Los Alamos - New Mexico - History
Los
Alamos County was established in June 1949, and this year it's scheduled a
year-long series of events to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Los Alamos has gone through some remarkable changes in its history. The site of the famous Manhattan Project, it's no longer a "secret city," but it maintains an aura of mystique and mystery. Located high on the mesa tops at the foot of the Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos was first inhabited by the Anasazi Indians, who are believed to have arrived in 950 A.D. They thrived in the village until about 1500, when they mysteriously disappeared.
The
area was rediscovered by Adolph Bandelier in 1880, who spent many years
researching the ruins and artefacts of the previous society. In 1917,
Detroit businessman Ashley Pond settled in Los Alamos and founded the
prestigious Los Alamos Ranch School for boys. Twenty-five years later, in
1942, the U.S. Government was looking for a secret place to build Site Y,
the code name for a lab to design innovative weaponry. J. Robert
Oppenheimer and Army Brig. Gen. Leslie Groves came to Los Alamos, took
over the school and the Manhattan Project was born.
That time is past, but Los Alamos National Laboratory, (LANL) which is operated by the University of California, remains the county's primary employer. Approximately 7,000 scientists, engineers, technicians and other professionals work at LANL.
With the hot war won, LANL focused on the Cold War, developing the thermonuclear power necessary to wage it. With that war over, the lab is involved in other endeavours such as energy, computers, science and astrophysical studies.
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