It was declared as the Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines through Presidential Proclamation No. 349.<ref name="pp349">Template:Cite PH act</ref> The proclamation, however, does not convert the municipality to a city or give it corporate powers that are accorded to other cities.
Los Baños is derived from Spanish for "the baths", also referring to the hot springs. It was named as such in 1589 when Fr. Pedro Bautista built public baths in the present-day town.<ref name="losbanosweb.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Spanish colonial era
This town of Los Baños takes its name from the thermal baths that exist within its territory. Formerly, Barrio "Maynit" (which means "Hot") was a visita called 'San Nicolás de Tolentino', belonging to the town of Bay when it was under the administration of the Discalced Augustinian Friars.
In 1590, a Franciscan Priest, Fray Pedro Bautista y Blasquez, which is now a saint (and founder and second patron of Los Baños) came to Maynit and discovered the medicinal properties of the hot spring on the said area and later on Franciscan Friars built a hospital dedicated to "Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas" (Our Lady of Holy Waters) near the spring.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A public deed granted by the notary Don Luis Vela on September 17, 1613 which ceded the administration of said visita and area from Agustinian Discaled Friars to the Apostolic Province of San Gregorio (Franciscan Friars.) From that date, it remained as servants of the aforementioned hospital under their administration, not becoming a formal town until the year 1640 when Don Juan Castañeda was appointed the first captain or gobernadorcillo.
The town did not have its own parish church from 1613 to 1627 and used the hospital’s chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas. The chapel enthroned the image of Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas, Santo Cristo and Nuestra Señora de la Purificacion y Candelaria (which this image is now in and patroness of Mabitac, Laguna.)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
One of the oldest existing photo of Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas
In 1727, a fire destroyed the hospital and its chapel. A temporary church made of bamboo and nipa palm was built beside the hospital under the same patronage (Virgen de Aguas Santas) but was later also destroyed by fire.
A stone church was constructed under Fr. Domingo Mateo in 1790 but its roof remained made of nipa palm. Fr. Manuel Amat renovated the church, replaced the nipa roof with tiles. He also built the bell tower with two bells. He Constructed the sacristy and painted the church interior and renovated under the same administration in 1842.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de Aguas Santas
In 1849, Rev. Fr. Juan Carrillo facilitated the construction of a road through Mount Lalacay by blasting through solid rock to connect Los Baños to Bay and Calamba.
In summary, Los Baños’ identity has always been tied to its thermal springs and hospital ministry which served as its foundation for settlement. Despite multiple destructions by fire, the town rebuilt its religious and civic infrastructure with significant contributions from the Franciscans. Its strategic location near Mount Maquiling and Laguna de Bay made it rich in natural resources fostering its development. The local population remained modest in size during the Spanish colonial period.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1909, the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture (UPCA) was established.
The UPCA became a Japanese prisoner of war camp for nationals of the Allied countries, a target of Kempetai punitive measures, and the headquarters of a secret organization of guerrillas. On February 23, 1945, US forces of the First Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Eleventh Airborne Division led a combined amphibious and airborne raid against the prison camp, rescuing over 2,000 Allied nationals. They killed the 250-man Japanese garrison. In order to force the prisoners to leave behind their belongings and speed up the evacuation before the Japanese could send reinforcements, US forces and Filipino guerrillas burned the camp. Only Baker Hall, the university gymnasium until 2010, remained intact.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> General Yamashita, the most famous World War 2 General of the Japanese, was tried and executed for war crimes in Los Baños, Laguna.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Philippine independence
In 1959, the 10th World Scout Jamboree was held in Los Baños, with the theme "Building Tomorrow Today" with an attendance of 12,203 Scouts.
The social unrest which arose when Ferdinand Marcos' debt-driven campaign spending led to the 1969 Philippine balance of payments crisis <ref name=Balbosas1992>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=" CamilleDiola">Template:Cite news</ref> spread beyond the capital and also triggered protests by students in UP Los Baños, most prominently in the form of a 13-day strike which saw barricades established at the UPLB Gate and Los Baños Highway Junction areas.<ref name="PangilinanJamolinDeGuzmanandYema2020">Template:Cite journal</ref> This unrest coincided with another issue, which was the call for the UP College of Agriculture to become independent from the University of the Philippines in Diliman.<ref name="PangilinanJamolinDeGuzmanandYema2020"/>
When martial law was declared in September 1972, Marcos cracked down on any form of criticism or activism, leading to the arrest of many of Los Baños residents. Among those who experienced arrest and torture during martial law were the UPLB Institute of Chemistry's Dr. Aloysius Baes, while among those who became desaparecidos were Tish Ladlad, Cristina Catalla, Gerardo "Gerry" Faustino, Rizalina Ilagan, UPLB Professor Jessica Sales, and PCARRD artist-illustrator Manny Ontong.<ref name="BantayogProfileMannyOntong">Template:Cite web</ref> Among those confirmed to have been martyred for their beliefs was Manuel Bautista, the student leader who had spearheaded the establishment of UPLB's Textbook Exchange and Rental Center (TERC).<ref name="PangilinanJamolinDeGuzmanandYema2020"/><ref name="MalayRodriguez">Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1979, the evolution and development of academic excellence in Los Baños moved the people of Los Baños to request president Marcos to declare the municipality as "A Special University Zone", granted on June 15, 1982, by virtue of letter of instruction No. 883.
Los Baños was further declared as an "Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences Community" on March 17, 1982, by virtue of Executive Order No. 784 (Section 23).<ref>Template:Cite PH act</ref>
Post-EDSA revolution era
Special Science and Nature City Marker
On August 7, 2000, Los Baños was declared a Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 349. It was signed by then-President Joseph Estrada.<ref name="pp349" /> The Proclamation is in recognition of the town's important contribution in country. The municipality has remained as the country's hub of science and nature with the presence of national and international research institutions collaborating towards the advancement of science research.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
21st century
The 6th Flora Malesiana, a triennial gathering of people with botanical expertise regarding "Malesia", was held from September 20 to 24, 2004. It provided a forum for Flora Malesiana members and encouraged publications on Malesian plants.
During the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, Los Baños played host to the aquatics events, with the newly built Trace Aquatic Center at Trace College serving as the venue.
In January 2007, the 5th ASEAN Inter-Club Age-Group Swimming Championships was held in the Trace Aqua Sports Center.
Los Baños also plays host to the UAAP, as the Trace Aquatics Center has served as the venue for the league's swimming competitions since UAAP Season 70 until UAAP Season 76.
Currently, Los Baños is probably the densest habitat of academicians in South East Asia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although it is a small town, it has contributed widely through scientific achievements and contributions locally and worldwide particularly on agriculture.Template:Citation needed
On December 3, 2020, firing from outside the perimeter walls, its incumbent mayor Caesar P. Perez was assassinated inside the municipal office premises by an armed assailant,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with a former opposition councilor suspected to be the mastermind.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
Mount Makiling, previously declared as the first national park of the Philippines is now administered by the University of the Philippines Los Baños
Los Baños is nestled between two of Southern Luzon's most dominant geographical features – Mount Makiling to the south and south-west and Laguna de Bay to the north.<ref name="roadplan">Template:Cite map</ref> In fact, Laguna de Bay's southernmost tip is at Barangay Bambang, and Barangay Bagong Silang is already halfway up Mount Makiling. Both the mountain and the lake are volcanic features – Makiling being a potentially active volcano whose geothermal activities gave birth to the hot springs after which the town was named, and Laguna de Bay being the filled-in caldera of a massive prehistoric volcano.
Another notable geological feature is Tadlac Lake, a maar lake whose almost perfectly round shape and uncharted waters have led some locals to call it "the enchanted lake". Others call it "alligator lake", a reminder that it served as the last bastion of Laguna de Bay's once-plentiful crocodile population, which has since been wiped out and is now just another legendary part of Philippine history.
The municipality lies on the northern slopes of the long dormant volcano Mount Makiling and is known among tourists for its hot spring resorts.
Rivers
The town of Los Baños is crossed by five rivers or creeks:<ref name="roadplan"/>
The Dampalit river, which is named after an edible herb, dampalit (Sesuvium portulacastrum), which often grows near river shores, originates on the north face of Mt. Makiling east of the Philippine High School for the Arts, and feeds into Laguna lake at the boundary of Barangays Lalakay and Bambang.<ref name="roadplan"/>
The Saran creek, whose headwaters begin somewhere near the municipal dumpsite, flows through Barangay Anos near the municipal cemetery, and feeds into the lake at Barangay Malinta.
The Pele creek, named after the pili tree (Canarium ovatum), flows through the west side of Barangay Batong Malake and has its mouth at the boundary of Barangays Malinta and Mayondon.<ref name="roadplan"/>
The Molawin River, most familiar to UPLB students because it flows through the UPLB campus and the Makiling Botanic Gardens, is named after the Molave tree (Vitex parviflora).
The Maitim river, whose name means "black", flows through the easternmost portions of Los Baños, marking the town's boundary with its neighboring town of Bay. The Molawin and Maitim rivers merge just a few meters before feeding into Laguna de Bay at the shore of Barangay Maahas.<ref name="roadplan"/>
Los Baños is politically subdivided into 14 barangays, as indicated below and in the image herein. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
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Like other LGUs in the Philippines (perhaps with the exception of the BARMM), the town holds election every three years, which will cover from Mayor, Vice Mayor, and up to the councilors.
Aside from its importance in academics, science and research, Los Baños is a well-known tourist destination. Because of the town's proximity to Metro Manila, Los Baños's hot spring resorts (along with those in the preceding city of Calamba starting at Barangay Pansol) are frequent weekend or summer getaways for residents of the vast metropolis and tourists from primarily the National Capital Region (Metro Manila area) and other places in the Philippines, and abroadTemplate:Citation needed. Tourists who visit Los Baños also come to the several native delicacies stores in the town to buy the town's famous buko pie (coconut meat pie) as well as a home-grown brand of chocolate cake.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mernels-abscbn>Template:Cite news</ref> Currently, it is Laguna's richest municipality in terms of assets amounting to Template:Philippine peso as of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Philippine Carabao Center at UPLB (PCC at UPLB) – conducts R&D in water buffalo; implements other programs related to water buffalo development; one of the 13 regional centers of PCC (see the link below)
Agricultural and Life Sciences Complex
National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB/BIOTECH) – UPLB
Institute of Plant Breeding
APEC Center for Technology Exchange and Training for Small and Medium Enterprises (ACTETSME)
National Crop Protection Center (NCPC)
College of Agriculture AgriPark
Baker Hall (also known as Los Baños Internment Camp during World War II)
Paciano Rizal ShrinePaciano Rizal Shrine – house of Paciano Rizal, brother of National Hero Jose Rizal
Paciano Rizal Park – park dedicated to Paciano Rizal, brother of National Hero Jose Rizal
Trace Aqua Sports Complex and Museum – aquatic sports venue for the 2005 SEA Games and Philippine Olympic Festival
Yamashita Shrine – execution site of Gen. Homma and Gen. Yamashita
Education
The Los Baños Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
There are 16 daycare schools in Los Baños, managed by DSWD and local government.
