The pest significance of mosquitoes in Alameda County was first described by Father Juan Crespi. He wrote in his journal in 1772 of the vicious attacks of great swarms of mosquitoes in the Warm Springs area, now the southern part of the city of Fremont. In 1810, another journal described the voracious "muskeetos" that attacked a detachment of soldiers resting their horses near the Albany hills. It wasn't until 1930 that the residents of Alameda County petitioned their county board of supervisors to form the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) whose purpose was to curb the menacing effects of the county's most numerous resident, the mosquito. In 1982, the citizens reaffirmed their desire to minimize the effects of mosquitoes with the passage of a special tax, known as Measure K, by more than two-thirds of the popular vote.

Nineteen different species of mosquitoes occur in Alameda County, eight of which are considered serious pests (eight species that are most troublesome to people and their pets). Five of the pestiferous mosquitoes can be found breeding in or near human habitations. Common breeding sites are neglected fish ponds and swimming pools, buckets, tires, treeholes, water under houses, sumps, storm drains and just about any container or area that can hold water for more than a few days. Three of Alameda County's "big eight" mosquitoes, Ochlerotatus squamiger, Ochlerotatus dorsalis, and Culiseta inornata, breed away from residential areas, being found in the marshes along the bay. These mosquitoes are the most aggressive, biting during the day and traveling distances of up to 20 miles. The marsh mosquitoes were the primary reason for the formation of our District. In the last four decades, the District's mission has evolved to include the control of two species of mosquito, Culex pipiens (the house mosquito) and Culiseta incidens (the fish pond mosquito), which are commonly associated with human habitations.

The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District is one of only fourteen independent special districts in Alameda County. Independent special districts are separate, local agencies created by local petition or through popular election. The District is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of representatives from each member city and the County-at-large. Independent special districts are directly accountable to their constituents and are not a subunit of another agency. Non-enterprise districts provide those government services on a district-wide basis which cannot be economically funded solely through user fees. For this reason, non-enterprise districts rely primarily on a portion of local property tax revenues to fund their facilities and services. Funding is provided by a combination of ad valorem property tax and a special tax authorized by more than two third of the voters in 1982. According to the State Legislative Analyst, independent special districts have consistently shown the slowest rate of spending growth for local governments. Independent special districts are audited and subject to state and public scrutiny like other forms of local government.