Altadena: A Little Bit Country and a Litte Bit City

I remember growing up in the rural south. In some areas there were dirt or gravel roads. Since my town was primarily an agricultural area, there was no need for things such as sidewalks or streetlights or many things you would see in large city where there was more foot traffic of people going back and forth in an urban atmosphere.

Therefore, at ground level, things are much different in how rural towns work rather than how the more urban or metropolitan cities work. Even though we could all be citizens of the same state with the same fundamental rights as taxpaying citizens, the way things operate on the ground level could be “night and day” differences.

Even though Altadena is a suburban area, we are not urban or metropolitan. You might see a horse riding down the public streets here or homes with stables, chickens or other farm animals. You might even have to swerve to avoid hitting a raccoon family driving through our partially unlit streets late at night.

You might notice the flavor of things associated with the rural country such as large garden spaces or ever-larger orchards of fruit trees, especially on the extra-large lots up next to the foothills.

I suppose one distinct difference would be the absence of the large commercial agricultural lots. Looking back over the history of Altadena at one point most of this area was once primarily orange groves.

For the most part I think Altadena’s charm is this great eclectic mixture of a little country and a little suburban. We are rural enough to have horses, but city enough to have a community center and business district, even if it does need improvement.

Part of our charm is the fact that we are not what cities such as Pasadena, Los Angeles, Glendale or Burbank offers. We are not run or operated like them, either. I suppose if people wanted those vibes in the place they call home they wouldn’t have settled in Altadena.

An Eclectic Mix

With our eclectic mixture that we have in Altadena, the package comes with its unique style of government and leadership. We don’t have a City Hall with a mayor and a body of government as does the incorporated cities.

For the most part the people who live here appreciate what we have. They like seeing an occasional horse riding on the public streets. I’m not too sure everyone likes to be awakened by a rooster crowing, but that too is part of our flavor.

Just this summer there were a few peacocks parading up and down my street like this area belongs to them. Our many critters raid our gardens as though we planted our fruit and vegetables just for them. I even had to go to war with the ground squirrels and tree squirrels over my tomato plants this summer season. In fact they were able to eat more then my family from my garden.

I’m not sure if Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale have the same issues with critters as we do by living so close to the wilderness, but what can you do, this is Altadena. 

So like it or not, or agree with how it operates, or not, Altadena has its own charm. Though it may not be as appealing to all alike, our quaint little mixture is what makes us the unique town we are.

I’m sure some would prefer more popular businesses such as Starbucks or a market like Whole Foods. Some might even want a Walmarts or a Target up here, not to mention a Home Depot.

But then there are also some who would want more agricultural lots to grow their own fruits and vegetables. And I’m sure the young bunch would like to have more arcades or strip malls with video games and hip-places for the young to chill out.

In reality most of those things are better served where they currently are, leaving us with our little “peace” of the pie. Some like quiet and some want it busier. The elders want to keep it slow and the youth want to speed it up.

But in the end, we are Altadena and that in itself is something unique among the many neighboring towns. We are a little country and a little city at the same time.