Los Alamos, California

In 1839, José Antonio de la Guerra, a son of José de la Guerra y Noriega received the Rancho Los Alamos Mexican land grant. The hills above Rancho Los Alamos served as a hideout for bandito, Salomon Pico, whose escapades were popularized by the character "Zorro". During the U.S.'s centennial year of 1876, Thomas Bell along with his nephew John S. Bell, and Dr. James B. Shaw (all from San Francisco), purchased acreage from Rancho Los Alamos and neighboring Rancho La Laguna. Both families allocated a half square mile from each of their new ranches to create the Los Alamos town site with "Centennial Street" as the central thoroughfare.

The Los Alamos Valley prospered and grew quickly serving as a popular stagecoach stop from 1861–1901. The Union Hotel opened in 1880 to serve overnight travelers. The narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railway also ran to Los Alamos from San Luis Obispo between 1882–1940. Oil was discovered at the Orcutt field in hills north of Valley in 1901, and in the Purisima Hills south of the valley at the Lompoc Oil Field in 1903, providing more economic prosperity. The town flagpole at Centennial and Bell Street was dedicated in 1918. The Chamber of Commerce was active from 1920–32 and instrumental in forming a lighting district, obtaining telephone service, street paving and mail service. Residents today still pick-up their mail from the Post Office downtown, as no street delivery is available.

The growth of the Santa Barbara County wine region, and the popularity of the acclaimed 2004 film Sideways as well as local wineries, have led to the Valley's continued prosperity.

Los Alamos, California, is home to the last standing Pacific Coast Railroad Station, and is now also home to various wine tasting rooms, fine dining establishments, and antique stores.

Los Alamos is located at 34°44′31″N 120°16′31″W (34.741984, -120.275397).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 square kilometres), 99.98 percent of it land and 0.02 percent of it water.

Los Alamos is located near the Santa Ynez Valley in the heart of the Santa Barbara wine country, on U.S. Route 101. It is a small, unincorporated town in a region of ranches, oil fields, vegetable farms (broccoli, lettuce and strawberries), and wine grape vineyards. While Los Alamos is in a narrow valley, the surrounding terrain consists of rolling hills.

Los Alamos is relatively isolated. It is about 10 miles (16 km) to Buellton, California, and Solvang, California and Los Olivos, California to the southeast, Guadalupe, Orcutt and Santa Maria, California to the northwest along Highway 101, 135, Vandenberg Road and Cabrillo Highway. Lompoc, California and Vandenberg Air Force Base are to the west and southwest, respectively. California State Route 135 is the main road to the base. The large Cat Canyon Oil Field is in the hills to the northeast, the Zaca Oil Field to the east-southeast, and the Orcutt Oil Field is in the hills to the northwest of the town.

San Antonio Creek passes through the town on the way to the ocean.

The main street in Los Alamos is Bell Street, or California Route 135. Many businesses line the street, such as the historic Victorian Mansion Bed & Breakfast, an 1864 Victorian that houses six themed suites, or the Union Hotel, an old Wells Fargo stagecoach stop. The town also features antique stores such as Sister's Antiques located in the historic Leslie House, wine tasting, art galleries such as the C Gallery, and eateries such as Full of Life Flatbread,[10] Bell's,[11] Bob's Well Bread Bakery,[12] Plenty on Bell,[13] and Pico at the Los Alamos General Store.[14] In addition, the town also features tasting rooms for three local wineries; Bedford Winery,[15] Casa Dumetz,[16] Lo Fi, A Tribute To Grace, and Municipal Winemakers.[17] Several of these eateries and wineries were featured in the summer 2012 issue of Edible Santa Barbara.[18]

The local elementary school, Olga Reed School, is located next to Los Alamos County Park. The second park in Los Alamos is Arthur Ferrini Park, located next to the Los Alamos Market. Many locals walk or ride their bicycles around town.

Los Alamos Old Days is a celebration held in September annually on Bell Street. Los Alamos Old Days is usually two days long and offers stands and booths as well as a parade that celebrates the agriculture and history around Los Alamos Valley, the Valley of the Cottonwoods. In local Spanish, "álamo" refers to Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) trees, native to the area. Many of these "cottonwoods" grew along the banks of San Antonio Creek.

Los Alamos is located off U.S. Route 101 about 10 miles (16 km) north of Buellton, and 15 miles (24 km) south of Santa Maria. Los Alamos is approximately 140 miles (230 km) northwest of Los Angeles and 281 miles (452 km) south of San Francisco.