The town of Los Altos was originally purchased by an executive at Southern Pacific Railroad, Paul Shoup, who then created the Altos Land Co. The 140 acres adjacent to Palo Alto and Mountain View were first owned by the Winchester family. Shortly after acquiring the land, the company planned a new town to service the South Pacific Railroad between Mayfield and Los Gatos and called it Los Altos. In Spanish, it means “the heights,” being that it was at the highest elevation between the two points. In 1964 the railway was converted into what we know today as Foothill Expressway. For many years Los Altos became synonymous with apricots. The town primarily consisted of orchards and agricultural land. Los Altos experienced slow growth, and its population remained relatively small. With nearby Stanford University and Silicon Valley, a hub for technology companies, significant prosperity was brought to Los Altos and the surrounding area.
Today, Los Altos has become one of the most desirable places to live. With its semi-rural feel, residents can avoid the big city feel while still being conveniently located to many significant landmarks, including but not limited to Stanford University, Meta Headquarters, The Apple Ring, Google, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. In addition, Los Altos has two of the best school districts in the state, Los Altos and Mountain View Unified School Districts. Many families desire these schools to provide their children with the best opportunities possible.
