Pomona was named in 1875 after the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards. Indirectly named, I should say. The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry – “the Grange”, for short – was at that time a newish organization that functioned as a sort of farmers’ union, with a dash of secrecy and ritual inspired by Freemasonry. Within the group, which still exists, the term “Pomona” refers to a county-level Grange and is also the title given to a woman who assists in Grange ceremonies. The town of Pomona was founded by a group of grangers and other investors – remembered by the streets Crow (now Grand), Garey, Gibbs, Gordon, Holt, Parcels, Thomas, Towne, and White – who offered one free lot to whoever came up with the best name for their new venture. Pennsylvania-born horticulturalist Solomon Gates (c. 1845-1897) won with “Pomona”. It wasn’t exactly an out-of-nowhere suggestion, given that Gates was a fellow granger. At any rate, Pomona initially failed; it needed Cyrus T. Mills and Moses L. Wicks to bring it back to life in 1882. It incorporated as a city six years later.
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