La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge, commonly known as just, is a city in the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located in the Crescenta Valley, in the western edge of the San Gabriel Valley, it is the location of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory & Descanso Gardens.
Before the city's incorporation on November 30, 1976, it consisted of the two distinct communities of La Cañada and Flintridge.
The population was 20,573 at the 2020 census.
History
The Tongva were first to settle in the area. Local villages included Tejungna and Hahamongna, connected by a network of trails, which passed through what is now La Cañada Flintridge. They made extensive use of the live oaks which still are common in La Cañada, as a source of food and shelter. In 1771, the Tongva were enslaved by missionaries at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, resulting in their other name: Gabrielinos.La Cañada
During the Spanish and Mexican eras, the area was known as Rancho La Cañada. La Cañada comes from the Spanish word cañada, meaning 'canyon', 'gorge', or 'ravine'. It is unrelated to the name of the country of Canada.In 1875, Rancho La Cañada was purchased by two business partners, Jacob Lanterman and Adolphus Williams. Over the next several decades, development was slow, largely owing to the scarcity of sources of water, but some orchards growing stone fruit or oranges were present. Another attraction was the air quality, with a high concentration of tuberculosis sufferers and their families emigrating to convalesce in a place with notably clear air.
Flintridge
Flintridge was named after its developer, United States senator Frank P. Flint.Flintridge comprises the southern part of the city, covering the northern flank of the San Rafael Hills, but more generally including most areas south of Foothill Blvd. The eastern part, even north of Foothill Blvd, was also originally considered Flintridge and is still home to the Flintridge Riding Club and Flintridge Preparatory School.
Incorporation
On November 30, 1976, the cities of Flintridge and La Cañada were merged into a single incorporated city named "La Cañada Flintridge".Reference to the entire city is often shortened to just "La Cañada" or seldom to just "Flintridge". The full city name specifically does not have a hyphen in it, to illustrate unity between the two communities that became one.
Geography
The city is situated in the Crescenta Valley and far western end of the San Gabriel Valley, between the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest to the north, and the San Rafael Hills to the south. Most of the city drains southeastward toward the Arroyo Seco area in Pasadena, but the western part of the city drains southward toward Glendale via Verdugo Canyon. Both drainages join the Los Angeles River north of downtown Los Angeles.La Cañada Flintridge varies in elevation from about just below Devil's Gate Dam in the Arroyo Seco to about at the highest neighborhood, along the mountain front east of Pickens Canyon, at the upper end of Ocean View Blvd. The city limits extend into the San Gabriel Mountains and reach along Mount Lukens Road, which follows the crest line well above the developed city.
In August 2009, the city came under threat by the Station Fire. The city is considered a "very high fire hazard severity zone" because of the local topography at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and abundance of California Live Oak, despite an aggressive fire safety program. In January 2025, virtually the entire city was evacuated in response to the Eaton Fire, which destroyed many homes in the neighboring community of Altadena. The destruction of chaparral vegetation by wildfire often is followed by mudslides during the following rains, as was observed in 2010, damaging homes adjacent to arroyos at the Northern edge of the city.
Climate
The climate of La Cañada Flintridge is typical of a Southern California inland valley, with mild winters and hot summers. Spring often has hazy days, in contrast to the more persistently clear weather of fall. On average, the warmest month is August with high temperatures in the low to mid 90s and lows in the low 70s. December and January are the coolest months with typical highs in the low to mid 60s and lows in the low 40s. Rainfall occurs mostly during winter, averaging about 21 inches annually. Rainfall is rare in summer.During winter atmospheric river events, storm rainfall totals can be magnified by the orographic effect of the San Gabriel Mountains, producing intense runoff in the foothills where La Cañada is located. In December 1933 and January 1934, the La Cañada Valley was severely flooded in the Crescenta Valley flood.
The moderating influence of the ocean is limited due to the city's location inland from the intervening Santa Monica Mountains, the Verdugo Mountains, and the San Rafael Hills. Consequently, summers are generally hotter and winters often cooler than in coastal parts of metropolitan Los Angeles, if winds are calm or blowing gently offshore. Occasional strong offshore winds, known as the Santa Ana winds, can bring particularly hot air in summer and fall as air from the desert plateaus crosses the mountains and descends, thus warming further by adiabatic heating. Summer and early fall temperatures are substantially cooler if the prevailing wind is persistently onshore. Occasionally during a winter storm, the upper elevations of the city may see trace amounts of snow. Several ski resorts, Mountain High, Mount Baldy, and Mount Waterman, are located about to the northeast.
Demographics
La Cañada Flintridge first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1970 U.S. census; and as a census-designated place in the 1980 United States census.2020
The 2020 census reported the population of La Cañada Flintridge as 20,573, around the same level it has been since the 1970 census. As of 2024, the median household income was reported as $221,451. La Cañada Flintridge is considered among the wealthiest suburbs in America, based on income and home values.2010
The 2010 United States census reported that La Cañada Flintridge had a population of 20,246. The population density was. The racial makeup of La Cañada Flintridge was 13,959 White,109 African American, 24 Native American, 5,214 Asian, 5 Pacific Islander, 245 from other races, and 690 from two or more races. There were 1,267 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race.
The Census reported that 20,219 people lived in households, 21 lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 were institutionalized.
There were 6,849 households, out of which 2,873 had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,029 were opposite-sex married couples living together, 525 had a female householder with no husband present, 214 had a male householder with no wife present. There were 103 unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 36 same-sex married couples or partnerships. 924 households were made up of individuals, and 559 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95. There were 5,768 families ; the average family size was 3.24.
The age distribution of the population was spread out, with 5,315 people under the age of 18, 1,363 people aged 18 to 24, 3,157 people aged 25 to 44, 7,224 people aged 45 to 64, and 3,187 people who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
There were 7,089 housing units at an average density of, of which 6,120 were owner-occupied, and 729 were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 18,052 people lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,167 people lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States census, La Cañada Flintridge had a median household income of $136,818, with 3.2% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
2000
As of the 2000 census, there were 20,318 people, 6,823 households, and 5,690 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 6,989 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 65.53% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 31.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. 4.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 6,823 households, out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 14.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
According to a 2008 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $140,474, and the median income for a family was $157,511. Males had a median income of $92,760 versus $57,321 for females. The per capita income for the city was $52,838. About 3.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
According to Mapping L.A., English and Korean were the most common ancestries in 2000. Korea and Iran were the most common foreign places of birth. As with neighboring Glendale, many of the people originating from Iran were of Armenian descent, also originating from the former Soviet Union and other regions of Asia.