecture, and thriving cultural institutions.

 

The Citrus Connection These presidential visits weren't coincidental,  they occurred during Redlands' "Golden Age" of citrus. The city's first orange grove was planted in 1882 by E.J. Waite on Center Street. By the early 1900s, Redlands was shipping citrus nationwide, making it a symbol of California's agricultural prosperity.

 

Modern Legacy Today, while our economy has diversified beyond citrus, Redlands continues to attract notable visitors. The city's commitment to preserving its heritage while embracing modern development, like the current $1.36 million City Hall construction project, maintains the same balance of progress and tradition that attracted those early presidential visits.

 

This presidential connection reminds us that Redlands has always been a special place worthy of national attention.