Pasadena, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pasadena, Texas
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City
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| Motto(s):
"Enriched by our Heritage. Inspired by our Future."
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Location in Harris County and the state of Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Incorporated | December 22, 1923 and December 26, 1928 |
| Named for | Pasadena, California |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • City | 44.74 sq mi (115.88 km2) |
| • Land | 43.68 sq mi (113.14 km2) |
| • Water | 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 151,950 |
| • Density | 3,462.00/sq mi (1,336.69/km2) |
| • Metro | 5,628,101 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
77501-77508, 77059 (Brookwood), 77586 (El Jardin)
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| Area code(s) | 713, 281, 346, and 832 |
| FIPS code | 48-56000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1343631 |
| Website | www.pasadenatx.gov |
Pasadena is a city in Texas, located in Harris County. It is part of the larger Houston area. In 2020, about 151,950 people lived here, making it the 23rd largest city in Texas. It is also the second largest city in Harris County, after Houston. John H. Burnett founded the area in 1893. He named it after Pasadena, California, because of its green plants and trees.
Contents
History of Pasadena
Early Beginnings
Before Europeans arrived, the Karankawa and Atakapan tribes lived around Galveston Bay. Spanish explorers later mapped the bay and gave it its name. The famous pirate Jean Lafitte had a base in Galveston in the early 1800s. He also had hideouts around Clear Lake. The U.S. Navy made him leave in 1821.
After gaining independence from Spain, Mexico offered land to settlers in Texas. This led to many people moving to the Galveston Bay area. In 1835, Texas revolted against Mexican rule. The final battle of the Texas Revolution happened near modern Pasadena on April 21, 1836. While the main fight was in La Porte, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was captured in what is now Pasadena. Because this event led to Mexico's surrender, Pasadena is known as the "Birthplace of Texas".
Ranches and New Towns
In 1843, Sam Allen started a ranch that grew to cover a large area. The Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad ran through his ranch. To keep his cattle safe, Allen built a 19-mile long fence along the railway.
In 1892, Colonel John H. Burnett started a townsite east of the Allen Ranch. He sold land in 10-acre plots. He also helped create nearby towns like Deepwater and Genoa, which later became part of Pasadena and Houston.
Pasadena in the 1900s
The 1900 hurricane badly damaged Pasadena. Many people from Galveston moved to Pasadena after the storm. The Red Cross helped the community by donating millions of strawberry plants. This made Pasadena a major fruit producer for many years. Later, Texaco founder Joseph S. Cullinan also started a big strawberry farm here.
In 1901, the Texas Oil Boom began. Oil discoveries led to more petroleum exploration around Galveston Bay. By 1917, oil refineries started to appear in Pasadena. The city grew quickly, even faster than Houston, due to industrial development during the world wars.
Pasadena officially became a city in 1928. This helped it keep its own territory, while Houston expanded by adding nearby areas. By the mid-1900s, Pasadena's economy was strongly linked to oil and other heavy industries. In 1963, NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) was built nearby. This helped Pasadena's economy become more diverse.
Pasadena Today
In the 21st century, Pasadena is mostly a working-class suburb of Houston.
Tornadoes in Pasadena
2015 Tornado
On October 31, 2015, an EF2 tornado hit a warehouse in Pasadena. It damaged the roof and leveled half of the building. The tornado then moved into La Porte and damaged about 30 homes.
2023 Tornado
On January 24, 2023, an EF3 tornado struck northwest Pasadena. Many neighborhoods and apartment buildings were badly damaged. Luckily, no major injuries happened. The tornado also affected Deer Park and Baytown, Texas.
Geography of Pasadena
Pasadena covers about 44.5 square miles (115.88 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The city is next to the Houston Ship Channel to the north. The southeastern part of the city faces Galveston Bay.
Climate
The weather in Pasadena has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool.
Neighborhoods
Pasadena has many neighborhoods, including:
- Allendale
- Bayport
- Baywood Oaks
- Baywood Shadows
- Brookwood
- Burke Meadows
- Burkeshire
- Clear Lake City (Pasadena)
- Country Meadows
- Deepwater
- El Jardin del Mar
- Golden Acres
- Old Downtown
- Parkland Village
- Parkview Estates
- Parkview Manor
- Parkview South
- Pasadena River Oaks
- Red Bluff Terrace
- Turtle Creek
- Village Grove East
- Village Grove East Townhomes
- Village Grove
- Vista Villas
People of Pasadena
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,647 | — | |
| 1940 | 3,436 | 108.6% | |
| 1950 | 22,483 | 554.3% | |
| 1960 | 58,737 | 161.3% | |
| 1970 | 89,957 | 53.2% | |
| 1980 | 112,560 | 25.1% | |
| 1990 | 119,363 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 141,674 | 18.7% | |
| 2010 | 149,043 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 151,950 | 2.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Data
As of the 2020 United States census, Pasadena had 151,950 people. There were 48,174 households and 36,201 families living in the city.
The table below shows the different racial and ethnic groups in Pasadena over the years. The "Hispanic or Latino" category includes people of any race.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 66,923 | 48,734 | 37,341 | 47.24% | 32.70% | 24.57% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,068 | 2,965 | 4,992 | 1.46% | 1.99% | 3.29% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 409 | 312 | 260 | 0.29% | 0.21% | 0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,531 | 3,074 | 3,346 | 1.79% | 2.06% | 2.20% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 31 | 68 | 59 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 99 | 168 | 466 | 0.07% | 0.11% | 0.31% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,265 | 1,030 | 2,449 | 0.89% | 0.69% | 1.61% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 68,348 | 92,692 | 103,037 | 48.24% | 62.19% | 67.81% |
| Total | 141,674 | 149,043 | 151,950 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Pasadena's Economy
Pasadena's main industries include finding and refining oil and gas. It also has petrochemical processing, making solar panels, shipping, aerospace, and healthcare. The city's economy is closely tied to the nearby Houston Ship Channel and the Bayport shipping terminal. It is also linked to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. The Pasadena Refining System is headquartered in Pasadena.
Harris County runs the Kyle Chapman/Pasadena Courthouse Annex. The Harris Health System operates the Strawberry Health Center and a Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center in Pasadena. The nearest public hospital is Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston. There are also four post offices in the city.
Top Employers
Here are the top employers in Pasadena as of 2017:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Pasadena Independent School District | 8,330 |
| 2 | SGS Petroleum Service Corp. | 2,500 |
| 3 | The Boeing Company | 2,000 |
| 4 | Mundy Company | 1,921 |
| 5 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 1,548 |
| 6 | Shell Chemical | 1,500 |
| 7 | San Jacinto College | 1,367 |
| 7 | Bayshore Medical Center | 1,210 |
| 9 | Lyondell Chemical Co. | 1,150 |
| 10 | City of Pasadena | 1,056 |
Culture and Fun
Pasadena has several museums, like the Pasadena Historical Museum. There is also the Bay Area Museum and the Armand Bayou Nature Center. The city has a community theater and an annual rodeo. The Pasadena Citizen is the local newspaper.
Gilley's and Urban Cowboy
The 1980 movie Urban Cowboy was filmed in Pasadena. It showed life and young love in the city. The movie focused on Gilley's, a famous country music bar. Country music star Mickey Gilley co-owned the bar. In 1989, Gilley's was damaged by a fire. The building was torn down in 2006. Mickey Gilley lived in Pasadena until he passed away in 2022.
Strawberry Festival
After the 1900 Galveston hurricane, Clara Barton of the American Red Cross helped Pasadena. She bought 1.5 million strawberry plants for farmers. By the 1930s, Pasadena was known as the Strawberry Capital of the World. To celebrate this history, the city holds an annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival. Strawberry Road in the city is named after the old strawberry farms. In 2008, 56,000 people attended the festival.
Pasadena Philharmonic Society and Orchestra
The Pasadena Philharmonic Society and Orchestra is made of two groups. The Society supports the arts and classical music. The Orchestra includes local music teachers, musicians, and students. The Orchestra first performed in 1982 and has been performing ever since.
Education in Pasadena
Schools for Kids
Most of Pasadena is served by the Pasadena Independent School District. Some eastern parts are in the Deer Park Independent School District. Some southern parts are in the Clear Creek Independent School District and La Porte Independent School District.
The St. Pius V School, a Catholic school, operated in Pasadena from 1947 until it closed in 2020.
Colleges and Universities
Higher education institutions in Pasadena include:
- University of Houston–Clear Lake (partially within Pasadena city limits)
- San Jacinto College (Central Campus and System Headquarters). This college serves all of Pasadena ISD, La Porte ISD, and Deer Park ISD.
- Texas Chiropractic College
Public Libraries
Pasadena has its own public library system. The Main Library is at 1201 Jeff Ginn Memorial Drive. There is also a branch called the Fairmont Library at 4330 Fairmont Parkway.
Parks and Recreation
Pasadena has 15 tennis courts, several baseball fields, and 43 parks. These parks include over 14 miles (22.5 km) of trails. There are also four Youth Recreation Centers and the Verne Cox Multipurpose Recreation Center. The city has three swimming pools, a dog park, a golf course, and a Senior Citizen Center.
Harris County also runs several community centers in Pasadena. These include the East Harris County Activity Center and the Bay Area Community Center. Residents can enjoy tennis courts, soccer fields, jogging tracks, and picnic areas in the city's parks.
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) is a 2,500-acre (10.1 sq km) nature preserve. It is on the western shore of Galveston Bay in Pasadena. This center protects the area's original ecosystems. These include coastal tallgrass prairie, bottomland forests, and bayous. Many different plants grow here. Hundreds of types of wildlife live in the streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes. Armand Bayou is also a place where many fish and shellfish breed. Rare animals like bobcats and owls can also be found here.
Since 2010, ABNC has been part of the Texas Coastal Preserve Program.
Transportation
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Pasadena is served by three main road systems. Interstate 45 is the closest interstate highway. The main freeway is the Pasadena Freeway (State Highway 225). The eastern part of the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) also runs through the city.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority sells EZ Tags for toll roads in the city.
Public Transportation
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) offers a park & ride service from the Plaza Paseo Mall. This service provides bus trips during morning and afternoon rush hours. Harris County Transit also runs a bus route through the city. This route connects to health centers, shopping centers, colleges, and other places.
Notable People
- Ray Barnhart, former Texas State Representative
- Emily Chan, figure skater
- Brandon Darby, political activist
- Donnie Elliott, former baseball pitcher
- Marlen Esparza, Olympic bronze medalist in boxing
- Jacob Green, former football player for Texas A&M and Seattle Seahawks
- Russell Harvard, actor
- R. J. Helton, Christian music artist from American Idol
- Mike McKinney, former Texas State Representative and university chancellor
- Gilbert Pena, former Texas State Representative
- Robert Talton, former Texas State Representative
- Duane Walker, former baseball outfielder
Sister City
Pasadena has a "friendship garden" dedicated to its sister city, Hadano, Japan.
See also
In Spanish: Pasadena (Texas) para niños
