Courtesy of:
Arcadia Chamber of Commerce
388 W. Huntington Dr.
Arcadia, CA 91007
Tel. (626) 447 2159
Arcadia - Yesterday and Today
by Christine Van Maanen, City Clerk of Arcadia, 1956 - 1988.
The City of Arcadia spreads over the land that was once part of an enormous land grant
given to the San Gabriel Mission in 1771 by the King of Spain. Spanish rule gave way to
Mexican rule in 1822, after the Republic of Mexico declared its independence from Spain.
Much of the vast acreage belonging to the Mission became public land of the Mexican
Republic. In 1829, Hugo Reid, a Scot who became a Mexican citizen, petitioned for the
Rancho Santa Anita, a tract of over 13,000 acres extending north from San Gabriel to the
Sierra Madre mountain range. In 1845 he was granted full title from the last Mexican
governor, Pio Pico. As a result of the Mexican War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
California was transferred to the United States.
In the next thirty years the Rancho Santa Anita changed ownership five times, until
finally, in 1875, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, rich from his goldmine investments,
purchased approximately 8,000 acres for $200,000. The passenger rate war between the Santa
Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads brought hordes of land-seekers. Baldwin had no trouble
disposing of some of his vast holdings, keeping for himself the homestead and ranch, the
land west of Santa Anita Avenue. Lucky Baldwin helped plan Santa Anita Tract which was to
become Arcadia.
Because the Baldwin ranch and business for pleasure-seeking visitors were its only
industries, Arcadia did not hold its election for incorporation until 1903. Baldwin was
elected its firs Mayor, and the first Board of Trustees meeting was held in the famed
Oakwood Hotel on August 17, 1903. In order to acquire some quick money for the City
treasury, one of the first ordinances of the many adopted called for $40.00 liquor license
tax to be exacted from the numerous saloons. The much-needed establishment of law and
order was furthered by a marshal, deputies, a City Court, and a jail.
In 1904 the opening of the original Santa Anita Race Track - site of the present
Arcadia County Park - was the fulfillment of one of Baldwin's dreams. That year Arcadia's
first grammar school was built at First Avenue and California Street. With a reform city
government holding sway, the character of the town changed. A fire department was
established, and streets were lighted, graded, and oiled. The steady increase in
population from 1910 to 1920 demanded new and expanding city services such as water,
postal service, and street paving.
The World War I era saw the original Santa Anita Race Track become Ross Field, site of
an Army balloon school. John H. Hoeppel, who served in the U.S. Army at the school and
later became the Congressman from the area, was instrumental in having this Army land
transferred to Los Angeles County in 1933. His original plan was to have the land
developed as a municipal park. He was unable to interest the City at that time so he
approached the County wit the idea and was able to help convince General Douglas
MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, to approve the transfer of 183 acres of the Ross
Field Balloon School to the County without cost for the development of the park.
The 1920's witnessed a period of rapid development as large tracts became home sites
with popular acre-sized lots. At that time Arcadia was known as a chicken-raising
community. Business failures and unemployment were signs of the times as Arcadia
experienced the depression of the 1930's. A period of political turmoil and demand for
economy in municipal affairs ensued. Despite these conditions, in 1934 the present Santa
Anita Race Track, located on approximately 400 acres of the original ranch, was opened to
the public. During World War II it was used as a Japanese Assembly Center and later was
converted into an Army Ordinance Center.
It is also interesting to note that during Lucky Baldwin's time the race track area was
used for Baldwin's winery.
Dedication of the Arcadia County Park in 1937 culminated years of hard work by the
County of Los Angeles and the WPA (Works Progress Administration) in converting Ross Field
into a recreation facility. Completion of the swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course,
bowling greens, picnic tables, and other facilities in subsequent years affords Arcadians
and others a center for leisure. Continuing efforts to supply recreation areas and open
spaces throughout Arcadia have led to the development of Wilderness Park, housing the John
Panatier Nature Center at the mountainous northern section of the city, and several
"mini" parks closer in.
The largest Arcadia subdivision transaction in history occurred in 1936 when
approximately 1,300 acres of the remaining Baldwin Ranch were sold by its heirs to Rancho
Santa Anita, Inc., represented by Harry Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times
newspaper. During the following years this land was developed into several residential
districts by various builders.
The Los Angeles State and County Arboretum was established in 1947 when eleven acres of
Rancho Santa Anita, including the historic home site and buildings, were purchased for
$320,000 by the State of California and Los Angeles County. Operated by the California
Arboretum Foundation, it serves as a horticultural and botanical center which is open to
the public. Classes in horticulture and botanical center which is open to the public.
Classes in horticulture and botany are held for children and adults. Historical landmarks,
including the Victorian Queen Anne cottage, built in 1879, furnished with antiques from
the late 1800's, the stable, rose garden, and the adobe cabin of Hugo Reid (Arcadia's
first settler) have been restored. In 1970 the old brick Santa Anita Depot was carefully
removed from its Colorado Boulevard trackside location, and to assure its preservation,
restored at the southern portion of the Arboretum grounds. Many motion pictures, including
TARZAN, JUNGLE JI8M, DANIEL BOONE, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, ROAD TO SINGAPORE, LASSIE, and many
others, as well as numerous TV segments, were filmed in part in that location, utilizing
the jungle-type background and spring-fed lake. Segments of the LOVE BOAT series were also
filmed here.
The mushrooming growth of the Los Angeles area during the postwar period did not bypass
Arcadia, some thirteen miles east-northeast of the city of Los Angeles. The population in
1904 was 360, and the total assessed valuation of taxable Arcadia property in 1904- 1905
was $360,405. The population in 1980 was 46,850, and the assessed valuation for 1970-1980
was $295,225,250. Although Arcadia has grown rapidly in population, it is primarily a
residential city with a large percentage of its citizens employed outside the corporate
limits. A number of small businesses are located in shopping areas scattered throughout
the city. Because of the limited area zoned for light industry, there are no sizeable
industrial plants. An industrial area in the southeast corner of the city continues to
develop with the encouragement of city officials. Formation of the Community Redevelopment
Agency in December of 1968 has exerted significant influence on the orderly expansion and
improvement of the city. In 1972 voters approved the Fashion Park shopping complex
proposed by the Santa Anita Race Track, to be built on seventy acres of its Huntington
Drive property. Santa Anita Fashion Park, containing some 144 stores in 1974, established
Arcadia as a regional shopping center. In 1984 a new hotel, the Granada Royale, now the
Embassy Suites, at the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Huntington Drive, was
completed. A new medical office building is on Race Track property wit an enclosed
pedestrian bridge over Huntington Drive to the Methodist Hospital. We also have a new Red
Cross building located on the Methodist Hospital grounds. Currently under construction is
the Arcadia Gateway Centre located on the south side of Huntington Drive between Second
and Fifth Avenues. This is a retail complex - including several fine restaurants. There is
also under construction a new office building on the northwest corner of First Avenue and
Huntington Drive. Huntington Drive is ever changing.
So - This is how we grew.
