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City Tour of Pasadena
With a population of about 125,000, Pasadena is often recognized for its
strong industrial base and for its tremendous success in early years as
an agricultural area and the present home of the Strawberry Festival.
However, many people overlook one of the most important elements of our
city's rich heritage. Pasadena is the actual birthplace of Free Texas.
That very important fact along with the other significant events in our
past, make Pasadena what it is today. The first inhabitants of the area
are believed to be the cannibalistic Karankawa Indians, who lived throughout
the Gulf coast region. However, it was Spanish explorers who named the
vast area after the East Texas Indians, the Tejas. Settlers began moving
to the area in the early 1800s.
The settlers eventually revolted against their Spanish government in 1821
and formed an area known as Mexico. The present state of Texas was included
in the area. Stephen F. Austin is responsible for a great deal of the
colonization which took place throughout Tejas during the 1820s. The settlers
he brought with him were very independent. And, once they declared war
against Mexico on November 7, 1835, it was that same strong sense of pride
which rendered them victorious six months later. The historic Battle of
San Jacinto was fought at the junction of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo
Bayou on April 21, 1836. And it was at the junction of Vince and Buffalo
bayous - which is now Pasadena - that Mexico's General Santa Anna was
captured and Texas earned its independence. The city of Houston was founded
in 1836, as well. Local residents worked toward developing Buffalo Bayou
as a major seaport and the railroad emerged upon Texas in the mid-1800s.
The Pasadena area remained an open prairie with scattered use by cattlemen
until the construction of the La Porte and Northern Railroad introduced
the area to new settlement.
In 1892, Simeon West platted his town of Deer Park. And in the same year,
Colonel J.H. Burnett established the town of Deepwater, which is now part
of Pasadena. Burnett founded Genoa a year later and platted Pasadena itself
in 1895. Development in the area moved at a rather slow pace. However,
the farmers and other settlers in the area had established a very solid
foundation with religion and education as very high priorities. Pasadena
ISD was founded in 1898 and was the first independent school district
in Harris County. Then, the 1900 hurricane, the period's worst recorded
disaster, changed the course of history for the area. As frightened settlers
moved inland from Galveston, the Houston Seaport flourished. Since farming
provided a good life for those in the area, Clara Barton, founder of the
American Red Cross, sent strawberry plants to the region to help those
who had lost so much and migrated to the area. Clara Barton's strawberries
turned into a very profitable gift. This quick cash crop made the area
famous. And, as the fruit was shipped commercially, Pasadena was recognized
across the country for its sweet, tasty strawberries.
The 1900 storm also initiated the shift from agriculture to industry as
the driving force in the local economy. People preferred the benefits
of a regular paycheck to that of seasonal work and the population continued
to grow. And, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the World Port
of Houston officially open and Buffalo Bayou was renamed the Houston Ship
Channel. Large plants began locating there. J.S. Cullinan, president of
a company now known as Texaco, opened his headquarters and declared Houston
the "Energy Capital." Other large plants also chose to locate along the
channel, including Arco, Crown Central Refinery, Champion Paper Co. and
Houston Lighting & Power. The 1930s brought the threat of war and the
area represented the industrial front for our European allies. Meanwhile,
Pasadena had continued to expand, encompassing Deepwater and surrounding
areas. It had developed a strong educational, religious and governmental
base, as well as a solid workforce.
During World War II, Pasadena's population increased seven-fold, compared
to Houston's rate of 1.5 percent. The ship channel was a center of activity
for refining, chemical manufacturing, ship building and exporting. Strawberries
were still a major contributor to the economy. The growth continued to
expand with a new downtown area making its way along Southmore Street
from Main to Richey. Pasadena also found itself in an annexation battle
with the city of Houston. However, rather than concede to the growing
metropolis, the people and government of Pasadena took a stand. They established
borders stretching from Galveston Bay to Clear Lake, which is where they
remain today. Presently, Pasadena is still a very prosperous area. The
city has focused its attention on the quality of life for local residents,
holding on to the elements which tell the story of its rich history.
Pasadena Links
City of Pasadena
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Pasadena Schools
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