Welcome to L.A. Street Names, the origin stories of street names across Los Angeles County, from the shortest cul-de-sacs to the longest boulevards. Mysteries solved, myths debunked, scandals exposed, history revealed. This is an ongoing project with more than 1,700 streets – and growing. See FAQ for more information.
Featured Major Street
Alhambra Road
The city of Alhambra was founded in 1874 as a tract owned by Benjamin Davis “Don Benito” Wilson (1811-1878) and his son-in-law James De Barth Shorb (1842-1896). Both tract and road took their name from the Alhambra, the 13th century Moorish palace/fortress in Granada, Spain. It was originally thought that Wilson was a fan of Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra, the seminal 1832 travelogue that enchanted countless readers. It’s now believed that Wilson’s little daughter Ruth was the one who read the book and suggested the name. (She grew up to be the mother of General George S. Patton, by the way.) Regardless, Alhambra has a Washington Street and an Irving Street side by side, so there’s no argument over the literary source. See Main Street, née Boabdil Avenue, for more Alhambra streets inspired by the Spanish landmark.