Pasadena

Pasadena, off State Highway 225 between Houston and Deer Park in southeastern Harris County, was founded in 1893 by John H. Burnett of Galveston. Because of its lush vegetation the site was named for Pasadena, California. The La Porte, Houston and Northern Railroad was built through the townsite in 1894 and opened the area for development as a farming community. Retired Kansas banker Charles R. Munger and land promoter Cora Bacon Foster were instrumental in organizing the early community. After the Galveston hurricane of 1900 Clara Barton, of the American Red Cross, purchased 1½ million strawberry plants for Gulf Coast farmers. Pasadena quickly established itself as the strawberry capital of the region. By the 1920s all of southeast Harris County was known as "Pasadena Acres." In addition to strawberries, the Pasadena farmers sold cantaloupes, cape jasmine flowers, cucumbers, and other produce. A private school was established in Pasadena in 1894 and became a part of the Harrisburg Common School District by 1895. In 1899 Pasadena residents formed an independent school system, the first in Harris County. A four-year high school program was established in 1924 with the construction of Pasadena High School. Both the Genoa and South Houston school districts were consolidated into the Pasadena system in 1935. A union Sunday school was organized in 1893. Adults attended the union church in the nearby community of Deepwater. The Methodists were the first to form a church in Pasadena in 1896. The Baptists followed in 1898. Both congregations shared the use of the schoolhouse until the Baptists completed their church building in 1905. The Methodists erected their building in 1907. The Assembly of God church was formed shortly thereafter and built a churchhouse.

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.