ROOTED HERE
The history of Cerritos
Cerritos grew from the agricultural community of Dairy Valley into a city known for civic spaces, performing arts and neighborhood life. The library and nearby cultural destinations offer a starting point beyond the shopping centers. Explore locally rooted restaurants and shops, then use current organizer calendars to plan an evening out.
People who shaped Cerritos
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
From Dairy Valley To Cerritos
A local history film shared by CityofCerritos.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Cerritos
See all 14 famous people
- Before the modern city
Dairy Valley
Agriculture and dairy farming shaped the community before its suburban development. The city’s historical resources document the transition from pasture and farm land to neighborhoods.
City or museum historical source ↗ - 1956
Municipal incorporation
The community incorporated as the City of Dairy Valley on April 24, 1956. Local government preceded the later change to the Cerritos name.
City or museum historical source ↗ - 1959
A charter city
Residents voted to become a California charter city in February 1959. The charter provided a framework for municipal government.
City or museum historical source ↗ - 1967
The Cerritos name
The name change from Dairy Valley to Cerritos became official on January 10, 1967. It reflected a community changing beyond its earlier agricultural identity.
City or museum historical source ↗ - Today
Learning and the arts
Cerritos Library and the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts are prominent public cultural destinations. Check their current visitor and event information before planning a trip.
City or museum historical source ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Cerritos Sculpture Garden, dedicated in 2006, where a bronze memorial honors the victims of the 1986 air disaster over the city. Check current opening hours before visiting the Cerritos Library local history collection.
For deeper research, the Cerritos library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.