P asadena, California known as the "Crown Of The Valley" is a beautiful Southern California city located just 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. From mountains blanketed by the sun, through gardens glowing with roses, to surprising turn-of-the-century architecture, there is nowhere else quite like Pasadena. As of the census of 2000, there are 133,936 residents, 51,844 households, and 29,862 families residing in the city and enjoying this unique community.

The Hahamogna Tribe of Indians once occupied the land now famous for the Tournament of Roses, the Rose Bowl, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and California Institute of Technology. Subsisting on local game and vegetation, the Hahamognas lived in villages scattered along the Arroyo Seco and the canyons from the mountains down to the South Pasadena area. With the arrival of the Spaniards and the establishment of the San Gabriel Mission on September 8, 1771, the Indians population declined and the rush to settle here began.

Today the local area economy is multifaceted and diverse in Pasadena. There are numerous biotechnology companies and a strong base of educational institutions. Job opportunities in the region include computer-support specialists, which is the fastest growing occupations in the county. Demand for that job is expected to grow by 53.4 percent to 21,220 jobs in 2008 compared with 13,830 jobs in 2001. Network and computer-systems administrators run a close second with an anticipated 46-percent increase to 14,470 positions from 9,910 jobs during the same period. Hiring for locomotive engineers will increase by 35.3 percent, and openings for private detectives and investigators will rise by 29.3 percent, figures show. Food processing, import distribution and electronics businesses all are growing in the region as well. The median household income is $46,012.

Living in Pasadena, you will undoubtedly find yourself strolling along the streets of one or all of the city's acclaimed shopping and entertainment districts -- Old Pasadena, the Playhouse District, South Lake Avenue, and Paseo Colorado. With hundreds of exquisite boutiques, shops and restaurants, Pasadena is certain to satisfy all of your needs and desires. Old Pasadena is a historic 22-block area that offers more than 120 specialty shops, retail stores and boutiques, 80 restaurants and an array of entertainment opportunities. Located in Old Pasadena, One Colorado's quaint courtyard and alleyways feature national retailers, specialty shops, entertainment centers, and restaurants. South Lake is a 10-block tree-lined avenue featuring 700 top retailers, boutiques, major department stores and European-style restaurants. Anchored by the Pasadena Playhouse, this district features an eclectic mix of bookstores, antique and specialty shops, restaurants and historic architecture.

Pasadena, long famous for its world-class sporting events, is the ideal year-round destination for golfers, hikers and bicyclists. Nature lovers and sports enthusiasts will enjoy Pasadena's tranquil 132-acre Arroyo Seco. Nestled among the San Gabriel Mountains, the Arroyo is home to the Rose Bowl, Brookside Park, Brookside Golf Course and the AAF Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. Pasadena enjoys an average daytime temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit, enabling residents to enjoy the city's rich cultural heritage 365 days a year.

One of two primary, exclusive residential districts in Pasadena, California is South Orange Grove. It has been a home for the rich and famous since the early 20th Century. Because of a number of landmark mansions, the street earned the name "Millionaire's Row". However, by the early 21st Century many of these homes had been replaced by spacious, pricey condominiums. Prominent among the historic residences is the Wrigley Mansion, former home of chewing gum magnet William Wrigley Jr., which now serves as headquarters for the world-renowned Tournament of Roses. On the north end of the street lies the Gamble House, built by renowned Arts & Crafts movement architects Greene & Greene, but once home to David and Mary Gamble of Procter & Gamble fame. The annual Rose Parade on New Year's Day uses South Orange Grove Boulevard as a central hub for flower-covered floats, and it is where the parade starts. The Norton Simon Museum is located at the intersection of Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards. The companion exclusive residential district is South Lake Avenue.

Pasadena is now in its fourth decade of active revitalization expanding upon a renewed approach which balances continued commercial growth and housing opportunities that contributes to the quality of life and the economic strength of Pasadena. This balanced strategy prioritizes quality commercial development, the creation of quality housing, the preservation of historic and cultural assets, and the development of employment opportunities throughout the community. There are a variety of housing and locales, from designs by noted architects to tract homes, from studios to mansions, and from level areas to stunning hillsides. The median price of a single-family home is $489,950 and the median value for attached housing like condos and townhouses is $413,000.

The Pasadena Unified School District serves the educational needs of the community students. PUSD has five high schools, three middle schools and twenty-four elementary schools. The district has a good reputation for providing a challenging environment and preparing students to be successful members of society. The California Institute of Technology, commonly known as Caltech is located in Pasadena. It is one of the premier schools of science and engineering in the United States. Caltech has a student body of about 900 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. Caltech operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA. Caltech's school teams are called the Beavers. They participate in the NCAA's Division III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Pasadena is an outstanding place to live, work, retire, or raise a family! If you are considering moving here, or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!