The city of Pasadena is located in Los Angeles County in the northwestern portion of the San Gabriel Valley. Pasadena covers an area of 23 square miles and is bounded on the west by the cities of Los Angeles, Glendale, La Cañada, on the south by South Pasadena and San Marino, on the east by Arcadia and Sierra Madre, and on the north by the unincorporated community of Altadena. The city’s population as of 2018, as reported by the California Department of Finance, is estimated at 146,312.
Pasadena was incorporated in 1886 and became a charter city in 1901. Pasadena has a council-manager form of government with seven council districts each electing a council member for a four year term. Beginning in May 1999, the mayor became an at-large elected position serving a four-year term. The vice-mayor is a council member selected by the council, traditionally for two consecutive one-year terms.