Get to know Pasadena, TX

The southeastern city of Pasadena was named after the California city of the same name because of the lush vegetation.  It began on part of the Allen Ranch, started by Sam Allen in 1843.  While there were several proposed towns around present-day Pasadena in the second half of the 19th century, none of them took off.  Then in 1892, Colonel John H. Burnett established an unnamed town site on the Vince Survey, which would become present-day Pasadena.  The area suffered damage from the Galveston Hurricane in 1900.  In response, the Red Cross sent strawberry plants to help revive the community.  This led to a major strawberry farm being established and launched Pasadena as one of the major fruit producers.  Japanese rice farmers also came and settled in the area, further diversifying the agriculture.  The discovery of oil at nearby Spindletop in 1901 led to industrial development in the city.  Pasadena incorporated in 1928 and continued to diversify with the opening of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1963 nearby.  It is sometimes called the Birthplace of Texas because the final conflict of the Texas Revolution against Mexico took place near Pasadena.  The city holds the annual Pasadena Strawberry Festival to honor its history with the crop.  It is also the home of the Armand Bayou Nature Center, on of five preserves under the Texas Coastal Preserve Program.  The main economic contributors include the energy, shipping, aerospace, and healthcare industries.  The largest employers in Pasadena include Pasadena Independent School District, Dorsett Brothers Concrete Supply, Inc., San Jacinto College District, and the Boeing Company.

Quick Facts

Population: 152,171

Median Household Income: $46,585

Median Property Value: $101,000