Pasadena

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Pasadena . 1 City (1990 pop. 131,591), Los Angeles co., S Calif., at the base of the San Gabriel Mts.; inc. 1866. The city is a research and technological center with manufactures that include plastics, paints, paper, machinery parts, electronic equipment and systems, medical supplies, and computers. Pasadena is the scene of the annual Tournament of Roses and of the postseason college football game held (Jan. 1) in the Rose Bowl (seating 100,000 spectators). The city is also the seat of the California Institute of Technology (with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and Pacific Oaks College. It has a symphony orchestra; a community playhouse; the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens; the Norton Simon Museum; the Pacific Asia Museum; and several gardens noted for their rare flora. Mt. Wilson Observatory is nearby.

2 City (1990 pop. 119,363), Harris co., S Tex., on the Houston ship channel; inc. 1928. It is an industrial suburb of Houston located in a highly productive oil area. The city has oil refineries, chemical plants, and meat-processing establishments. Its factories produce oil field, fishing, and packaging equipment; concrete; and plastic products. NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Manned Space Center is just south, on Clear Lake. The city was founded in 1895 on a site near the old San Jacinto battlefield (Apr., 1836) where Santa Anna was captured. The San Jacinto Monument (built 1936-39; 570 ft/174 m high) commemorates the event. Pasadena is the seat of Texas Chiropractic College. An annual livestock show and rodeo is held in the city.

Pasadena, Canada, USA 1. USA (California): founded in 1874 by Thomas B. Elliott who wanted a name associated with Native Americans; he called it Indiana Colony. The Post Office rejected the name and Elliott asked for suggestions for a new name. In 1875 a missionary working with the Chippewa people proposed four names: Gish kadenapasadena ‘Peak of the Valley’, Weoquanpasadena ‘Crown of the Valley’, Doegunpasadena ‘Key of the Valley’, and Pequadenpasadena ‘Hill of the Valley’. All were thought to be too awkward, but all had a common ending, Pasadena ‘of the Valley’, and this was chosen.2. USA (Texas): founded in 1895 and named after the city in California in the mistaken belief that the name was the Spanish for ‘Land of Flowers’ to describe the fields full of flowers along Vince's Bayou.

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