Why Cerritos
Cerritos is a suburban city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, forming part of the Gateway Cities region along the Orange County border. Neighboring communities include Artesia, Bellflower, Lakewood, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada, Buena Park, and La Palma. Encompassing roughly 8.9 square miles, the city is widely recognized for its master-planned layout, major commercial districts, and civic institutions.
The land was originally home to the indigenous Tongva people prior to Spanish colonization. In 1784, the area became part of Rancho Los Nietos, which was later divided into smaller ranchos, including Rancho Los Coyotes. The term "cerritos," meaning "little hills," was applied to this portion of the property. By the mid-twentieth century, the territory had transformed into a major agricultural area dominated by dairy farming. In 1956, the community incorporated under the name Dairy Valley, reflecting a time when cows significantly outnumbered human residents. As regional property values shifted and freeway construction encouraged suburban growth, the city embraced residential development and adopted the name Cerritos in 1967.
Visitors to Cerritos will find notable civic, cultural, and commercial destinations concentrated within distinct districts. The city's civic area houses the standalone Cerritos Library, which underwent a major renovation finished in 2002, as well as a solar-heated city hall facility and a public sculpture garden unveiled in 2006. Commercial activity thrives across several primary hubs. The Cerritos Towne Center integrates retail outlets, corporate offices, a 203-room Sheraton hotel, and the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Other major economic zones include the Los Cerritos Center shopping mall, the Cerritos Industrial Park, and the Cerritos Auto Square, a massive multi-block auto dealership complex.
Cerritos enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot summers, mild winters, and precipitation primarily occurring during winter months. The city features a semi-marine microclimate driven by ocean breezes moving inland along the San Gabriel River, which helps moderate temperatures and reduces the impact of smog and Santa Ana winds. Local public transportation is supported by a dedicated transit shuttle service known as Cerritos on Wheels.
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