Pasadena
Pasadena is a city of about 137,000 at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, home to the Rose Bowl, the Rose Parade, Caltech and Old Pasadena, with some of the region's best-known Craftsman architecture. Here's what to know whether you're visiting or thinking of moving, with full drives so you can see the streets for yourself.
Last updated November 2026 · Sources
At a glance
- Part of
- Its own city in LA County, in the western San Gabriel Valley
- Population
- About 137,200 (2024 Census estimate)
- Founded
- 1874 as the Indiana Colony, incorporated in 1886
- ZIP codes
- 91101 to 91110, plus several more
- Main streets
- Colorado Boulevard, Lake Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue and Arroyo Parkway
- Freeways
- I-210, SR-134 and SR-110, the Arroyo Seco Parkway
A short history
- The Indiana Colony
Settlers from the Midwest organized the Indiana Colony here on January 31, 1874. Pasadena incorporated as a city on June 19, 1886, and the Santa Fe railway began stopping here in 1887.
- Roses on New Year's Day
The Valley Hunt Club held the first Tournament of Roses parade in 1890. A football game was added in 1902, and the new stadium in the Arroyo Seco hosted its first New Year's Day game in 1923, when it was named the Rose Bowl.
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- Arts and Crafts
In the early 1900s, Pasadena became a center of the Arts and Crafts movement. Greene and Greene built the Gamble House in 1908, now a landmark of Craftsman design.
- California's first freeway
The Arroyo Seco Parkway opened in 1940, linking Pasadena to Downtown LA as the first freeway in California. Light rail followed in 2003 with the Gold Line, now the Metro A Line.
Pasadena today
- Old Pasadena, along Colorado Boulevard, is a walkable historic district of shops, restaurants and restored brick buildings.
- Caltech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory make Pasadena a center for science and research.
- Neighborhoods are leafy, with Craftsman bungalows, Spanish-style homes and older apartment buildings near the center.
- The Rose Parade still runs down Colorado Boulevard every New Year's Day, or on January 2 when New Year's falls on a Sunday.
From the driver's seat
Our Pasadena drive is a rare rainy afternoon: wet streets, wipers on and a slow pass by the Rose Bowl in the Arroyo Seco before rolling into Pasadena.
Watch A Rainy Saturday: Glendale, the Rose Bowl and PasadenaIf you're visiting
- The Rose Bowl
The 1920s stadium in the Arroyo Seco. The loop road around it, about 3 miles, is a favorite for walking and cycling.
- Old Pasadena
Restored historic blocks along Colorado Boulevard, with shops and restaurants.
- The Gamble House
Greene and Greene's 1908 Craftsman landmark, open for guided tours.
- Norton Simon Museum
A major art collection on Colorado Boulevard, right on the Rose Parade route.
- The Huntington
Library, art collections and botanical gardens, just next door in San Marino.
- Visiting for the Rose Parade? Hotels and viewing spots along Colorado Boulevard book up far ahead.
Getting there: The Metro A Line connects Pasadena to Union Station in Downtown LA. Old Pasadena has public parking garages if you drive.
Preview it: A Rainy Saturday: Glendale, the Rose Bowl and PasadenaHours, prices and seasons change, so check before you go.
If you're moving here
Cost snapshot
Figures are area-wide estimates from listing sites and change monthly. Check current listings before you decide.
Getting around
Pasadena is easier than most of the region to get around without a car. The Metro A Line runs through town with several stations and connects to Union Station in Downtown LA, Pasadena Transit runs local buses, and Old Pasadena is easy to explore on foot.
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Watch it: drives through Pasadena
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Quick answers
Where is Pasadena?
Pasadena is a city of about 137,000 at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, home to the Rose Bowl, the Rose Parade, Caltech and Old Pasadena, with some of the region's best-known Craftsman architecture.
What is the population of Pasadena?
Pasadena has a population of about 137,200 (2024 Census estimate).
What is there to do in Pasadena?
Top things to see include The Rose Bowl, Old Pasadena, The Gamble House, Norton Simon Museum and The Huntington.
How do you get around Pasadena?
Pasadena is easier than most of the region to get around without a car. The Metro A Line runs through town with several stations and connects to Union Station in Downtown LA, Pasadena Transit runs local buses, and Old Pasadena is easy to explore on foot.
How much does it cost to live in Pasadena?
Typical home value: $1.21M (Zillow, June 2026). Average 1-bedroom rent: $2,365/mo (Apartments.com, October 2025).
Can I see what Pasadena looks like before I visit or move?
Yes. Somewhere Drive has a full 4K drive through Pasadena with no narration, including A Rainy Saturday: Glendale, the Rose Bowl and Pasadena.
Sources
- Pasadena, California (Wikipedia)
- Pasadena population estimates (U.S. Census QuickFacts)
- Pasadena home values (Zillow)
- Pasadena rent trends (Apartments.com)
This guide describes places, streets and history, not who lives here. Spot an error? Email hello@somewheredrive.com.
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