[1] The District is named after the California State University, San Bernardino.

It is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Bernardino along with the Hospitality Lane District.

[citation needed] As California State University, San Bernardino grew so did the region around it; it used to be nothing but mid-desert farmland, but has been developing quickly to become a neighborhood important to not only San Bernardino but also the entire region.

Like all San Bernardino neighborhoods, the boundaries of the University District are informal; by common usage, the University District is bounded on the west by Cajon Blvd.

Its main commercial streets, University Parkway and Kendall Drive, are known throughout the city as student nightlife hotspots.