Pasadena

Sister cities

• Hadano

History

Prior to European settlement the area around Galveston Bay was settled by the Karankawa and Atakapan tribes, particularly the Akokisa, who lived throughout the Gulf coast region. Spanish explorers such as the Rivas-Iriarte expedition and José Antonio de Evia charted the bay and gave it its name. The pirate Jean Lafitte established a short-lived kingdom based in Galveston in the early 19th century with bases and hide-outs around the bay and around Clear Lake. Lafitte was forced to leave in 1821 by the U.S. Navy. Following its declaration of independence from Spain the new nation of Mexico moved to colonize its northern territory of Texas by offering land grants to settlers both from within Mexico and from the nearby United States. The colony established by Stephen F. Austin and the Galveston Bay and Texas Land Company of New York rapidly began a wave of settlement around the bay. Following a coup in the Mexican government by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas revolted against Mexican rule in 1835. After several battles and skirmishes the final battle of the Texas Revolution took place near modern Pasadena on April 21, 1836. While the main battlefield was located in the neighboring present-day city of La Porte, Santa Anna was captured in present-day Pasadena at Vince's Bayou. Because this was the last conflict that led to the Mexican surrender, Pasadena and neighboring Deer Park have adopted the nickname "Birthplace of Texas". Sam Allen started a ranch in 1843 with . This became the Allen Ranch which occupied what is now western Pasadena all the way to Harrisburg, Texas. By 1888, the ranch contained in Harris County, in Brazoria County, Texas with grazing lands in Galveston and Fort Bend Counties. The Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad ran through the…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.81%) is water. The city is bordered by the Houston Ship Channel (Buffalo Bayou / San Jacinto River) to the north. The southeasternmost part of the city fronts Galveston Bay. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. Neighborhoods in Pasadena include:

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• DEER PARK H S
  High · DEER PARK · 4,026 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• DOBIE H S
  High · HOUSTON · 3,870 students · 15.7:1 ratio
• PASADENA MEMORIAL H S
  High · PASADENA · 3,047 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• CHANNELVIEW H S
  High · CHANNELVIEW · 2,893 students · 19:1 ratio
• SAM RAYBURN H S
  High · PASADENA · 2,645 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• CLEAR LAKE H S
  High · HOUSTON · 2,533 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• CLEAR BROOK H S
  High · FRIENDSWOOD · 2,347 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• CHAVEZ H S
  High · HOUSTON · 2,272 students · 16.5:1 ratio