Neighborhoods in Pasadena, California facts for kids

Pasadena, California, is a vibrant city with many different neighborhoods, each with its own unique history and feel. Think of them like different parts of a big puzzle, all coming together to make up the city! Let's explore some of these cool areas.

Downtown Pasadena: The City's Heart

Downtown Pasadena in 1945

Pasadena City Hall

Downtown Pasadena is like the main hub of the city. It's where a lot of businesses are located. You'll find it mostly around Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. This area is famous for its beautiful old buildings that have been carefully kept over many years. Kids living here often go to McKinley School or Blair High School.

Old Pasadena: History and Fun

Old Pasadena is the oldest part of Downtown. It's packed with awesome shops and restaurants, especially Italian and Japanese food! People love coming here for shopping, eating, and entertainment. You can also visit two parks, the historic Del Mar Station, and the amazing Castle Green.

Civic Center District: City Buildings

The Civic Center District is just east of Old Pasadena. It was built in the 1920s and is home to important city buildings. Here you'll find Pasadena's City Hall, the Pasadena Central Library, Paseo Colorado (a shopping area), and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. This district was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its historical importance.

Monk Hill: Museums and Music

Monk Hill is the westernmost part of Downtown Pasadena. It's where you can find the famous Norton Simon Museum, which has incredible art, and the Ambassador Auditorium, known for its concerts.

Playhouse Village: Arts and Books

Birds eye view of the central business cluster down Colorado Blvd of Playhouse Village

Playhouse Village (once called Playhouse District) is a cool neighborhood known for its arts and culture. It's bordered by Interstate 210 to the north and California Boulevard to the south.

At the heart of Playhouse Village is the famous Pasadena Playhouse, a theater where many shows are performed. You can also visit Vroman's Bookstore, which is Pasadena's oldest independent bookstore, and Landmark Theatres Pasadena for movies. On the east side, there's Ice House comedy club and Boston Court Pasadena, an art theater. Fuller Theological Seminary is on the western side.

The Pasadena Star News newspaper building, which started in 1884, is at Colorado Boulevard and Oakland Avenue. Today, it houses a cooking school and a gym. The First United Methodist Church and Pasadena Presbyterian Church are also on Colorado Boulevard.

The USC Pacific Asia Museum, which opened in 1971, is on North Los Robles Avenue. It has a huge collection of 15,000 art pieces from Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Northwest Pasadena: Historic Homes and Parks

Gamble House was home to David B. Gamble of the Procter & Gamble company.

Northwest Pasadena is a large area with a rich history. It's bordered by the city limits to the north and west, and by the 210 and 134 Freeways to the south. This area has traditionally been a working-class community. Many students here attend John Muir High School. You can get around this area using Metro Local buses and Pasadena ARTS routes.

Arroyo Terrace: Near the Park

The homes around Brookside Park are part of the Arroyo Terrace neighborhood. This is Pasadena's second-largest neighborhood by size. Most of Brookside Park is served by Grover Cleveland Elementary School, Eliot and Butler Middle Schools, and John Muir High School. Chandler School is a private school here. A part of this neighborhood, the Park Place–Arroyo Terrace Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 because of its special history.

Banbury Oaks: A Landmark District

Banbury Oaks is a neighborhood that is split by the 210 freeway. It's bordered by Washington Boulevard to the north and Mountain Street to the south. Jackie Robinson Park is located here, and Jackie Robinson's childhood home is nearby. Some homes in Banbury Oaks are part of a historic landmark district, meaning they are protected because of their historical value. Students in Banbury Oaks attend Cleveland Elementary School and Octavia Butler Middle School.

Garfield Heights: Old and Beautiful Homes

Garfield Heights is a landmark district known for having some of the city's oldest neighborhoods still standing. It features many different styles of architecture, from Queen Anne to Spanish Revival. Many famous architects built homes here. Los Angeles magazine even called it "Pasadena's very well kept little secret." This area was officially registered with the city in 1904 and became a landmark district in 1998. Garfield Heights is served by Washington Elementary, Washington Middle, and John Muir High School.

La Pintoresca: Park and Schools

La Pintoresca is a neighborhood in Pasadena that surrounds a park of the same name. Key places in this neighborhood include Octavia Butler Middle School, Washington Elementary School, La Pintoresca Park, and Robincroft Castle.

Lincoln-Villa: Busy Crossroads

Lincoln-Villa is a busy area, especially because of the 210, 710, and 134 Freeways meeting nearby. This makes it one of Pasadena's busiest areas for street traffic. It's also located between Downtown and the famous Rose Bowl. The neighborhood has commercial areas and Pasadena's central post office. Lincoln-Villa is served by Cleveland and Roosevelt Elementary Schools and Octavia Butler Middle School.

The Oaks: Schools and City Council

The Oaks neighborhood is home to Madison Elementary School. Students also attend Octavia Butler Middle School, Pasadena High School, and John Muir High School. This neighborhood is split between two City Council Districts.

Orange Heights: A Historic District

A house in Orange Heights

Orange Heights is a historic district. The Orange Heights-Barnhart Historic District was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1995. Students in Orange Heights attend Longfellow Elementary School, Eliot Middle School, and John Muir High School.

Prospect Park: Beautiful Old Homes

Prospect Park is a historic district known for its beautiful homes built between 1906 and 1930. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Villa Parke: Community and Soccer

Villa Parke surrounds a recreation center of the same name. A famous brick clock tower at St. Andrew's Church is at its southern edge. Villa Parke is well-known for its own soccer league, which has divisions for women, children (Mascotas), teens, and adults. Games are played at various fields, including Villa Parke field, Brookside field, Victory Park field, and even the Rose Bowl. Villa Parke is served by Madison and Washington Elementary Schools, Octavia Butler Middle School, and John Muir High School.

North Lake: Shopping and Transport

North Lake is a large area centered around North Lake Avenue, which is a major street for shops and transportation. The Metro A Line has a station on Lake Avenue, making it easy to get around. This area is split between Muir and Pasadena High Schools.

Bungalow Heaven: Historic Homes

Bungalow Heaven is a special landmark district centered around McDonald Park. It's listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places because of its unique and well-preserved bungalow-style homes.

Catalina Villas: Busy and Central

Catalina Villas is a busy neighborhood with lots of shops on Colorado Boulevard, Walnut Street, Lake Avenue, and Hill Avenue. The I-210 cuts through the neighborhood. Catalina Villas is served by Jefferson and McKinley Elementary Schools, and Wilson, McKinley, and Eliot Middle Schools.

Lexington Heights: Mostly Homes

Lexington Heights is mostly a residential neighborhood, meaning it's mainly made up of homes. There are some shops on Lake Avenue and Washington Boulevard. Lexington Heights is home to Longfellow Elementary School and is served by Burbank Elementary School and Eliot Middle School.

Olive Heights: Densely Populated

Olive Heights is the most densely populated neighborhood in Pasadena, meaning many people live close together here. It is served by Madison, Jefferson, and McKinley Elementary Schools, as well as Washington, Eliot, and McKinley Middle Schools.

Washington Square: A Familiar Name

Washington Square is a neighborhood that has been called by a few different names over the years, including CLEM and Heather Heights.

Northeast Pasadena: Schools and Green Spaces

Northeast Pasadena is located north of the 210 freeway. Students living here attend Pasadena High or Marshall Fundamental Secondary School. This area has good public transportation with Metro Local lines, Foothill Transit, and Pasadena ARTS routes. The Metro A Line also has stations at Allen Avenue and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue.

Brigden Ranch: Quiet Living

Brigden Ranch is a quiet neighborhood with homes and some shops on Allen Avenue. It doesn't have its own park. Students here attend Webster Elementary School and Eliot Middle School.

Casa Grande: Home to a Big School

Casa Grande is known for the large campus of Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, which is Pasadena's special magnet high school. Casa Grande is served by Hamilton, Jefferson, Webster, and Field Elementary Schools, and Wilson and Eliot Middle Schools.

Daisy-Villa: Lots of Parks!

Daisy-Villa is a neighborhood with about 350 homes, named after two streets that meet in the middle. It's an exclusively residential area. Gwinn Park is in this neighborhood, and residents can easily walk to other nearby parks like Victory Park, Sunnyslope Park, and Vina Vieja Park, which has Pasadena's popular Alice's Dog Park. Daisy-Villa is served by Don Benito Elementary School, Norma Coombs Elementary School, Field Elementary School, Wilson Middle School, and Pasadena High School.

East Washington Village: Diverse and Filmed

East Washington Village is a diverse neighborhood that crosses the border between Pasadena and Altadena. It has many shops along Washington Boulevard. The southwestern part of this district has many federal-style homes, making it a popular spot for filming movies! It's also a center for the Armenian-American community in Pasadena. East Washington Village is home to Webster Elementary School and is served by Eliot Middle School and Pasadena High School.

Jefferson Park: Community Hub

At the center of Jefferson Park is Jefferson Elementary School, a park of the same name, and a public library branch. There are also some shops on Walnut Street and Allen Avenue. Jefferson Park is served by Jefferson Elementary School, Eliot Middle School, and Pasadena High School.

Victory Park: A Park with History

Victory Park is named after the park at its center, which was once a military airfield. The park was completed and dedicated in 1952. This neighborhood is home to Pasadena High School (PHS). It's also served by Field Elementary School, Norma Coombs Elementary School, and Norma Coombs Alternative School. Assumption Middle School is a private school in the area.

Far East Pasadena: Newer Developments

The far east part of Pasadena is east of the Eaton Canyon Wash. Some of Pasadena's newer neighborhoods are found here. They are zoned to Pasadena High School. The Metro A Line has a station in this section, making transportation easy.

California Village: Modern Living

California Village is one of the newer neighborhoods in Pasadena, developed more recently than many others. It has a small commercial area on Foothill Boulevard. While it doesn't have its own parks, it's notable for being near the Eaton Wash. California Village is served by Field Elementary School, Wilson Middle School, and Pasadena High School.

Hastings Ranch: From Ranch to Homes

Hastings Ranch was once a ranch and an airfield! It became a housing area in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Southeast Pasadena: Diverse Communities

Southeastern Pasadena includes neighborhoods east of Marengo Avenue and Downtown Pasadena. This area has good public transportation with Metro Local lines, Pasadena Transit, and Foothill Transit. The Metro A Line also has stations nearby. Students in Southeast Pasadena attend either Blair International Baccalaureate School or Pasadena High School.

Lamanda Park: An Old Settlement

Lamanda Park is an old settlement in Pasadena, with the railroad first arriving here in 1885.

Madison Heights: Schools and Districts

Madison Heights is home to Allendale Elementary School and Blair International Baccalaureate School. It's also served by McKinley and Hamilton Elementary Schools, and McKinley Middle Schools. This neighborhood is split between two City Council Districts.

Oak Knoll: Grand Houses

Oak Knoll is the southernmost neighborhood of Pasadena. It's known for its many grand and historic houses and hotels.

Marceline: College Town

Marceline is named after a short-lived railroad line from the early 1900s. Pasadena City College is located in this neighborhood, and most of the shops and activities are centered around the college campus, especially on Colorado Boulevard. While there are no parks directly in Marceline, it borders the famous Huntington Library.

South Lake: Science and History

South Lake is a retail area on Lake Avenue (Pasadena). It's also a neighborhood that is home to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), a very famous science and engineering university. Because of Caltech, many important scientists have lived in South Lake, including:

• Albert Einstein, a world-famous physicist
• Robert A. Millikan, a physicist
• Jack Parsons, a rocket scientist
• Amos G. Throop, the founder of Caltech and a former Mayor of Pasadena
• Fritz Zwicky, an astronomer

South Lake is served by Hamilton Elementary School, McKinley School, Wilson Middle School, and Blair High School. Polytechnic School and St. Philip the Apostle School are private schools in the area.

Southwest Pasadena: Scenic Views

Southwest Pasadena is located south and west of the 134 Freeway and Downtown Pasadena. The Fillmore station of the Metro A line is at the edge of this region.

Annandale: Split Community

Annandale was once its own community, but now it's split between Pasadena and Los Angeles. The Pasadena part is bordered by Colorado Boulevard to the north.

Poppy Peak: Modern Architecture

A part of the Annandale neighborhood, along Poppy Peak Drive, was named a historic district in 2009. This area has many examples of buildings designed by famous modern architects.