Pasadena is a city located in Harris County, Texas within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Pasadena had a population of 154,632 making it the second-largest city in Harris County. The city is located southeast of downtown Houston along the Houston Ship Channel.
Population
According to the Wikipedia page for Pasadena, Texas, the city has grown substantially over the past 70 years. In 1950, the population was barely 3,000 but as of the 2020 census the population was over 154,000. Pasadena experienced rapid growth starting in the 1970s and continuing through the 2000s.
Economy and Major Employers
The economy of Pasadena is heavily tied to the petroleum, petrochemical and shipping industries due to its location along the Houston Ship Channel. Some of the major employers in Pasadena include:
- Chevron – Operates a major refinery
- LyondellBasell – A chemical company with a large complex
- Fluor – Engineering and construction firm
- Vopak – Operates storage terminals along the ship channel
- Kinder Morgan – Petroleum and pipeline company
In addition to the industrial employers, the Pasadena Independent School District and University of Texas Medical Branch are major employers in the education and healthcare sectors.
Attractions and Landmarks
Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Pasadena include:
- The San Jacinto Monument – This 570-foot tall monument commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.
- Armstrong Stadium – Home of the Pasadena ISD Eagles football team.
- Pasadena Strawberry Festival – An annual festival held since 1934 celebrating strawberries and community.
- Pasadena Convention Center – This 125,000 square foot complex hosts various conventions and events.
- Bay Area Museum – Museum with exhibits on aerospace, petrochemical and maritime history.
Sports
The city is home to a minor league baseball team, the Pasadena Little League team that won the Little League World Series in 2018. The Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team plays some of its games at Constellation Field in Pasadena.
At the high school level, the Pasadena ISD has successful football, basketball, soccer and other sports programs. The Pasadena Eagles football team plays home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
City Government
Pasadena has a Council-Manager form of government. The city council consists of the mayor and eight council members representing single-member districts. The current mayor of Pasadena is Jeff Wagner.
The city government website provides information on city services, departments, ordinances, plans and other local government matters. See https://www.pasadenatx.gov/
Visitor and Tourism Information
Those looking to visit Pasadena can find information on attractions, events, dining, hotels and more at the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau website.
Pasadena has an official city government Facebook page which provides updates, event info and more for residents – https://www.facebook.com/cityofpasadenatx/