Pasadena

Pasadena spreads across the San Gabriel Valley foothills and includes research facilities, educational institutions, and residential neighborhoods with Spanish Colonial architecture. Colorado Boulevard runs through downtown, where shops, museums, and public buildings line wide, tree-shaded streets.

The city began in 1886 when settlers from Indiana founded a community that first relied on citrus farming. By the 1940s it had shifted to become a center for research and technology.

The Norton Simon Museum displays European paintings, Asian art, and sculptures, while the California Institute of Technology advances space research. Each year the Tournament of Roses Parade draws residents and visitors to the streets to watch floats decorated entirely with flowers pass through the neighborhoods.

The Metro L Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles through several stations and offers direct access to regional attractions and employment centers. Most museums and restaurants in the city center can be reached on foot, though some neighborhoods are easier to reach by car.

The Rose Bowl stadium hosts the annual Tournament of Roses football game that follows a parade of flower-covered floats along Colorado Boulevard. The stadium sits in a valley surrounded by hills and serves as a popular spot for walking and picnics throughout the rest of the year.

Location: Los Angeles County

Inception: 1886

Elevation above the sea: 263 m

Shares border with: Sierra Madre, Los Angeles, San Marino, South Pasadena

Website: https://cityofpasadena.net

GPS coordinates: 34.14750,-118.14389

Latest update: December 15, 2025 03:16