What to Know Before Moving to Pasadena

History

Pasadena’s historical story starts with the native Americans who lived in the region for thousands of years. In the late 1700s, the Spanish colonized the area but when Mexico established independence from Spain, lands were granted to notable citizens and soldiers in the form of huge ranchos. Anglo settlers bought off portions of ranch lands to establish towns, and in the late 1800s, Pasadena was founded. From 1886 to 1941, luxury hotels were built to accommodate tourists and Pasadena became a popular resort town. As Pasadena grew so did the American Craftsman style that influenced art, design, and architecture. The city is famous for its array of gorgeous Craftsman bungalows.  

During WWII, high-tech manufacturing was established via institutions like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Tetra Tech, and CalTech. In the 1970s, many residents fled Pasadena for the Inland Empire, leaving space for bohemians, hipsters, and artists to move in and take advantage of low housing prices. The Pasadena Museum of History chronicles the local history.

Economy

The top five Pasadena employers are the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, and Pasadena City College. Over 60% of a highly educated workforce are employed in managerial, technical, and professional positions. 

Education in Pasadena

Pasadena is known for its exemplary higher education institutions. From the California Institute of Technology (associated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Education Office) to the ArtCenter College of Design, post-secondary education is rich and varied. Also notable are the Fuller Theological Seminary, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music, Providence Christian College, and Pacific Oaks College. The University of the People, offering accredited degrees, is the first tuition-free online university in the world.

Surprisingly, for such a highly educated workforce and impressive post-secondary education, Pasadena K-12 schools only receive average ratings. The only public schools rated above average are two elementary schools, Eugene Field and Hamilton, according to greatschools.org.

Cultural Pasadena

From world-class art collections and one of the nation’s best collections of Craftsman architecture, Pasadena offers a wonderful range of cultural opportunities. The acclaimed Pasadena Playhouse hosts five shows a year. The Pasadena Symphony was founded in 1928 and performs at the Ambassador Auditorium. The Pasadena Pops plays at the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Cal Tech’s Beckman Auditorium presents lectures, entertainment events, classes, lectures, films, and performing arts. The Norton Simon Museum, the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Pasadena Museum of History, and the Armory Center for the Arts offer a wide range of paintings, sculptures, events, and exhibits.

A Variety of Things to Do

On every second Sunday since 1967, tens of thousands shop at the booths of thousands of dealers at the Rose Bowl Flea Market swap meet. Old Town is a great place to spend the day relaxing over a meal in one of the many outdoor cafes, shopping the boutiques, and strolling the Paseo Colorado outdoor shopping mall that covers three city blocks. South Lake Avenue spans 10 tree-lined blocks and is filled with a range of cafes and restaurants, top retailers, and boutiques totaling over 200 businesses. When it’s time for some recreation, head over to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center or the Rose Bowl Tennis Center. Golf, hiking, and cycling are popular pastimes in Pasadena’s year-round mild weather.