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Day 186: A History Lesson on Pasadena

Did you know that Pasadena is the 2nd oldest city in Southern California?


I didn’t either! While we were tasting and touring our way through Old Town Pasadena, we got quite the history lesson from our friend and tour guide, Lisa Scalia of the Melting Pot Food Tours.

Day 186 of 365 Things To Do in Pasadena reflects on how the city of Pasadena, as we know it, came to be…

Located 10 miles Northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena was first inhabited by the Hahanog-na Indian tribe. When the land passed from Spain to Mexico in 1833 the vast lands of California were granted to Mexican citizens and divided into ranchos.

The area that would later become Pasadena was named the Rancho del Rincon de San Pascual. The last owner of the 14,000 acre land grant was was Manuel Garafis, he was allowed to keep the property after California became a state in 1850.

Over the next two decades portions of the Rancho were sold to new white settlers. One of these new owners of land was Benjamin Wilson. In 1873 Mr. Wilson agreed to sell some 4,000 acres of land to a Dr. Daniel M. Berry of Indiana.

Dr. Berry wanted to raise funds to bring a group of Indiana orange farmers looking for fairer weather over to the Sunshine state of California. Do do this he formed the Southern California Orange and Citrus Growers Association and sold stock.

On January 31st, 1874 Berry and the Indiana new comers incorporated the “Indiana Colony” The colony was named “PA-SA-DE-NA” meaning “of the valley” .

To put a ban on the rise of saloons that were erupting in and around the area we  now know as the One Colorado Courtyard,and to protect their orange groves, the settlement incorporated as the City of Pasadena in 1886. Following the City of Los Angeles to become the second incorporated city of Southern California.

How do you like them oranges? 😉


Interested in the latest Pasadena real estate? Take a look at current homes for sale:

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