Los Baños del Padre Arroyo, meaning The Baths, was a favorite bathing place for padres from San Juan Bautista Mission during their travels to San Joaquin Valley. Spanish explorers visited it as early as 1805, and later American emigrants changed its name to Los Banos Creek. The town of Los Banos was established at its present site in 1889, following the location of the Los Banos post office near the creek in 1874.