Colton highlight
Historic railroad
Colton was founded in 1875 when the Southern Pacific Railway built eastward from Los Angeles, and was named after David Douty Colton, the railroad's vice president.
Colton's origins trace directly to railroad expansion. When the Southern Pacific Railway constructed its line eastward from Los Angeles in 1875, the settlement that grew around it was named after David Douty Colton, the railroad company's vice president. The city was formally incorporated in 1887, just as the rail connection was establishing Colton as a strategic junction point in Southern California's growing transportation network.
The most visible landmark of this heritage is Colton Crossing, where two major freight rail lines—the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe—intersect at what was once one of the busiest at-grade railroad crossings in the United States. In 2013, after decades of managing over 110 trains daily, the crossing underwent a major modernization: a 2.2-kilometer flyover elevated the Union Pacific tracks over the BNSF line, eliminating the congestion that had shaped the city's character for more than a century. The project completed ahead of schedule and well under budget at $93 million.
For families in Colton, the railroad heritage means connection—to jobs, to commerce, and to the broader region. That same principle applies to financial planning: a life insurance policy is a form of connection, too, ensuring that your household's daily needs and future plans stay on track if something unexpected happens to your income.