History Of the San Gabriel Valley

San Gabriel Valley derives its name from the San Gabriel River that flows southward through the center of the valley. The first city in the Valley, Pasadena, California got its start in the Midwest during a cold 1873 winter. An Indiana resident Dr. Thomas Balch Elliott assembled together a group of more than 100 families that had grown tired of the hard Indiana winters and desired more moderate weather throughout the year. They called themselves the California Colony of Indiana. As more and more settlers moved into the area, other parts of the San Gabriel Valley were built up and eventually orange groves gave way to residential, suburban neighborhoods. At one time predominantly agricultural, the San Gabriel Valley is today almost entirely developed (largely in suburban form, but with certain areas beginning to urbanize) and is an integral part of the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

1771

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel developed.
Second oldest settlement in California (after San Diego), founded by Father Junipero Serra and dedicated to Arcangel San Gabriel.
Taught Native Americans many life skills; and Padres introduced orange trees to the area
The mission is known as the “Mother of Agriculture in California

1847

Battle Of Rio San Gabriel-Mexican American War

Mexican militia retreats and two days later Mexico cedes Alta California to the U.S.
A memorial located at the corner of Washington Blvd. and Bluff Rd. in Montebello is marked by a plaque flanked by two cannon. The battle is re-enacted annually by volunteers in costume.

1850's

The home of Pio Pico is built.

The last governor of Mexican California before the American takeover.
He witnessed and helped shape nearly a century of California history.
His ancestry includes a mixture of ethnicities, including Spanish, African, Indian, and Italian.

1890

First Tournament of Roses takes place in Pasadena

Staged by members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club, former residents of the East and Midwest were eager to showcase their new home's mild winter weather.
In 1902, the Tournament of Roses decided to enhance the day’s festivities by adding a football game – the first post season college football game ever held.

1920

Caltech Begins Offering Classes in Pasadena.

Caltech was known successively as Throop University, Throop Polytechnic Institute, and Throop College of Technology, before acquiring its current name in 1920.
Japanese immigrants arrive in Monterey Park to work as farmhands.

1941

The first Freeway in the U.S., the Pasadena Freeway (110) is Built.

A nine-mile (14 km), dedicated cycleway was built in 1897 by a private business to connect Pasadena to Los Angeles. This cycleway is what eventually became the Pasadena Freeway.
1940s – 1950s - San Gabriel Valley changes from acres of farmland to suburban bedroom communities.

1542

Tongva Indians settle in San Gabriel.

The Tongva were the first Native Americans to meet Europeans.

The Tongva also provide the origin of many current names; Piwongna – Pomona, Pasakeg-na – Pasadena, Cucomog-na – Cucamonga.

1821

Mexican Independence Changes The Economy

Now allowed to trade with foreigners and foreigners were allowed to own land.

Missions were secularized and control of Native Americans was taken from missionaries.

1848

Treaty Of Guadalupe

This was the peace treaty that ended the Mexican-American War (1846–1848).
The treaty provided for the Mexican Cession, in which Mexico ceded 1.36 million sq. km. (525,000 square miles) to the United States in exchange for 15 million USD. The United States also agreed to take over $3.25 million in debts Mexico owed to American citizens.

1886

Pasadena becomes the first independent incorporated city in L.A. County

The city incorporated largely as a measure to get rid of its saloon.
In the ensuing decade, amenities such as sewers, paved streets, and electric street lighting were installed.

1886

Erection of the first two tents which were the building blocks of today's City of Hope.

City of Hope is a leading cancer research center.
City of Hope was founded in 1913 as a haven for those stricken with tuberculosis. The San Gabriel Valley’s dry, desert-like climate helped ease the pain of those with the illness.

1922

Foundation of the Pasadena Art Institute

Foundation of the Pasadena Art Institute, which eventually became the Norton Simon Museum.
In 1974, the museum and Simon came to an agreement where Simon absorbed the museum's debts and became responsible for the collection and building projects.