Altadena, California

Unincorporated community in California, United States

"Altadena" redirects here. For the brand of milk, see Alta Dena.

Place in California, United States

Altadena, California

Unincorporated community
Census designated place

Aerial view of Altadena and Eaton Canyon

Location of Altadena in Los Angeles County, California

Altadena, California

Location in the United States

Coordinates: 34°11′19″N 118°8′5″W﻿ / ﻿34.18861°N 118.13472°W﻿ / 34.18861; -118.13472
Country|  United States
State|  California
County| Los Angeles
Area

[1]

• Total

| 8.48 sq mi (21.97 km2)
• Land| 8.46 sq mi (21.92 km2)
• Water| 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.19%
Elevation

[2]

| 1,358 ft (414 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 42,846
• Density| 5,061.55/sq mi (1,954.26/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes|

91001, 91003

Area code| 626
FIPS code| 06-01290
GNIS feature IDs| 1652662, 2407732

Altadena (/ˌɑːltəˈdiːnə/pronunciationⓘAL-tə-DEE-nə) is an unincorporated area,[3][4] and census-designated place in the San Gabriel Valley and the Verdugos[5] regions of Los Angeles County, California. Directly north of Pasadena, it is located approximately 14 miles (23 km) from Downtown Los Angeles. Its population was 42,846 at the 2020 census, up slightly from a 2010 figure of 42,777. In early 2025, the community was severely impacted by the Eaton Fire.

## History

[edit]

### Etymology

[edit]

The name Altadena was coined by Byron O. Clark, who established Altadena Nursery in 1875. The name combines the Spanish alta, meaning 'upper,' with dena, a term he likely adapted from Pasadena, though its precise origin remains unclear. The area is adjacent to, but at a higher elevation than, Pasadena.[6][7]

### Early history

[edit]

In the mid-1860s, Benjamin S. Eaton first developed water sources from the Arroyo Seco and Eaton Canyon to irrigate his vineyard near the edge of Eaton Canyon. This made possible the development of Altadena, Pasadena, and South Pasadena. He did the construction for B. D. Wilson and Dr. John Griffin, who jointly owned the Mexican land grant of Rancho San Pascual, about 14,000 acres (5,700 ha), that would be the future sites of these three communities. They hoped to develop and sell this land in a real estate plan called the San Pasqual Plantation. Their efforts failed by 1870, despite Eaton's irrigation ditch that drew water from the site of present-day Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the Arroyo Seco, because the land was relatively inaccessible and few believed crops could thrive that close to the mountains.

Eaton tried to sell the land for the partners, and in late 1873 he helped broker a deal with Daniel Berry, who represented a group of investors from Indiana, to buy 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of the rancho. This included the land of present-day Altadena, but they developed a 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) section further south as Pasadena.

Byron O. Clark established a nursery in the foothills in 1875, which he named "Altadena Nursery", a name he coined from the Spanish alta meaning "upper" and dena from Pasadena.

In 1880 or 1881, Capt. Frederick Woodbury, and his brother, John Woodbury of Marshalltown, Iowa, purchased 937 acres (379 ha) known as the Woodbury Ranch. The land remained primarily agricultural, though several Eastern millionaires built mansions along Mariposa Street, and a small community developed through the 1890s and into the next century.

### Development

[edit]

Woodbury–Story House (1882), the home of Capt. John Woodbury, is extant and occupied.

John Woodbury established the Pasadena Improvement Company in 1887, with a plot plan of residential development referred to as the Woodbury Subdivision. They contacted Byron O. Clark, who had moved away, and asked if he could use the name "Altadena" for his subdivision; Clark agreed.

The newly sprouted community of Altadena immediately began to attract millionaires from the East. In 1887 Andrew McNally, the printing magnate from Chicago, and his friend, George Gill Green, had built mansions on what was to become Millionaire's Row: Mariposa Street near Santa Rosa Avenue. Newspaper moguls William Armiger Scripps and William Kellogg built homes side by side just east of Fair Oaks Avenue. A bit farther east, Zane Grey bought a home from Arthur Herbert Woodward, and added a second-floor study. The famous Benziger Publishing Company built a mansion on the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue (Christmas Tree Lane) and Mariposa. Mariposa was taken from the Spanish name for a butterfly. The grandson of Andrew McNally, Wallace Neff, became a famous Southern California architect. He started his career in Altadena with the design and construction of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church (parish est. 1918), which was dedicated in October 1926.

From 1924 to 1926, 160 homes were built in Altadena by fugitive conman Elisha Paul Janes, with distinctive steep roofs and multiple gables; despite his lack of qualifications, they proved popular, and this neighbourhood was designated as a heritage area in 2002.[8][9] Many notable buildings followed in the 1930s, including Eliot Junior High School (1931) and Davies Community Center in Farnsworth Park (1934).[10]

### Later history

[edit]

Redlining policies prevented African Americans from acquiring land or purchasing property in much of California.[11][12] One of the areas exempt from these policies was Altadena Meadows, which thrived and became one of first middle-class African American neighborhoods in the area.[12][13]

Lake Avenue in Altadena, 2011

While Altadena long refused wholesale annexation by neighboring Pasadena, the larger community nibbled at its edges in several small annexations of neighborhoods through the 1940s. Attempted annexation was stopped in 1956 by community campaigns, though it has been resurrected several times since by Pasadena without success. Had the annexation succeeded, Pasadena would be the 108th largest city in the United States.

With early-1960s redevelopment in Pasadena, the routing of extensions of the 134 and 210 freeways, and lawsuits over the desegregation of Pasadena Unified School District, there was white flight and convulsive racial change in Altadena. In 1960, its black population was under four percent; over the next 15 years, half the White population left, and was replaced by people of color, many of whom settled on the west side of town after being displaced by Pasadena's redevelopment and freeway projects.

In 1993, the Kinneloa Fire, begun accidentally on the slopes above Eaton Canyon, burned dozens of homes in Altadena and neighboring Kinneloa Mesa as part of a rash of late October wildfires driven by Santa Ana winds in Southern California. One man died of complications from smoke inhalation and dozens were injured.[14][15]

In 2022, Altadena gained local coverage in Los Angeles as the place of the first land return to the Tongva since the arrival of Europeans in the Los Angeles Basin area, after a resident donated her 1-acre property to the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy.[16][17] It was described as marking the first time in nearly 200 years that the Tongva have had land in Los Angeles County.[18]

In 2022, a single lottery ticket was sold to Edwin Castro, which would win a world record US$2.04 billion Powerball jackpot.[19]

### Eaton Fire

[edit]

Main article: Eaton Fire

Destruction of business district on Lake Avenue

On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire started in Altadena around 6:30 PM local time during a powerful Santa Ana Winds. It quickly spread to 14,000 acres by January 10, with 19 confirmed fatalities.[20] Over 9,000 structures were damaged or destroyed, including the Andrew McNally House, Altadena Community Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, The Bunny Museum, Scripps Hall and much of the downtown area. The entirety of Altadena was put under an evacuation order.[21] In the aftermath of the fires, many homeowners struggled with high rebuilding costs and some were forced to sell, while luxury developers and wealthy individuals scrambled to buy lots in cash at competitive prices.[22] Community groups such as Altadena Not for Sale quickly formed to advocate for the under- and non-insured to protect agaisnst land speculators. [23]

Affected area of Altadena by Eaton Fire (map data)

## Geography

[edit]

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Altadena as a census-designated place (CDP). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.7 square miles (23 km2), over 99% of it land.

### Climate

[edit]

Altadena experiences hot and dry summers that are followed by warm and windy falls and mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Altadena has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csa on climate maps.

Climate data for Altadena, California (1991-2020 averages, 1922-2016 extremes)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 93
(34)  | 92
(33)  | 98
(37)  | 105
(41)  | 104
(40)  | 113
(45)  | 110
(43)  | 107
(42)  | 111
(44)  | 108
(42)  | 101
(38)  | 93
(34)  | 113
(45)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 64.3
(17.9)  | 64.4
(18.0)  | 66.6
(19.2)  | 67.0
(19.4)  | 75.0
(23.9)  | 79.1
(26.2)  | 85.8
(29.9)  | 86.8
(30.4)  | 84.6
(29.2)  | 76.9
(24.9)  | 72.8
(22.7)  | 65.8
(18.8)  | 74.1
(23.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 42.3
(5.7)  | 43.9
(6.6)  | 44.8
(7.1)  | 45.9
(7.7)  | 50.2
(10.1)  | 52.9
(11.6)  | 57.7
(14.3)  | 59.1
(15.1)  | 58.4
(14.7)  | 51.8
(11.0)  | 48.5
(9.2)  | 44.6
(7.0)  | 50.0
(10.0)
Record low °F (°C)  | 21
(−6)  | 26
(−3)  | 29
(−2)  | 31
(−1)  | 32
(0)  | 41
(5)  | 45
(7)  | 43
(6)  | 41
(5)  | 36
(2)  | 26
(−3)  | 25
(−4)  | 21
(−6)
Average rainfall inches (mm)  | 4.80
(122)  | 5.74
(146)  | 3.19
(81)  | 1.29
(33)  | 0.74
(19)  | 0.21
(5.3)  | 0.08
(2.0)  | 0.01
(0.25)  | 0.18
(4.6)  | 0.91
(23)  | 1.18
(30)  | 3.04
(77)  | 21.37
(543.15)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 6.4  | 6.0  | 4.9  | 2.9  | 2.4  | 0.8  | 0.2  | 0.2  | 0.7  | 2.4  | 2.4  | 4.9  | 34.2
Source 1: WRCC[24]
Source 2: WRCC[25]

The wettest calendar year was 1983, with 48.47 inches (1,231.1 mm), and the driest was 1947, with 5.37 inches (136.4 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 19.70 inches (500.4 mm), in February 1980. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 7.70 inches (195.6 mm), on March 2, 1938. Altadena averages 21.09 inches (535.7 mm) of rain a year, over 6 inches (150 mm) more than nearby Los Angeles due to the orographic effect created by the San Gabriel Mountains. Because of the slope on which the city is built, sewer lines in the city's northern section have been known to overflow significantly.[citation needed]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1960| 40,568| | —
1970| 42,415| | 4.6%
1980| 40,983| | −3.4%
1990| 42,658| | 4.1%
2000| 42,610| | −0.1%
2010| 42,777| | 0.4%
2020| 42,846| | 0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1860–1870[27][28] 1880-1890[29]
1900[30] 1910[31] 1920[32]
1930[33] 1940[34] 1950[35]
1960[36] 1970[37] 1980[38]
1990[39] 2000[40] 2010[41]
2020[42]

Altadena first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1960 U.S. Census;[36] and as a census-designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census.[38]

Altadena CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[43] | Pop 2010[44] | Pop 2020[42] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 16,848  | 17,231  | 17,900  | 39.54%  | 40.28%  | 41.78%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 13,112  | 9,816  | 7,136  | 30.77%  | 22.95%  | 16.65%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 117  | 85  | 46  | 0.27%  | 0.20%  | 0.11%
Asian alone (NH)  | 1,761  | 2,231  | 2,919  | 4.13%  | 5.22%  | 6.81%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 49  | 65  | 47  | 0.11%  | 0.15%  | 0.11%
Other race alone (NH)  | 151  | 187  | 293  | 0.35%  | 0.44%  | 0.68%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | 1,882  | 1,660  | 2,334  | 4.42%  | 3.88%  | 5.45%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 8,690  | 11,502  | 12,171  | 20.39%  | 26.89%  | 28.41%
Total | 42,610 | 42,777 | 42,846 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

### 2020

[edit]

The 2020 United States census reported that Altadena had a population of 42,846. The population density was 5,060.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,954.0/km2). The racial makeup of Altadena was 46.2% White, 17.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 7.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 12.8% from other races, and 15.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.4% of the population.[45]

The census reported that 98.3% of the population lived in households, 1.2% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.5% were institutionalized.[45]

There were 15,429 households, out of which 29.7% included children under the age of 18, 50.9% were married-couple households, 5.8% were cohabiting couple households, 28.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 22.2% of households were one person, and 10.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.73.[45] There were 11,055 families (71.7% of all households).[46]

The age distribution was 18.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% aged 18 to 24, 23.7% aged 25 to 44, 30.1% aged 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males.[45]

There were 16,063 housing units at an average density of 1,897.4 units per square mile (732.6 units/km2), of which 15,429 (96.1%) were occupied. Of these, 71.7% were owner-occupied, and 28.3% were occupied by renters.[45]

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $129,123, and the per capita income was $65,192. About 5.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[47]

### 2010

[edit]

The 2010 United States census[48] reported that Altadena had a population of 42,777. The population density was 4,900.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,892.1/km2). The racial makeup of Altadena in the year 2010 was 22,569 (52.8%) White (40.3% Non-Hispanic White),[49] 10,136 (23.7%) African American, 300 (0.7%) Native American, 2,307 (5.4%) Asian, 71 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,852 (11.3%) from other races, and 2,542 (5.9%) from two or more races. There were 11,502 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (26.9%).

The Census reported that 42,276 people (98.8% of the population) lived in households, 234 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 267 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

There were 15,212 households, out of which 5,170 (34.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,684 (50.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,210 (14.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 814 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 661 (4.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 271 (1.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,489 households (22.9%) were made up of individuals, and 1,318 (8.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 10,708 families (70.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.26.

The age distribution of the city's population was as follows: 9,507 people (22.2%) were under the age of 18, 3,286 (7.7%) aged 18 to 24, 10,622 (24.8%) aged 25 to 44, 13,298 (31.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 6,064 (14.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

There were 15,947 housing units at an average density of 1,826.8 per square mile (705.3/km2), of which 10,889 (71.6%) were owner-occupied, and 4,323 (28.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 30,319 people (70.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 11,957 people (28.0%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Altadena had a median household income of $82,895, with 10.7% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[49]

## Government

[edit]

Altadena has a town council that acts as an ombudsman for the Altadena neighborhoods, and provides a forum for town meetings. Altadena is formally managed by the Los Angeles County Supervisors, and is located in LA County Supervisorial District 5, under Supervisor Kathryn Barger.[50]

## Arts and culture

[edit]

Christmas Tree Lane

Altadena is known for its community of artists and arts professionals, with artistic heritage dating back to the early 20th century.[51][52][53]

Christmas Tree Lane is a 0.7-mile (1.1 km) stretch of Santa Rosa Avenue from Woodbury Road to Altadena Drive.[54] It has been a holiday attraction since 1920, and it is the oldest large-scale outdoor Christmas lighting venue in the world. Each December, members of the Christmas Tree Lane Association[55] festoon the 110 still standing giant deodars that line the street with thousands of Christmas lights. Christmas Tree Lane was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990,[54] and is a California Historical Landmark.[56]

Among Altadena's Christmas lighting attractions was the Balian Mansion, which drew people worldwide for tours of its Christmas lighting display. The Balian Mansion display was lit during the holiday season from 1955 to 2016, and is arguably the pioneer of home holiday lighting.[57]

The historic Mount Lowe Railway was a scenic railway that once carried passengers to any of four resort hotels high in the San Gabriel Mountains above Altadena and Pasadena. The most direct trail to the sites, the Sam Merrill Trail, starts in Altadena at the top of Lake Avenue, and leads to Mount Echo, about 3 miles (4.8 km). Chaney Trail, just west of the intersection at Fair Oaks Avenue and Loma Alta Street, is a forestry service road leading to the old right of way. The Mount Lowe Railway site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Altadena has a number of hiking trails, including the trail to the Dawn Mine, which can be reached via Chaney Trail to Sunset Ridge Trail.

The entrance to what's likely a water hole dug for the Dawn Mine. It is located on the canyon wall somewhere along the Millard Falls Trail.

The Cobb Estate at the top of Lake Avenue is now a free botanical garden, operated by the United States Forest Service. It is guarded by its historic gates, which are easily bypassed to allow visitors and hikers to ascend its long and winding paved driveway to the site of what was once one of Altadena's premier mansions. This site is also found alongside the Sam Merrill Trail, which accesses Las Flores Canyon on the way to Echo Mountain.

Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park, located on Lake Avenue, is a large county park that offers picnic grounds, play areas, and a clubhouse and amphitheater. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The Rotary International chapter holds annual summer concerts in the amphitheater.

Crudely Hewn Tombstone is the final resting place of abolitionist and Harpers Ferry attack survivor Owen Brown. The Tombstone, which is the only known memorial for Owen Brown, reads: "Owen Brown, son of John Brown, the Liberator, died Jan. 9, 1889, aged 64 years.” and is located on Round Top Hill near Brown Mountain in an isolated part of the Angeles National Forest.[58]

The Bunny Museum held more than 35,000 rabbit-related items across 16 galleries in a 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) space before it was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in 2025. Zorthian Ranch is a 48-acre artist colony (19 ha) that was also heavily damaged in the fire.[59][60]

## Infrastructure

[edit]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Altadena Station in Altadena.[61]

The California Highway Patrol operates the Altadena Area Office on Windsor Dr. in Altadena.

Altadena is a shared jurisdiction where L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. handles crime-related calls and CHP handles traffic-related calls.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Monrovia Health Center in Monrovia, serving Altadena.[62]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Claude Akins, actor[63]
* Maria Bamford, stand-up comedian
* Ramses Barden, NFL player
* Al Boeke, architect and developer of Sea Ranch, California[64]
* Aja Brown, former mayor of Compton, California[65]
* Owen Brown, abolitionist[66]
* Octavia E. Butler, author[67]
* Ellen Garrison Jackson Clark, African American educator, abolitionist and early Civil Rights activist[68]
* Andre Coleman, reporter and author
* Wah Chang, designer, sculptor, and artist
* Fannie Charles Dillon, composer
* Kenturah Davis, artist[69]
* Nahshon Dion, writer and filmmaker[70]
* Sterling Emerson (1900–1988), geneticist, died in Altadena[71]
* Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was a resident[72]
* Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic
* Zane Grey, author[73]
* Keith Hufnagel, professional skateboarder, was a resident
* Rodney King, victim of police beating[74]
* Robert J. Lang, artist
* Bob Lillis, Major League Baseball player and coach[75]
* Paul Little, adult entertainment director and actor
* Mo Martin, LPGA golfer
* Edgar McGregor, climate activist and amateur meteorologist[76]
* Andrew McNally, businessman and publisher, died in Altadena[77]
* Jim Merritt, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Sona Movsesian, executive assistant, author, and media personality[78]

* Greater Los Angeles portal

* Roger Nelson, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Marni Nixon, singer
* George Reeves, actor, Adventures of Superman
* Nathaniel Rosen, classical cellist
* Steve Sailer, author, blogger, and movie critic
* Michael Shermer, founder of The Skeptics Society and Editor in Chief of its magazine, Skeptic
* Ethelynde Smith, concert singer and botanical painter
* Adam Steltzner, spacecraft engineer
* Darryl Stephens, actor and author[79]
* Jeffrey C. Stewart, Pulitzer Prize winner and professor[80]
* Sharon Stouder, swimmer, three gold medals in 1964 Summer Olympics
* Meshach Taylor, Emmy-nominated actor, Designing Women
* Leslie Van Houten, Manson Family member serving life sentence for murder
* Mark Dean Veca, artist
* James Westerfield, actor
* Charles White, printmaker and draftsman
* Harold Zirin, solar astronomer, founder of the Big Bear Solar Observatory
* Jirayr Zorthian, artist

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
2. ^ "Altadena". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
3. ^ Los Angeles County publication: "Unincorporated Areas within the County of Los Angeles", Altadena listed by Los Angeles County government office, as an unincorporated city Archived May 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, "Los Angeles County publication: 'Unincorporated Areas within the County of Los Angeles'", verified September 27, 2010
4. ^ Los Angeles County Office of Unincorporated Area Services, Altadena listed by Los Angeles County government office, as an unincorporated area Archived January 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, "Los Angeles County Office of Unincorporated Area Services", verified September 27, 2010
5. ^ "Verdugos". Mapping L.A. Archived from the original on August 13, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
6. ^ Manning, Mike. The word Altadena was first used by Byron Clark, who coined it for his nursery located south of present-day Woodbury on the west side of town. When he moved his nursery to Linda Vista, he agreed to let the Woodburys take the name for their new subdivision. "ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA: an abbreviated history for the internet Archived April 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine". Altadena Town Council. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
7. ^ Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.
8. ^ "Janes Village". Retrieved September 7, 2024.
9. ^ Kaiser, Laura (November 9, 2023). "Many Popular Houses in L.A. Were Part of a Scam by a Con Artist Who Disappeared". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
10. ^ Foster, R. Daniel (May 11, 2018). "Neighborhood Spotlight: Altadena offers varied architectural styles but few places left to build anew". LA Times. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
11. ^ "Segregation in the City of Angels: A 1939 Map of Housing Inequality in L.A." KCET. November 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
12. ^ a b "Altadena's own take on Civil War monuments honors abolitionist Owen Brown in revamped park". Pasadena Star News. November 13, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
13. ^ Knoll, Corina (January 14, 2025). "Shattered in the Fire: A Historic Black Haven". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
14. ^ "20 Largest California Wildland Fires (By Structures Lost)". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 2001. Archived from the original on October 31, 2001. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
15. ^ Malnic, Eric; Farrell, David (October 28, 1993). "13 Fires Ring Southland: 450 Homes Burn; Laguna, Altadena Hard Hit". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
16. ^ Purtill, Corinne (October 11, 2022). "An acre of land in Altadena has been formally transferred to L.A.'s first people". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
17. ^ "Why A Property Worth Millions Was Returned To The Tongva Tribe". LAist. October 10, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
18. ^ Valdez, Jonah (October 10, 2022). "After nearly 200 years, the Tongva community has land in Los Angeles County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
19. ^ Elamroussi, Aya; Andone, Dakin (November 8, 2022). "Winning ticket for $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot sold in California, state lottery officials say". CNN. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
20. ^ "Eaton Fire Incident Page". Cal Fire Incidents. CALFIRE. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
21. ^ "2 people die in Eaton Fire as evacuation orders expand beyond Altadena". LAist. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
22. ^ Hong, Jae (March 23, 2025). "After the Eaton Fire, Altadena residents fight to keep out luxury developers". NBC News. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
23. ^ "Remains found in Eaton fire's path — death toll climbs to 19". Pasadena Star-News. July 22, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
24. ^ "ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary". WRCC. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
25. ^ "ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary". WRCC. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
26. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
27. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
28. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
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30. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
31. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
32. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
33. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
34. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
35. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
36. ^ a b "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
37. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
38. ^ a b "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
39. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
40. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
41. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
42. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Altadena CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
43. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Altadena CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
44. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Altadena CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
45. ^ a b c d e "Altadena CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
46. ^ "Altadena CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
47. ^ "Altadena CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
48. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA — Altadena CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
49. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts: Altadena CDP, California". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012.
50. ^ "About". Altadena Town Council. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
51. ^ "How Altadena became the L.A. dream for Gen X and millennial artists, writers, musicians". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
52. ^ Stromberg, Matt (January 15, 2025). "The Unfathomable Loss of Artistic Heritage in Altadena". Hyperallergic. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
53. ^ Zernicki-Glover, Simon. "Art in Altadena". The Paw Print. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
54. ^ a b "Weekend: Christmas Tree Lane's 97th Year". NBC Southern California. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
55. ^ "Home". christmastreelane.net.
56. ^ "Set aside a night for Altadena's Christmas Tree Lane". Tilma. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
57. ^ "Saying Farewell To Altadena's 'House Of The 10,000 Lights' Christmas Display". LAist. December 10, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
58. ^ Rasmussen, Cecilia (January 30, 2000). "John Brown's Son Escaped to Southland". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
59. ^ Farfan, Isa (February 10, 2025). "The Bunny Museum in LA Looks to Rebuild After Fires". Hyperallergic. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
60. ^ "The Bunny Museum, destroyed by Eaton fire, vows to return". Los Angeles Times. January 10, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
61. ^ "Altadena Station Archived January 9, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
62. ^ "Monrovia Health Center." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
63. ^ "CLAUDE AKINS, GENIAL, RUGGED ACTOR, DIES". Washingtonpost.com. January 28, 1994. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
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72. ^ Wilson, Larry (November 1, 2016). "Altadena's history on view, from Richard Feynman to Bugsy Siegel: Larry Wilson". pasadenastarnews.com. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
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75. ^ admin. "Bob Lillis – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved February 7, 2025.
76. ^ Branson-Potts, Hailey (January 14, 2025). "This young Altadena weather guy had a growing following. In the Eaton fire, he saved lives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
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## Further reading

[edit]

* Ives, Sarah Noble (1938). Altadena. Pasadena, California: The Star-News Publishing Co. Out of print.
* Peterson, Robert H. (1976). Altadena's Golden Years. Alhambra, California: Sinclair Printing and Litho, Inc.
* Zack, Michele (2004). Altadena: Between Wilderness and City. Altadena, California: Altadena Historical Society. ISBN 0-9747257-0-6.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Altadena, California.

* Altadena Town Council
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Places adjacent to Altadena, California

| San Gabriel Mountains | San Gabriel Mountains | San Gabriel Mountains

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La Cañada Flintridge & JPL Arroyo Seco |

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Under 10k|

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CDPs
over 25k|

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Geographic|

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Other|

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