Essence of Los Altos
Tree lined streets and a small village
atmosphere characterize Los Altos,
located in the heart of Silicon Valley.

There are seventy-five miles of
roadside and off-road paths. The paths
that travel away from the roadways are
part of the scenic element of the town,
and provide a rare glimpse into the
natural beauty of Los Altos Hills.

The historic Smith home is located at
the site of one of the last active

In the late 1940s and the early
1950s, Los Altos hovered on the brink of radical change. Its
population would double over the next decade, its greatest
period of growth. A big event in town was the start of
construction of a movie theater on State Street in 1948.

The long-standing tradition of holiday decorations downtown began
with the 1949 Christmas season. There was a downtown Easter
event in 1950, And in 1951,
merchants arranged to arrive
downtown in a helicopter. A clear
sign of the town's growth was the
grand opening of Rancho Shopping
Center in November 8, 1951.

In 1952, the issue was to incorporate or, to wait and not get to vote
if Los Altos were annexed to Palo Alto or Mountain View.
Los Altos set the trend for incorporations, with Cupertino, Milpitas,
Monte Sereno and Saratoga forming city governments
shortly thereafter.

Los Altos officially became Santa Clara County's 14th city in 1952.

Los Altos Hills followed in 1956 with Purissima & Toyon proposed
as the town name.

Mountain lions have been sighted in Los Altos.