Arcadia is a city in Los Angeles County, California, set in the San Gabriel Valley just east of Pasadena and against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. With a population of about 56,000, it is an established, affluent suburb distinguished by two institutions of national note: Santa Anita Park and the Los Angeles County Arboretum. The city was founded by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin, a colorful real-estate investor who incorporated Arcadia in 1903 and built the original Santa Anita racetrack on his estate in 1907. The present Santa Anita Park — an Art Deco landmark designed by Gordon Kaufmann — opened on Christmas Day in 1934 and remains one of the country's premier Thoroughbred venues, home to the Santa Anita Derby and other prominent races. Across the street lies the 127-acre Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, a museum of plant collections from around the world and an animal sanctuary. Its most famous residents are the peafowl that Baldwin imported from India roughly a century ago; more than 200 of the birds live at the Arboretum, and their descendants still roam freely through Arcadia's neighborhoods, giving the city its most charming quirk. Schools are central to Arcadia's identity. The Arcadia Unified School District has been ranked among the top one percent of districts nationwide, and its schools regularly earn California Distinguished School recognition — a key reason the city attracts families. The city's location adds everyday convenience, with the 210 Freeway and light rail connecting it to Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles. For those seeking a well-regarded, family-oriented San Gabriel Valley community with landmark attractions, strong schools, and a touch of the unexpected, Arcadia stands apart.