Arcadia is a U.S. city in Los Angeles County, California that is located about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It is the site of the Santa Anita Park racetrack and home to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,054. The estimate for 2005 is a population of 56,565.

Economy

In 2006, the median income for a household in the city was $69.241. Males had a median income of $70,594 versus $46,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,400. About 2.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.^{[citation needed]}

Arcadia's economy is driven by wholesale trade, retail trade, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation. Revenue from the Santa Anita Racetrack has long supported capital improvements for the City of Arcadia, resulting in the City having very little bonded indebtedness.

The Westfield Santa Anita mall (formerly the Santa Anita Fashion Park) is a major shopping center in the city. In 2005, the Westfield Santa Anita completed its first phase of expansion featuring a new food court, Sport Chalet, Borders Books and Music, Dave & Busters, numerous smaller retailers, various full-service eateries in an area known as Restaurant Square, and a 16-screen AMC Theatres.

Currently, there is a proposal by Caruso Affiliated and Magna Entertainment to build a second large shopping mall adjacent to Westfield Santa Anita on the grounds of the Santa Anita Park racetrack. The controversial project, known as "The Shops at Santa Anita", has prompted heated debate among some residents in the community and enormous spending by corporate interests in favor and against the project. If the second mall is built, the combined size of the two malls will make Arcadia the largest retail shopping district in Los Angeles county.

In 2006, CNN and Money Magazine compiled a list of United States cities with the most expensive home prices. Arcadia ranked#19 in the country with an average home price of $703,000.

Sights

The Los Angeles County Arboretum is located in Arcadia across from the Santa Anita mall and racetrack. It is a popular attraction especially for the flock of peacocks that inhabit the neighborhood near the arboretum. The Arcadia Festival of Bands is a popular local yearly event.

Sister Cities

Arcadia has one sister city (Newcastle, Australia ) WOWCITY - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI). Consequently, on Colorado Boulevard is Newcastle Park. There is also an Arcadia Park in Newcastle.

External links

• City of Arcadia official website
• Arcadia Police Officers' Association official website
• Arcadia's Best
• Arcadia Invitational - U.S. High School Track and Field Meet (Arcadia Invitational)
• Arcadia Unified School District website
• Arcadia High School website
• Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden official website
• Page about movies and television shows filmed at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum
• Westfield Santa Anita
• Arcadia Snapshot, CNN & Money Magazine
• My Arcadia News