Editing Los Alamos, California (section)

== History ==
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]]".<ref name="SYV News">{{Cite web|last=Dale|first=Judith|date=May 23, 2019|title=Judith Dale: History of the Los Alamos Library|url=https://syvnews.com/lifestyles/judith-dale-history-of-the-los-alamos-library/article_22ee8461-e470-5f84-8366-0b3d0aa4b169.html|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=Santa Ynez Valley News}}</ref> During the U.S.'s centennial year of 1876, Thomas Bell along with his nephew John{{nbsp}}S. Bell, and Dr. James{{nbsp}}B. Shaw (all from San Francisco), purchased acreage from Rancho Los Alamos and neighboring [[Rancho La Laguna (Gutierrez)|Rancho La Laguna]].<ref name="Santa Maria Times">{{Cite web|last=Contreras|first=Shirley|date=January 15, 2021|title=History of town of Los Alamos began in 1839|url=https://santamariatimes.com/lifestyles/columnist/shirley_contreras/history-of-town-of-los-alamos-began-in-1839/article_72d31ab8-bd2b-11e3-9332-001a4bcf887a.html#|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=Santa Maria Times}}</ref> 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 to 1901. The [[1880 Union Hotel|Union Hotel]] opened in 1880 to serve overnight travelers. The narrow-gauge [[Pacific Coast Railway]] also ran to Los Alamos from [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]] between 1882 and 1940.  Oil was discovered at the [[Orcutt Oil Field|Orcutt field]] in the 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 to 1932 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.<ref name="Santa Maria Times" />

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.<ref name="Lompoc Record">{{Cite web|last=Dale|first=Judith|date=January 8, 2021|title=Judith Dale: Los Alamos – Town of Two Land Grants|url=https://lompocrecord.com/lifestyles/columnist/judith-dale-los-alamos-town-of-two-land-grants/article_e8972455-e873-59c4-bb99-6db2fc6042a0.html|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=Lompoc Record}}</ref>