When comparing Arcadia during it’s incorporation as a city in the early 1900’s to what it is now, it is a completely different city today than when it was founded. Arcadia, Ca initially started to boom based on sporting, gambling, and entertainment. Since the Postwar period in the 1950’s Arcadia has grown to be an upper-middle class suburban residential community known for having low crime rates and a great school district. For 2009 and 2010 Arcadia was voted by Business Week Magazine to be the best place in California to raise kids.

Arcadia today is still a great place for entertainment with an extensive shopping mall, the Los Angeles Arboretum, and the famed Santa Anita Racetrack. Although the city is no longer known for gambling and sport like in its early days, the Santa Anita Park thoroughbred racetrack continues to hold prominent racing events, bringing in great revenue for the city.