I know Los Angeles is “City of Angels”, no? Then what’s “Alamos?” Or is my Spanish way off?
Los is “the”, generally. Los Alamos seems to be “The cottonwoods”.
The cottonwoods. (A variety of tree related to aspens that are found throughout the U.S. It has crappy wood for building or burning (except to add color to a fire burning hardwood), but it is a decent shade tree if you don’t mind picking up twigs after every windstorm.) In the U.S. Southwest, it is a decent indicator of water in dry regions.
Damn post-padders 
I think Spanish álamo can refer to any species of the Populus genus (poplars, aspens, and cottonwoods). In the general vicinity of Los Alamos, New Mexico, there are two native species of cottonwood, one of aspen, and none of poplar.
I guess it’s easier to remember The Alamo than it is to remember what los alamos means. Sorry, someone had to say it…
