Amboy

Amboy was first settled as a mining town in 1858 and was formally established in 1883 as the first in a series of alphabetical railroad sidings in the Mojave Desert. The famous landmark Roy's Cafe and Motel opened in 1938 and it and several other businesses…

Arcadia

In 1875, Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin acquired the Rancho Santa Anita, and began subdividing and selling parcels immediately. By 1903, he officially founded Arcadia and became its first mayor. Initially, the city was known for its lawlessness, especially…

Azusa

Bagdad

The former town site of Bagdad was located approximately eight miles west of Amboy and was founded in 1883. Primarily constructed to serve the mining towns surrounding it, it survived into the 1950’s with a cafe, motel, service station, and garage serving…

Barstow

The City of Barstow was a mining center for the area as far back as the late 1800’s when it was known as Waterman Junction. On January 15, 1886, the Post Office there changed its name officially to Barstow Post Office. The original business district was more…

Beverly Hills

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Century City

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Chinatown

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Claremont

Like the other communities in the region, the area of Claremont was first inhabited by Serrano Indians. However, here, a Serrano village has been discovered just northeast of Route 66 (Foothill Boulevard) and Indian Hill Boulevard. Much of the area within…

Cypress Park

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Daggett

Daggett was originally founded in 1883 and named after the then-Lieutenant Governor of Calfiornia, John Daggett. In addition to being a railroad terminus, it was also the southern end of the 20-mule team runs from Death Valley. The old Stone Hotel, built in…

Devore

The area of Devore is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, at the southern entrance point of the Cajon Pass. It is located roughly near where I-15 and I-215 come together, and is the home of the Glen Helen Pavilion and Amphitheater, the…

Downtown Los Angeles

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Duarte

As with many other communities in the San Gabriel Valley, Duarte began as a community via a land grant, this one of approximately 7000 acres to Don Andres Duarte in 1841. Duarte - born in 1805 at Mission San Juan Capistrano - built an adobe house on what is…

Eagle Rock

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Echo Park

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

El Sereno

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Essex

Essex is a small desert town along National Old Trails Highway/Route 66 and one of the many desert towns that was by-passed with the construction of Interstate 40.  It once was an important stop for the railroad.  Look for the old water well that was built…

Fontana

Fontana - Italian for “fountain” or a source of water - was founded in 1913 by Azariel Blanchard Miller, and formally incorporated in 1952. It was primarily a citrus and vineyard area and remained largely rural until Henry J. Kaiser (of Kaiser-Permanente…

Garvanza

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Glassell Park

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Glendora

As with other San Gabriel Valley communities, Glendora was established in previously remote agricultural land with the coming of the Santa Fe Railroad in May 1887. However, an additional boost at the end of 1907 occurred with the arrival of the Pacific…

Goffs

The town of Goffs was founded in 1883. Originally named Blake after founder Isaac Blake, it was renamed Goffs in 1902 in order to be part of the alphabetical sidings along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (Amboy, Bristol, Cadiz, Danby, Essex,…

Helendale

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Highland Park

The Highland Park community of Los Angeles is just northeast of Downtown and is considered part of NELA. It’s main street – Figueroa Street – was part of the Transitional (1932-1934) and Alternate (1936-1940) Alignments of Route 66. This main drag was…

Hollywood

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when the Hollywood page will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Irwindale

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

La Verne

The Community of La Verne originated with Isaac W. Lord’s purchase of land from Jose Palomares in the mid-1880’s, and in 1887 Lord had the land surveyed and began selling lots. He originally named the community Lordsburg after himself, and immediately set…

Lenwood

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Lincoln Heights

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Los Angeles

Ludlow

Like many other Mojave Desert communities, Ludlow began in 1883 as a water stop for the railroad. It was named for William B. Ludlow, a master car repairer for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. Two railaroad lines - the Tonopah and Tidewater to the north…

Monrovia

Monrovia was formed from a portion of the Rancho Azusa de Duarte on the east, and the Rancho Santa Anita to the west. In 1884, William N. Monroe purchased land and formed the Monrovia Land and Water Company in 1886. Lots began being sold on May 17 of that…

Mount Washington

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Needles

The City of Needles was founded in 1883 and named for the nearby mountain peaks, which themselves had been named “The Needles” in 1854 during a survey for the forthcoming railroad. By 1908, demand on the town grew to the point that the Atchison, Topeka and…

Newberry Springs

The unincorporated community of Newberry Springs is located approximately 20 miles west of Barstow and has a population of just under 3,000. Surprisingly, the consistent climate and underground water supply make it an ideal location for farming some crops,…

Oro Grande

It is believed that the first settler in Oro Grande was Aaron G. Lane, who set up a homestead next to the Mojave River in 1858. Lane’s Crossing catered to those traveling the Mojave Trail even before gold was discovered in the area in 1873. The first post…

Pasadena

By Bill Delaney For over a century, we have invited the world to share in Pasadena's tradition of bringing in the New Year. Millions have viewed the floral spectacular of the Tournament of Roses Parade and experienced the excitement of the Rose Bowl Game. A…

Pomona

The City of Pomona was named in honor of the Roman goddess of fruit by horticulturist Solomon Gates prior to it becoming “Queen of the Citrus Belt” in the 1920’s. First settled by the Gabrieleno Tribe, it became part of the Mission San Gabriel’s grazing…

Rancho Cucamonga

The term “Cucamonga” appears to be derived from the Kucamongan people, part of the Gabrielino and Tongva tribes that populated the area around 1200 A.D. The word itself seems to mean “sandy place.” The Kucamongans settled in a village in the area known now…

Rialto

The first official settling of Rialto appears to be in 1851 by the Mountain family, who had purchased land from the Lugo family of Rancho San Bernardino. This claim by the Mountain family appears to have been amended by the United States government, but…

San Bernardino

The earliest known inhabitants of the San Bernardino area were the Serrano Indians, but the likely founding of the community was when the Franciscan priest Francisco Dumetz journeyed to the area from the Mission San Gabriel on May 20, 1810, which coincides…

San Dimas

Like many other communities in the San Gabriel Valley, San Dimas formed with the coming of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad (later the Santa Fe Railroad) in the 1880’s. At the time, it was known as Mud Springs due to the riparian marsh area…

Santa Monica

By Dan Rice, past president, California Historic Route 66 Association Santa Monica became a permanent part of the road’s history on January 1, 1936.  As the city of Los Angeles grew, the original terminus was extended from downtown L.A. to the corner of…

Silver Lake

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

South Pasadena

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!

Upland

The City of Upland was originally part of the community of Ontario (located to the south), and was at one time known as the community of Magnolia based on a hotel built there in 1887. Just after the turn of the century, Ontario was growing partially by…

Victorville

The community of Victorville was first settled by Jacob Nash Victor around 1885. Victor was a construction superintendent for the California Southern Railroad (which was associated with the Santa Fe Railroad) and the original name of the community was simply…

West Los Angeles

Be sure to check back often for updates, as we will be continuously adding content. Want to know when more cities will be posted? Follow us on Twitter @Route66CA and be one of the first to know!