History of Cerritos | City of Cerritos

This 1960s era photo looking east shows Bloomfield Avenue in the foreground and 183rd Street to the right, with the new 91 Freeway cutting across the landscape and subdivisions slowly filling in the cow pastures to the east.

The Cerritos Towne Center is now located along the 91 Freeway, featuring the beautiful Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, class A office buildings, bustling retailers and a variety of popular restaurants.

Cerritos was incorporated on April 24, 1956 as the City of Dairy Valley. Two years after its incorporation, the City voted on February 17, 1959 to become a California chartered city. The City’s name change to Cerritos was made official on January 10, 1967.

Historical Information and Events

To learn about the transformation of the successful agricultural community of Dairy Valley into the beautiful City of Cerritos, watch the videos below and visit the Local History page on the Cerritos Library’s website.

In honor of the City’s anniversary, the City of Cerritos hosts a one-day festival in April featuring entertainment, food trucks, game booths, crafts and a fireworks show. To learn more about events in the City of Cerritos, visit the Community Events page.

"From Dairy Valley to Cerritos" chronicles the development of a highly successful agricultural community into an ideal city.

"Cerritos Our History" features interviews with community members sharing their recollections of Dairy Valley and the development of the City of Cerritos.

“The Story of the Cerritos Auto Square” documentary chronicles how the world’s largest auto mall was created.