In the early 1900s, sugar beets were delivered to a factory by horse and wagon. Economics, combined with an insect infestation in 1921 caused sugar-beet crop to drop significantly and the eventual demise of the sugar beet industry in Los Alamitos. But the town that had sprung up continued to grow.

On the lands south of the factory (and current Orangewood Avenue), Fred Bixby, son of John Bixby and future member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame, used the sugar beet lands as a finishing ranch to fatten cattle before sending them off to slaughter (he also managed Hellman's lands in present Seal Beach). Bixby, one of the more progressive ranchers of his time, allowed European immigrant, Mexican, and Japanese farmers to rent the land and grow crops. At the beginning of World War II, the Japanese farmers were rounded up and relocated to internment camps at Manzanar and elsewhere.

Just prior to and during early World War II, the area around Los Alamitos became a major center for the aircraft industry. The Clark heirs arranged for Donald Douglas to build a major plant adjacent to the airport in Lakewood and Long Beach. Soon after the Navy decided it wanted the level ground just south of Los Alamitos for its training field, which it moved from Terminal Island. The new base provided many jobs and spurred modest growth. In 1973, the base was designated an Armed Forces Reserve Center. Today, it is a reserve support center for units of the Army, Navy, National Guard and Marines.

Many former military personnel chose to stay on in Los Alamitos after the war, living in such neighborhoods as Carrier Row, where streets are named for World War II aircraft carriers. Other than "the base" the area remained unchanged until 1956 when builder Ross Cortese purchased land to build the walled community of Rossmoor just southwest from the townsite of Los Alamitos.

Rossmoor, still the largest single development in Orange County, was the first walled community in the United States and quickly became home to over 10,000 upper middle class professionals. Rossmoor's homes were designed initially by Earle G. Kaltenbach (who also designed Disneyland's original Tomorrowland) and then by Chris Choate, who achieved much fame as the frequent partner of Cliff May. Together the two men were among the most responsible for designing and popularizing the "ranch" style homes which dominated the suburban explosion of the 1950s.

Although Rossmoor never officially became part of Los Alamitos proper, it has become inextricably linked to the town. When Los Alamitos incorporated in 1960 its population was only about 3,400, while still-growing Rossmoor was nearing 10,000. Now they are fairly equal with Los Alamitos being slightly larger than 11,000, and Rossmoor just below that.

Rossmoor, still an unincorporated part of Orange County, doesn't pay taxes to Los Alamitos, but the city virtually treats Rossmoor residents as if they were residents. In exchange, the city's many youth programs benefit from the overwhelming number of Rossmoor residents who volunteer for those programs.

The ambitious sugar-beet processor of today would be hard pressed to set up shop in Los Alamitos. Zoning laws keep out heavy manufacturing or industry because nearly all the city land is developed. The Armed Forces Reserve Center takes up 48 percent of the city's 4.3 square miles. The rest of the city is a snug fitting mix of homes, apartments, businesses and open space.

The small city has been the hometown for a number of noted athletes including Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby, and many major league baseball players, including Andy Messersmith, who challenged baseball's reserve clause and helped established free agency in professional sports .

At one point in the late 1980s, six natives of Rossmoor and Los Alamitos were playing baseball in the major leagues -- Robb Nen, J. T. Snow, Greg Harris, Dennis Lamp, Greg Pirkl, and Mike Kelly. The area is also home to record holding long distance swimmer Lynne Cox. It was also home to California Supreme Court Chief Justice Malcolm M. Lucas while he served on the Court, and to award-winning mystery writer Jan Burke.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Los Alamitos had a population of 11,449. The racial makeup of Los Alamitos was 8,131 White, 324 African American, 51 Native American, 1,471 Asian, 50 Pacific Islander, 726 from other races, and 696 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,418 persons.

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,536 people, 4,246 households, and 3,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,875.5 inhabitants per square mile. There were 4,329 housing units at an average density of 1,079.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 76.97% White, 58.6%% African American, 3.7%Native American, 9.49% Asian, 11.5% Pacific Islander, 5.37% from other races, and 4.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.3% of the population.

There were 4,246 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $55,286, and the median income for a family was $60,767. Males had a median income of $49,946 versus $36,002 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,014. About 4.1% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. Property prices in the city have increased dramatically over the past 20 years.

In the state legislature Los Alamitos is located in the 35th Senate District and in the 67th Assembly District. Federally, Los Alamitos is located in California's 40th congressional district.

Los Alamitos Television began as a small local Public-access television cable TV channel in 1983 under authorization of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with the mission to provide non commercial local programming to, and by, the greater Los Alamitos community.

The City of Los Alamitos is the Local Franchising Authority and currently owns all LATV assets and facilities. LATV-3 has evolved into a station that produces a full range of local programming, including local government, high school sports, local interest and public affairs and educational programming as well as community generated public-access television shows.

As LATV Studio 1 nears completion they are looking to the community to partner with them in creating new and exciting programming in the studio and outside of it that will reflect the cities own local interests, needs and concerns. LATV encourages community members and organizations, educational and business groups with a desire to reach a broader audience to engage with creative ideas for a program or series of programs. LATV will provide the studio, the crew and the technical expertise, the producers provide the creative energy, the program planning, coordination of guests and sponsorship if any.

Most recently LosAl TV Studio 1 has been building a website accessible at www.losaltv.org and www.latv-3.org. Most notably, the site has embedded programming so you can watch current and relevant shows from the website.

• The first Claim Jumper restaurant opened in Los Alamitos in 1977. That restaurant no longer exists, and the closest Claim Jumper is in nearby Long Beach
• The Los Alamitos Race Course, has year round Quarter Horse, Arabian and Thoroughbred racing. It was once the only harness racing track in Southern California.
• Neverland Studios, a recording studio originally located in Los Alamitos that was often used by Christian Rock bands.

• Allison Mack, actress (famously known as "Chloe" from Smallville)
• Lynne Cox, long-distance swimmer
• Taryn Manning, actress
• Cathy Rigby, Olympic gymnast and actress
• Jodie Sweetin, actress ("Stephanie Tanner" from Full House)
• Aaron Barrett, musician
• Scott Klopfenstein, musician
• Kami Cotler, actress
• Tony Muser, former MLB player and manager
• Jonathan Bornstein, soccer player for the USA National Team and Chivas USA
• Matt "Money" Smith, Fox Sports Radio talk show host
• Landry Fields, basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA

Schools

• Los Alamitos High School
• Laurel High School
• McAuliffe Middle School (formerly called Pine)
• Oak Middle School
• St. Hedwig School, K-8 Private School
• Hopkinson Elementary
• Lee Elementary
• Los Alamitos Elementary
• Rossmoor Elementary
• Weaver Elementary