By Don McDonald

Los Altos in 1938

We tend to think that World War II marked the beginning of the end of Los Altos as an orchard community. It’strue that the town’s most dramatic population increases began then, but records show that from its inception, Los Altos had gradual growth every year. The year 1938 saw a significant increase in the previous rate of growth, perhaps in part because the Great Depression was easing up a bit.

The following is mostly based on copies of the Los Altos News in History Museum files.

The paper is missing from these files between Dec. 24, 1931 and Feb. 11, 1938. Apparently publication of the paper had stopped - a victim of the Great Depression. When the News was revived in 1938 (as Volume 1 Copy 1), it was on a more modest basis.

Instead of publishing ‘twice a week’ as it had, it now appeared ‘twice a month.’ The first issues were without photos, but after weekly publication began in April, photos also began to appear. Initially, the new paper cost nothing; its frank goal was to show readers “where to shop.”

Population estimates

Prior to the town’s 1952 incorporation and the 1960 census figures, population estimates for the Los Altos area, including Los Altos Hills, could only be approximations.

The News in April claimed to serve a town with an “estimated population of 3,500, based on postal and water services.”

An August editorial estimated the population to be 3,000. It also noted populations in nearby incorporated communities; Palo Alto, reached 13,652 in 1930 and Mountain View counted 3,308 in 1930 and 4,250 in 1937.

With 1938 being an election year, the paper was full of political ads in the fall. Registration for the local four precincts was l,076, including 625 Republicans and 428 Democrats.

The Bell telephone book listed 620 subscribers in January and 680 in October.

The Volunteer Fire Department served an estimated 900 families.

Utilities, public services

Gas and power had been available soon after town construction first began.

Water was available from the California Water Co., but many homes still relied on their own wells. Many of these wells were experiencing a drastically lowered water table.

Sewage was taken care of by septic systems or outhouses. Trash pick up was available from private companies.