Before its founding, the land on which Los Banos is now located was part of the Yukut Native American hunting grounds. The wetlands in and around the area provided everything the native people needed, including salmon, sturgeon, and game such as elk and deer. For many years the confluence of Beer Creek, Los Banos Creek, and the San Joaquin River with its large watershed, protected the region from early Spanish exploration. As such, the Yokuts were able to live in relative seclusion until the 18th century.

In 1805 Gabriel Moraga, with his troop of Spanish Calvary from the Presidio of San Francisco came riding through the Pacheco Pass under orders from the Spanish Governor of California to explore the San Joaquin Valley. This jaunty leader and his party reached the valley floor and cantered right across the area where the City of Los Banos now stands.

From 1808 to 1833, Spanish missionaries discovered the area when they traveled over the mountains from Mission San Juan Bautista on missionary visits with the Yokut Tribes in the region. Padre Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta on such visits discovered pools of water in the rocks of the summit of the mountains in a little creek bed that flowed down into the San Joaquin Valley. On account of these pools he named the area “Los banos”, which meant “The Baths”. Reports of these baths led to the local ranchers naming the creek “El Arroyo de Los Banos del Padre Arroyo”. In time that lengthy moniker was reduced to “Los Banos Crick”

In 1873 a pioneer to the area named Gus Kreyenhagen ran a trading post near Los Banos Creek. The Post Office Department decided to establish a Post Office at the trading post and named it after the creek, hence the name “Los Banos.”

Henry Miller arrived in San Francisco in 1850 with $6.00 in his pocket. After working as a butcher he became aware of the need for a better grade of cattle than that which was available at that time in California.

He came to the San Joaquin Valley and began his land acquisitions and cattle empire. He acquired land on both sides of the San Joaquin River ultimately owning that land for a distance of 120 miles. In 1871 he formed the San Joaquin and Kings River Canal and Irrigation Company. He is credited with being the first to introduce the crops of cotton, rice and alfalfa to the valley.

Miller made a great effort to get the railroad to extend through the West Side and that eventually decided the present day location of Los Banos. Agriculture remains the number one industry in and around Los Banos and this is due mainly to the early success of Henry Miller.

Los Banos’ population began to grow more quickly after World War II owing to returning veterans and highway construction. A series of irrigation and dam projects in the 1960s brought farmers in search of arable land. From 1970 to 1985, population growth began to stagnate. The City had reached a point where agriculture was no longer a growth factor. Fortunately, Los Banos is close to major employment centers in the Bay Area. Regional dynamism from 1990 onwards fueled a population boom. Even today, many residents have moved to Los Banos because of low home prices and close proximity to the Bay Area.

There is one description of Henry Miller, California’s cattle king, which sums up his contributions to this community: Henry Miller – Founding Father of Los Banos.

Born 1827 in Brackenheim, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Miller left the family farm at age 14 to make his way in the world. He arrived in New York City in 1847, just as California’s Gold Rush was getting underway. Lured by the promise of treasure, Miller joined a myriad of others heading West, arriving in San Francisco in 1850 with less than $6 in his pocket.

Relying on his boyhood farming experiences, Miller worked as a butcher and owned his own shop just one year later. Miller’s reputation for hard work, opening early and closing late became the foundation of his business.

Miller’s meticulous attention to detail helped his business prosper. Miller personally selected Valley cattle for his business and established better stock breeds, feeding regimens and feed crops. In 1857 Miller secured options for all the cattle north of the Tehachapi Mountains, and partnered with fellow German butcher, Charles Lux to create the Miller & Lux Corporation. By 1900 Miller & Lux was the largest integrated cattle-raising and meat packing enterprise in the United States, which secured Miller’s position as California’s cattle king.

Being a hands-on businessman, Miller established his headquarters at Canal Farm in Los Banos, where he could oversee his 1.4 million acres of cattle pasture and farmland extending from California to Oregon and Nevada. From Los Banos, Miller traveled the length and width of his company’s California operation.

The Los Banos headquarters also is where Miller created one of the West’s largest water irrigation systems. A series of gravity-fed canals, thus the name “Canal Farm,” were dug to transport water from the San Joaquin River to the fertile farm fields. The system is still used today to irrigate more than 244,000 acres of prime farmland on which is grown more than 40 food and fiber crops.

In Los Banos, Miller brought the railroad to town, constructed a bank, company store and many other building improvements. In addition, he planned and developed housing areas for local citizens and enhanced the quality of life in many ways. Miller created the May Day celebration, which still is observed in Los Banos, as a way of thanking his employees for their hard work and dedication.

By the age of 89, when Henry Miller died in 1916, he had given millions of dollars to numerous worthy causes. Today the City of Los Banos is proud to honor his vision and legacy.

Downtown is the geographical, historical, and cultural heart of Los Banos. Located in the area surrounding Sixth (Main) Street, Downtown is compact, highly walkable, and boasts a charming mix of new and old buildings integral to the city’s small-town identity. Downtown Los Banos features a pedestrian-oriented environment; mixed-use development with a backbone of retail uses; a traditional, well-connected street grid; and direct pedestrian and bicycle connections to nearby neighborhoods.

Downtown Los Banos is a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood where residents and visitors come together to share in food, shopping, and culture. Downtown’s well-kept historic fabric and high-quality new buildings host a healthy mix of local  retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Old and new housing in Downtown Los Banos meets a high standard of quality and supports its thriving business climate. Downtown Los Banos is home to several eclectic shops and eating places and attracts young people, families with children, and tourists during the day and in the evenings.

To view historical photographs of Downtown Los Banos, check out the Historic Los Banos Photo Gallery tab on the menu to the left!

Los Banos Downtown Association is an information center for not only the downtown but the whole community and oversees and generates activities in the downtown to assist the downtown merchants and business owners to attract people to shop and do business in the downtown.  Visit their website by clicking on the button below!

At the local level, the Los Banos Chamber of Commerce is a dynamic and active non-profit business organization, comprised of people who do business in and around Los Banos, and is focused on assisting and strengthening businesses in our community. The Chamber collaborates with government, educational institutions, and private industry to assist and strengthen local businesses and provides valuable connections and information through networking mixers and workshops on topics such as using social media to boost business.  They currently host 4 major community events in the downtown, including the Spring/Fall Street Fairs, Dad’s Nite Out (Father’s Day), and the Christmas Parade.  Visit their website by clicking on the button below!

The City offers over 50 neighborhood parks and playgrounds for recreational use, including the Los Banos Skate Park at Colorado Park and the Los Banos Dog Park!  We want all our residents, including our furry residents, to be safe so don’t forget to check out the do’s and don’ts for visiting the dog park.

Want to know which parks offer restrooms, playgrounds, basketball courts, or picnic benches for public use? Check out the park list at the button below for park amenity details.

Visit our Los Banos Parks & Recreation Division page for information and details about Community Center events, facility rentals, youth and adult programs, senior services, and to sign up for one of our exciting recreational activities for the young and young at heart!

This canal trail walking path runs along the southside of the canal from West I Street to Pioneer Road and is an off-road trail with scenic canal access, bench seating, and shade trees!

The Rail Trail system is a former rail line that was converted to a City walking trail that runs from the northwest to the southeast of Los Banos.

• Rail Trail Corridor runs from Second Street to Place Road and is an off-road trail with shade trees, bench seating, and restaurant access!
• Lindemann Family Trail runs from Place Road to Ward Road and is an off-road trail with shade trees, and rural views!
• Page Extensions Trail runs from Page Avenue to Mercey Springs Road and is an off-road trail with shade trees, access to Los Banos High School, Mercey Springs Elementary School, and State Highway 165!

Looking for a great trail near Los Banos, California? AllTrails has 6 great hiking trails, walking trails, kid friendly trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. If you’re looking for the best trails around Pacheco State Park or Great Valley Grasslands State Park, they’ve got you covered. You’ll also find some great local park options, like San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area or San Luis National Wildlife Refuge. Just looking to take a quick stroll? There are 5 easy trails in Los Banos ranging from 1.1 to 5 miles and from 65 to 124 feet above sea level. Start checking them out and you’ll be out on the trail in no time.

San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area – consisting of San Luis Reservoir, O’Neill Forebay, and Los Banos Creek Reservoir – offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Nestled in the grassy hills beneath the Pacheco Pass, the Reservoir is noted for boating, sailing, board sailing, camping and fishing. Other sports activities include fishing, equestrian trails, ATV and off-road motorcycle trails, dirt biking and more.  For more information, reach out to them by phone at (209) 826-1197 or check out their website at the button below.

Wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing enthusiasts will be interested in the Los Banos Wildlife Area where one can hunt, fish, participate in training of water dogs, camp, ride bicycles, or just relax and enjoy the wide variety of wildlife living in the area living in the more than 6,200 acres of wetland habitat which includes lakes, sloughs and managed marsh. Los Banos Wildlife Area was the first of a series of waterfowl refuges established throughout the state to manage habitat for wintering waterfowl. Western pond turtles, raccoons, striped skunks, beaver and muskrats, as well as over 200 species of birds are among the many animals found here.

For more information, reach out to them by phone at (209) 826-0463 or check out their website at the button below.

The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge offers quite a treat for those not only interested in small and winged wildlife, but the Tule Elk. This refuge, located on Highway 165 just north of Los Banos, allows for viewing daily year round on an automobile tour route to observe bull and cow elks with their young living in the open grasslands.

For more information, visit their website at the button below.

The Grassland Ecological Area, a massive 240,000 acre area constitutes the largest remaining wetland complex in the Western United States. This ecological area is a trip back in time before man’s footprints were left on the shores. Visitors are encouraged to stop at the Grassland Interpretive Center prior to entering the premises as rules do apply as much of the acreage is still privately owned. You can also visit the Grassland Environmental Education Center’s website by clicking on the button below to learn more about the ecologically significant wildlife habitats located in the San Joaquin Valley’s Grassland Ecological Area.

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 10,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, vernal pools, and riparian woodland areas for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. Located north-west from Los Banos on Sandy Mush Road, one will find wintering geese, ducks, and other such waterfowl nesting within this vast area. Coyotes, ground squirrels, desert cottontail rabbits, beaver, and long-tailed weasels can also be seen year-round. The Merced National Wildlife Refuge hosts the largest wintering population of lesser Sandhill Cranes and ross’ geese along the Pacific Flyway.

The Los Banos Historic Mural Program was established in 2012 by the Los Banos City Council to create historical themed murals to display on downtown business fronts, which would animate spaces, rejuvenate structures and streetscapes, and help to create a unique identity and provide a sense of place in the community which would indirectly spark economic development activities, improve local business viability and public safety, and bring the community together to create and be inspired.

Mural locations and depictions are selected by the Los Banos Economic Advisory Commission (EDAC).  The first mural location, selected by EDAC, is the southwestern facing wall of the building located at 1048 Sixth Street.

We have relied on information written by the late Ralph L. Milliken and excerpts from old articles from the Los Banos Enterprise to complete the history as it appears on our website. For more complete historical data, the City of Los Banos refers our readers to the Milliken Museum which was renamed from Los Banos Historical Museum in honor of the long time curator. The Museum is located at 905 Pacheco Boulevard, operates from Tuesday through Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and may reached by calling (209) 826-5505.  Click on the button below to keep up with them on Facebook!

This photo gallery contains historic images from around Los Banos, courtesy of the Milliken Museum.  You can learn more about them by clicking on the Milliken Museum tab on the menu to the left, and you can view more of their historical artifacts and photographs by visiting the Milliken Museum at 905 Pacheco Boulevard.

Merced The Bus

Merced The Bus operates 15 fixed routes and two deviated fixed routes throughout the region and provides paratransit service for qualifying individuals who cannot access the fixed-route service.  Check out their services at Merced The Bus.

The Micro Bus

What exactly is The Micro Bus? Imagine a cross between an Uber/Lyft and a public transit system, now give it a defined service area with virtual stops every 1/4 mile, and there you have it!  A more customized service than your average fixed-route, and an on-demand service using an app on your smart phone, website or by calling customer service.  Check them out at The Micro Bus.

Los Banos Unified School District (LBUSD)

LBUSD has 2 High Schools, 2 Junior Highs, 9 Elementary Schools, 1 Independent Study Campus, 1 Continuation High School, and 1 Transitional Kindergarten Center.

Merced College (Los Banos Campus)

The Los Banos Campus is a full-service educational center of Merced College, providing services to residents of the Westside of Merced County.