Editing Los Alamos, California

{{For|other places named Los Alamos|Los Alamos, New Mexico|Los Alamos National Laboratory}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage. -->
|name                     = Los Alamos
|other_name               =
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 =
|settlement_type          = [[Unincorporated community]]<br />[[Census-designated place]]
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Bell Street Los Alamos.jpg
|imagesize                = 300px
|image_caption            = The Los Alamos welcome sign on Bell Street
|image_map                = Santa Barbara County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Los Alamos Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] and the state of [[California]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States 
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     =
|government_type          =
|leader_title1            = [[California's 21st State Senate district|State senator]]
|leader_name1             = {{Representative|casd|21|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd>{{cite web
 | url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | title = Statewide Database
 | publisher = UC Regents
 | access-date = January 29, 2015
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html
 | archive-date = February 1, 2015
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>
|leader_title2            = [[California's 37th State Assembly district|Assemblymember]]
|leader_name2             = {{Representative|caad|37|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd />
|leader_title3            = [[California's 24th congressional district|U. S. rep.]]
|leader_name3             = {{Representative|cacd|24|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|24|accessdate=October 5, 2014}}</ref>
|established_title        = <!-- Founded -->
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<!-- Area------------------>
| unit_pref               =US
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Cite US Gazetteer|2010|places|CA}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 3.869
| area_land_sq_mi         = 3.868
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.001
| area_total_km2          = 10.019
| area_land_km2           = 10.018
| area_water_km2          = 0.002
| area_water_percent      = 0.02
|area_metro_km2           =
|area_metro_sq_mi         =

|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|245130|Los Alamos|accessdate=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
|elevation_ft             = 568
|elevation_m              = 174
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = 2020
|population_footnotes     =
|population_total         = 1839
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_metro         =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   =
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
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|coordinates              = {{coord|34|44|31|N|120|16|31|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 93440
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code                = [[Area code 805|805]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
|blank_info               = {{FIPS|06|43252}}
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|245130}}, {{GNIS 4|2408131}}
}}

[[File:The Victorian Inn of Los Alamos California.jpg|thumb|Victorian Inn B&B, Los Alamos]]
'''Los Alamos''' ({{langx|es|Los Álamos|link=}}, meaning ''The Cottonwoods'') is an [[unincorporated community]] in [[Santa Barbara County, California]], United States. Located in the Los Alamos Valley, the town of Los Alamos is considered to be a part of the [[Santa Ynez Valley]] community. Los Alamos is also connected to other cities [[Vandenberg Space Force Base|Vandenberg SFB]], [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]], [[Buellton, California|Buellton]], [[Solvang, California|Solvang]], and other [[Santa Barbara County, California|Santa Barbara County]] cities. It is {{convert|140|mi|abbr=off}} northwest of Los Angeles and {{convert|281|mi}} south of San Francisco. The population was 1,839 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 1,890 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Los Alamos as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP).

== 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>

== Geography ==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|3.9|sqmi|km2|abbr=off}}, 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]]. While Los Alamos is in a narrow valley, the surrounding terrain consists of rolling hills.

Los Alamos is located off [[U.S. Route 101]] about {{convert|10|mi|km}} north of Buellton, and {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of Santa Maria. Los Alamos is approximately {{convert|140|mi|km}} northwest of Los Angeles and {{convert|281|mi}} south of San Francisco.

Los Alamos is relatively isolated. It is about {{convert|10|mi|km}} to [[Buellton, California]], and [[Solvang, California]] and [[Los Olivos, California]] to the southeast, [[Guadalupe, California|Guadalupe]], [[Orcutt, California|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 (Vandenberg Air Force Base)|San Antonio Creek]] passes through the town on the way to the ocean.

=== Climate ===

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above {{convert|83|F|C|abbr=off}}.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Los Alamos has a [[warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=701540&cityname=Los+Alamos%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Los Alamos, California Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|access-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Los Alamos, California
|single line = Yes
|metric first = No
|Jan high F = 64
|Feb high F = 64
|Mar high F = 68
|Apr high F = 71
|May high F = 76
|Jun high F = 78
|Jul high F = 81
|Aug high F = 83
|Sep high F = 82
|Oct high F = 78
|Nov high F = 70
|Dec high F = 65
|year high F = 73
|Jan low F = 38
|Feb low F = 39
|Mar low F = 40
|Apr low F = 41
|May low F = 46
|Jun low F = 49
|Jul low F = 52
|Aug low F = 53
|Sep low F = 51
|Oct low F = 44
|Nov low F = 41
|Dec low F = 36
|year low F = 44
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.2
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.2
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.8
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.2
|May precipitation inch = 0.3
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.1
|Jul precipitation inch = 0
|Aug precipitation inch = 0
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.2
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.6
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.4
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.5
|year precipitation inch = 15.5
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=701540&cityname=Los+Alamos%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units=
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on November 2, 2013.</ref>
|date=November 2013
}}

== Demographics ==
=== 2010 ===

The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0643252|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715115432/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0643252|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Los Alamos CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Los Alamos had a population of 1,890. The population density was {{convert|488.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Los Alamos was 1,667 (88.2 percent) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5 (0.3 percent) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 10 (0.5 percent) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 32 (1.7 percent) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0 (0.0 percent) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 134 (7.1 percent) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 42 (2.2 percent) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 773 persons (40.9 percent).

The Census reported that 1,890 people (100 percent of the population) lived in households, 0 (0 percent) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0 percent) were institutionalized.

There were 628 households, out of which 244 (38.9 percent) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 369 (58.8 percent) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 55 (8.8 percent) had a female householder with no husband present, 37 (5.9 percent) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 30 (4.8 percent) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 8 (1.3 percent) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 124 households (19.7 percent) were made up of individuals, and 28 (4.5 percent) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01.  There were 461 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (73.4 percent of all households); the average family size was 3.52.

The population was spread out, with 495 people (26.2 percent) under the age of 18, 173 people (9.2 percent) aged 18 to 24, 454 people (24.0 percent) aged 25 to 44, 589 people (31.2 percent) aged 45 to 64, and 179 people (9.5 percent) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

There were 681 housing units at an average density of {{convert|176.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 386 (61.5 percent) were owner-occupied, and 242 (38.5 percent) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5 percent; the rental vacancy rate was 6.4 percent.  1,141 people (60.4 percent of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 749 people (39.6 percent) lived in rental housing units.

=== 2000 ===

At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 1,372 people, 471 households and 349 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|582.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 488 housing units at an average density of {{convert|207.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 76.90 percent [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.22 percent [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.82 percent [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.73 percent [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.51 percent [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 15.09 percent from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.74 percent from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 34.69 percent of the population.

There were 471 households, of which 44.2 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0 percent were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.3 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9 percent were non-families. 20.4 percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.36.

Age distribution was 31.9 percent under the age of 18, 7.7 percent from 18 to 24, 34.2 percent from 25 to 44, 19.3 percent from 45 to 64, and 7.0 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median household income was $47,321, and the median family income was $49,125. Males had a median income of $32,206 versus $30,714 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $18,013. About 10.3 percent of families and 13.1 percent of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.2 percent of those under age 18 and 2.2 percent of those age 65 or over.

== Economy ==
It is a small, unincorporated town in a region of ranches, oil fields, vegetable farms ([[broccoli]], [[lettuce]] and [[strawberry|strawberries]]), and wine grape [[vineyards]].

The main street in Los Alamos is Bell Street, or California Route 135. Many businesses line this area. Several of these eateries and wineries were featured in the summer 2012 issue of Edible Santa Barbara.<ref>{{cite web|title=Road Trip: Los Alamos|url=http://www.ediblecommunities.com/santabarbara/summer-2012/road-trip-los-alamos.htm|work=Edible Santa Barbara|access-date=June 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618014431/http://www.ediblecommunities.com/santabarbara/summer-2012/road-trip-los-alamos.htm|archive-date=June 18, 2012 }}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
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.

==Arts and culture==
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 [[Populus fremontii|Fremont Cottonwood ''(Populus fremontii)'']] trees, native to the area. Many of these "cottonwoods" grew along the banks of [[San Antonio Creek (Vandenberg Air Force Base)|San Antonio Creek]].

==In popular culture==
The town was featured in ''Visiting... with [[Huell Howser]]'' Episode 1022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Alamos- Visiting (1022) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2002/09/27/los-alamos-visiting-1022/}}</ref>

In the 2004 film [[Sideways]], Stephanie, one of the four main characters played by [[Sandra Oh]], lives in Los Alamos.

The town, particularly the Union Hotel, served as the shooting location for the music video for [[Say Say Say]] by [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Paul McCartney]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/centralcoast/article/california-town-led-michael-jackson-to-neverland-18142686.php |date=11 June 2023 |last=Pridgen |first=Andrew |newspaper=[[SFGATE]] |title=A trip to a Calif. town with Paul McCartney changed Michael Jackson's life forever}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Santa Barbara County, California}}
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{{Portal|California|History}}
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[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Santa Barbara County, California]]