Arcadia - A Southern California Jewel
Arcadia's beginnings go back over 3,000 years to the Tongva/Gabrielino Native American settlement whose members were attracted to the water rich, ripe Southern California land in which to hunt and gather.
Arcadia saw it's first notable settler in Hugo Reid who was deeded the land by the Spanish government, making him the first individual land owner of the area and the first to make a modern impact on the land by stocking cattle and building the first structure.
A succession of owners followed and the one who made a lasting impression on the area was Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin who in 1875 bought a large area of land including what is known as Arcadia for $200,000 ($25 an acre). When Lucky Baldwin first saw the land of Arcadia with its beautiful foothill landscape, lush greenery and oak trees, fertile growing land and acres full of potential, Lucky Baldwin was amazed and declared "By Gads! This is paradise." Upon buying the land, Lucky chose to make the area his home and immediately started erecting buildings and cultivating the land for farming, orchards and ranches. It didn't take long before he turned his sights to cityhood for the blossoming area he named Arcadia.
Arcadia was incorporated in 1903 and became a Charter City in 1951. Known for beautiful neighborhoods, warm character and a "community of homes" atmosphere, Arcadia places great emphasis on preserving "green space" and its commitment to the environment is evidenced by the large population of healthy trees you will find around town. Arcadia has been designated a Tree City USA for ten consecutive years.
The famous Route 66, immortalized in song and literature, passes through Arcadia, on Huntington Drive in Downtown Arcadia, before turning off onto Colorado Place and then Colorado Street. After intersecting the 210 freeway, Route 66 runs parallel to and south of the freeway, cutting across the middle section of Arcadia.
It is not by accident that Arcadia is referred to as a jewel among southern California communities.
Source: City of Arcadia and The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum
