Get to know Pasadena, CA 

The Los Angeles County city of Pasadena is known as the home of the Rose Bowl.  Pasadena was originally part of the Rancho del Rincon de San Pascual.  The owner, Manuel Garfias, began selling parts of the land to Anglo settlers, including Benjamin Wilson, who established Lake Vineyard.  Dr. Daniel M. Berry of Indiana visited Wilson in 1873 looking for a place to offer a mild climate for his patients suffering from respiratory problems.  Berry formed the Southern California Orange and Citrus Growers Association and sold stock in it to raise the funds to bring patients to the area.  In 1874 the Indiana Colony was purchased.   After more than a decade, the Indiana Colony and Lake Vineyard merged, forming Pasadena.  The region was popular with people around the country, leading to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway making a stop in the town.  The population exploded with the introduction of the railroad and was incorporated as a city in 1886.  The American Craftsman era was well represented in the city, with many residences of this style built by the Greene and Greene architectural firm still standing today.  World War II brought manufacturing, science, and technology to the city.  It was a major staging area for the Pacific War.  Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kaiser Permanente, and California Institute of Technology are the major employers in Pasadena today.  Notable attractions include the Pasadena Playhouse and the Gamble House

Quick Facts

Population: 139,899

Median Household Income: $72,402

Median Property Value: $628,000