This information adapted from materials authored by Karen Nilsson Brandt
Introduction
Army General Leslie Groves had just finished overseeing the building of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., when he was assigned to supervise construction of buildings in a remote area of northern New Mexico that had been given the code name "Project Y." Gen. Groves and Manhattan Project Director J. Robert Oppenheimer arrived in Los Alamos, N.M., in the fall of 1942 to inspect the 54 buildings which comprised the Los Alamos Ranch School, a private school for boys. The 27 Ranch School houses, along with four other houses acquired from nearby Anchor Ranch, were deemed adequate to serve some 30 scientists and their families who would be arriving in Los Alamos to work for the Manhattan Project. Thus began the history of Los Alamos housing.
However, "Hindsight offers that in the earliest days at Site Y (Los Alamos), neither Groves nor Oppenheimer had firm grasp of the full scope of the task at hand. The two underestimated the number of houses required by a factor of 100," wrote Los Alamos author Craig Martin in his book Quads, Shoeboxes and Sunken Living Rooms: A History of Los Alamos Housing. For the next half century, newcomers to the community seeking housing have been confounded by local slang, such as "Quads" and "Group 11s," which refer to some of the types of housing built by the government and located throughout the community. Because there was sufficient doubt about the permanence of Los Alamos, the Secret City, "temporary housing" was hastily constructed. It wasn’t until 1946 that a contract was awarded to Robert McKee Construction to build 300 houses in what is known locally as the Western Area. Although the housing areas came to be defined by the homes built by the government, over the years privately built homes joined the mix as land became available. Additionally, on May 10, 2000, more than 400 families lost their homes when the Cerro Grande Fire swept through the community. North Community was hardest hit. As a result, construction of many new homes is now underway in North Community. The lower part of North Road, normally entered by turning left off Diamond Drive, was washed away in flooding which occurred in the summer of 2001 is under construction and is currently closed to traffic.
The Los Alamos Public School System operates five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school in the community. The Los Alamos County Recreation Department operates an extensive collection of parks and recreational facilities that are spread throughout the community. Recreational facilities include an aquatic center, ice rink, teen center, and golf course. An extensive trail system (selected trail descriptions) links the neighborhoods of the community as well as linking the community to the adjacent Federal lands.
|
Groups 16, 17, and 18, with a few exceptions, can be found in the Eastern Area. Think of Eastern Area as the streets which begin east of 15th and Central, 15th and Trinity, and 15th and Canyon Road. If you arrived in Los Alamos by traveling up the Main Hill Road, you entered Eastern Area as you passed by the Los Alamos Airport. The Eastern Area, which wraps around the north side of Downtown, was the third housing expansion in Los Alamos.
Eastern Area children ride the bus to attend grade school at Aspen School. The Ranch School Trail is accessed from behind the Larry Walkup Aquatic Center. East Park is located along East Road near the entry to town and tennis courts and a skateboard park are located off of Canyon Road near the Aquatic Center.
 |
Located in the downtown area is the Historic District. Located in the heart of downtown, the Historic District is home to Ashley Pond, Fuller Lodge, the Los Alamos Historical Museum, the Art Center at Fuller Lodge, Mesa Public Library, the Senior Center, Pueblan Indian ruins, and Bathtub Row. Bathtub Row is a row of houses from Los Alamos Ranch School days, so named because they were the only houses in town with bathtubs in the Manhattan Project era. Bathtub Row, owned and inhabited as private residences, extends north from Fuller Lodge. An historic walking tour threads through the district (interpretive brochure available at the Visitor Center and Museums).
It was in 1998 that construction began on a tract of land adjacent to the library previously occupied by Central School, the first school constructed for the children whose parents had come to work at the Manhattan Project. Demolished in 1966, the Central School site remained vacant land for several decades. The site now houses townhomes and Senior condominiums. Centrally located, both 2500 Central and Oppenheimer Place were built with the recognition that a growing number of residents had expressed a desire to live in close proximity to downtown, Mesa Public Library, Fuller Lodge, the Los Alamos Post Office, and Los Alamos Medical Center. Oppenheimer Place is an owner-association controlled condominium for independent, active, older adults. Oppenheimer Place is not an assisted living facility nor may children under age 18 reside there permanently.
South, between Trinity Drive and the rim of Los Alamos Canyon, are several subdivisions of townhouses, apartments, and condominiums. Because housing was added whenever land became available, there are many small subdivisions throughout the community where homes were added as land was freed up for construction. The names of subdivisions in this area include Timber Ridge, Ridge Park, Loma Vista, Los Arboles, and Las Ventanas.
Grade school children living in the Downtown/Historic District area are bused to Aspen School. Tennis courts and a skateboard park are located off of Canyon Road near the Larry Walkup Aquatic Center. The Ranch School Trail is accessed from behind the Aquatic Center.
 |
 |
Traveling west from downtown on Trinity Drive, Western Area is entered by proceeding straight ahead on Trinity, past Diamond Drive. The Western Area encompasses all the Streets that turn west from Trinity to Ridgeway Drive and includes the streets east of Trinity located behind Los Alamos High School, which includes areas known locally as the "Denver Steels," and the "Orange Street" area.
Western Area children ride the bus to attend grade school at Mountain School. The Los Alamos High School is located in the Western Area as is the campus of University of New Mexico-Los Alamos. Western Area Park is a beautiful green area that is inaccessible by automobile -- it is reached by pathways interspersed between the houses that ring the park. The Devaney-Longmire, Quemazon, Western Perimeter, Pueblo Canyon, and Ranch School trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
 |
 |
 |
 |
To reach Quemazon, take Diamond Drive north to Urban Street, turn left on Urban, and left again on North Road. Turn right off North Road at the entrance to Quemazon. When the lower entrance to North Road reopens, the most direct route to Quemazon from downtown will be to take Diamond Drive north to North Road and turn left on North Road.The Quemazon community sits on a plateau overlooking Los Alamos. Quemazon, a planned community features apartments, townhomes, and single family homes. Ultimately this development will serve 400 families. The first families moved to Quemazon in the summer of 2000.
Children who live at Quemazon attend grade school at Mountain School. The Western Perimeter, and Pipeline trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
 |
Traveling north on Diamond Drive from the vicinity of the High School, after you cross over the "Pueblo Canyon Fill," an area of canyon which was filled to make passage to North Community possible, you will find yourself in North Community, the second area developed to meet the community’s expanding housing needs. The first street in North Community is North Road. Think of North Community as the area of town that begins at North Road and ends just past the Los Alamos Golf Course at the roundabout which takes you to either North Mesa or Barranca Mesa. North Community is home to the Group 11s, five housing styles built throughout North Community with the majority of these homes built as two-story duplexes. Other homes with designations of Groups 12, 13, 14, and 15 completed the North Community.
Most North Community housing dates from the 1950's, although there has been infill. Most of the homes lost during the Cerro Grande fire in 2000 were on the north and west perimeters of the North Community and most of the homes in these areas are new. A small subdivision of recently-built townhomes off Arkansas Avenue, Canyon Glen is reached from downtown by traveling on Diamond Drive to the stoplight atArkansas Avenue. Turn left on Arkansas, then left again at the entrance to Canyon Glen.
North Community children who live west and north of Diamond Drive attend grade school at Mountain School, and those who live east of Diamond attend Aspen School. Urban Park is a key park in the community with grassy areas, a volleyball court, tennis courts and a picnic shelter. Playlots are interspersed throughout the North Community. The Western Perimeter, Mitchell, Pueblo Canyon, and Walnut Canyon trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
 |
 |
Traveling north and east on Diamond Drive, the entrance to Ponderosa Estates is a left-hand turn on Range Road, just past the golf course Fire Station Four. The turn onto Range Road will also take you to the local cemetery, Guaje Pines. Building of a first phase of new homes in Ponderosa Estates began in the mid-1990s.
Children living in Ponderosa Estates are bused to Mountain School. The Rendija Canyon, and Western Perimeter trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
 |
 |
On February 27, 1958, a milestone was reached in the history of Los Alamos housing: a lottery was held and 68 lucky residents’ names were drawn to award the first group of privately held lots in Los Alamos. Barranca Mesa is reached by traveling north and east on Diamond Drive through the Los Alamos Golf Course until you reach the roundabout. Enter the roundabout and head left up Barranca Road. Homes on Barranca Mesa are predominantly single family and range from ranch-style homes on large lots to spectacular canyon rim homes.
Barranca Mesa children attend grade school at Barranca School. The Bayo Canyon, Pajarito, Western Perimeter, Rendija Canyon, Otowi Mesa, and Deertrap Mesa trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
 |
 |
 |
North Mesa is accessed by following Diamond Drive north and east through the Golf Course to the roundabout. Having entered the roundabout, either turn right on San Ildefonso Road or proceed straight on North Mesa Road. Families began moving into their new homes on North Mesa in the summer of 1976. A variety of housing types is found on North Mesa including spectacular canyon rim properties. The Loma Vista, Hawks Landing, and Broadview planned developments are located on North Mesa.
Children living on North Mesa attend Barranca School. Los Alamos' sole Middle School is located on North Mesa. North Mesa has extensive open space including ball fields, stables, rodeo grounds, and a forested picnic grounds on the north rim. The Bayo Canyon, Walnut Canyon, and Kwage Mesa trails are accessed from different points in this neighborhood.
White Rock, La Senda, and Pajarito Acres
 |
 |
 |
 |
Driving to Bandelier National Monument from Santa Fe or Taos, visitors from across the globe have found themselves in White Rock, La Senda, and Pajarito Acres because the renowned Anasazi ruins at Bandelier are approximately 10 miles from White Rock. Coming from the direction of Santa Fe or Espanola, White Rock is accessed by following New Mexico Highway 4 rather than taking the left-hand "veer" on New Mexico Highway 502 one must make to reach Los Alamos. White Rock was selected as a site to house construction workers in 1949 due to the shortage of available housing in Los Alamos. Prefabricated housing was erected, but by 1957 White Rock was a ghost town. The prefabricated homes and trailers erected at the White Rock Construction Camp were never intended to be permanent. The workers who had lived in White Rock left when their employers left, thus the White Rock Construction Camp was deserted by Sept. 1957 at which time the camp was dismantled. The land stayed empty until the early 1960's when present day White Rock and Pajarito Acres began to be developed. The La Senda subdivision began development in 1973. Pajarito Acres and La Senda feature large parcels and a rural character. White Rock proper is predominantly single family homes although there are some townhomes and apartments. Infill development is occurring on lands recently made available for housing development.
Children living in the north part of White Rock attend Chamisa grade school and those in the South and in La Senda and Pajarito Acres attend Pinon School. All middle and high school age children are bused to Los Alamos. White Rock is blessed with several parks including Overlook Park, the largest County park. There are extensive trails including Red Dot, Blue Dot, White Rock Canyon Rim, Canada del Buey, and the Portrillo Canyon trails.
Apartments, Rentals, and Mobile Homes
 |
 |
Apartments and homes for rent are located throughout Los Alamos and White Rock and feature everything from a room to suit a minimalist to a multi-bedroom house to meet the needs of a growing family. Rentals have historically included all styles of housing, from a quad unit to a perimeter lot with a canyon view. Two new apartment complexes, Caballo Peak and Canyon Village, have recently opened along Canyon Road. Virtual Los Alamos operates a bulletin board for renters, landlords, and roommate seekers. Royal Crest, a mobile home park, is located on East Jemez Road.
 |
 |
Los Alamos approved a downtown redevelopment plan in April of 2002. Based on this plan, the Los Alamos of the future can expect to find a variety of new housing available in the downtown area mixed with retail and commercial uses.
Also, the Department of Energy is working to release some of their land holdings in the County to Los Alamos County. As more land is made available from the Department of Energy, more new housing areas are expected to be added to the community.