Mentone is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, located just east of the city of Redlands in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. With a population of about 9,500, it is a residential area that receives police, fire and other municipal services directly from San Bernardino County, since it has no city government of its own. The community's citrus-era history and its position at the base of the mountains have long made it a waypoint for travelers heading into the high country. Mentone sits along State Route 38, the scenic highway that climbs from Redlands into the San Bernardino Mountains toward the Big Bear Lake area. As far back as the late 1800s, the route from Mentone served as a toll road toward Big Bear Valley, and today the community remains a gateway to the mountains, the Santa Ana River canyon and Mill Creek. This location gives Mentone a dual identity as both a quiet foothill suburb and an access point for mountain recreation. Public school students attend the Redlands Unified School District, linking Mentone's schools to the larger neighboring city, while police and fire protection come from the county. The community's housing is predominantly single-family and owner-occupied, with a sparse suburban feel and a setting of foothills and mountain views. Life in Mentone is low-key and oriented toward Redlands for shopping, dining and services, while the mountains loom just to the north. The surrounding landscape, with its citrus history and mountain backdrop, gives Mentone a distinct sense of place. For residents, the community offers a quieter, semi-rural alternative to Redlands with convenient access to both the Inland Empire below and the forests and lakes of the San Bernardino Mountains above.