Insider's Guide to Pasadena, CA

Are you a local trying to find your favorite business? Want to know what events are upcoming? Or are you planning a visit and need to find that perfect restaurant or hotel?

Then it's time to discover the Directory of Pasadena.

This directory brings together the best of Pasadena in an easily searchable database to find the best local businesses. Restaurants, hotels, attractions, civic and community listings - everything you need to find what you're looking for fast and easy! Want to know the latest news, gossip and events - head over to the Directory of Pasadena Blog and discover what's hot and happening!

In 1880, the population of Pasadena was 391. One hundred years later, in 1980, the population was 118,072. By 1990, 131,591 people lived in Pasadena. According to the 2000 Census, Pasadena's population increased 1.8% to 133,936.The California Finance Department estimates the Pasadena population to be 148,126 in 2008.

Pasadena is located 10 miles (16 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is bordered by the San Gabriel Mountains to the north and seven cities--La Canada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, San Marino, Glendale, Los Angeles and unincorporated Altadena. The latitude is N. 34 9' and longitude is W. 118 10'. The elevation is 864 feet (263 meters) above sea level.

The chart to the left shows that the residents of Pasadena are almost evenly split in these categories. According to the 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates, the median age is 37 years.

English only is spoken at home by 55.1% of the population over age five. Spanish is spoken at home by 28.1% of the population over age five. The proportion of those speaking a language other than English at home is 44.9%.

Pasadena is an ethnically diverse community. The 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates found 55.8% of Pasadenans are Caucasian, 33.0% are Latino, 13.4% are African-American, 12.7% are Asian, 0.5% are American Indian and Alaska Native. (Percentages may add to more than 100% because individuals may report more than one race.)

The citizens of Pasadena are relatively well educated: The 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates for those that are 25 years of age or over, 85.5% are high school graduates and 45.6% have at least a bachelor degree or higher.

The same 3-Year Estimates show 35,308 people are enrolled in school, from preschool or nursery school to college or graduate school. Of those, 17,504 are enrolled in elementary or high school; college enrollment is 13,770 persons.

Pasadena covers approximately 22.5 square miles, with an average of ten residents per acre.

There are over 100,000 jobs in a wide variety of industries in the City of Pasadena. According to the 2005-2007 American Community Survey Estimates, persons 16 years and older are employed as follows: 49.6% managerial and professional related occupations; 17.2% service occupations; 22.0% sales and office occupations; 5.6% construction, extraction and maintenance occupations; and 5.6% production, transportation and materials moving technology occupations.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) reports that in 2007, Pasadena had no unhealthful ozone days, a decrease from 7 unhealthful ozone days in 2003 and 71 in 1992. The smoggiest month in Southern California is August. (An unhealthful ozone day occurs when the air has more than 120 parts per billion of ozone in one hour and there is enough ozone in the air for some people to experience headaches, nausea or shortness or breath.)

Pasadena has 23 parks, totaling more than one thousand acres of parkland. About 60,000 trees line the streets of Pasadena. There are about 57,000 street trees and about 25,000 park and wild land trees, with an estimated value over 100 million dollars. Private trees are estimated to be over 60% of the total urban forest, or 123,000 trees.