Why Glendale?

[Hye Ishkhan]

Hey, everybody, my name is Narek and I just joined this forum recently. Have been reading the posts for about a month now and finally decided to register and participate.

 

I live in Glendale, like most Armenians, but never understood why it became such a huge haven for Armenian immigrants... I know theres Armenians centered in large cities around the world, but wow, here we are EVERYWHERE. An Armenian could go through his day here perfectly sound without speaking a word of English.

 

So anyways, there are a lot of very intelligent people here, hope somebody could respond to this one for me. Thanks!

[vava]

Hey, everybody, my name is Narek and I just joined this forum recently. Have been reading the posts for about a month now and finally decided to register and participate.

 

I live in Glendale, like most Armenians, but never understood why it became such a huge haven for Armenian immigrants... I know theres Armenians centered in large cities around the world, but wow, here we are EVERYWHERE. An Armenian could go through his day here perfectly sound without speaking a word of English.

 

So anyways, there are a lot of very intelligent people here, hope somebody could respond to this one for me. Thanks!

 

I can't help you with an answer to your question - "Why Glendale?" - actually I believe many of the early Armenian immigrants to the US would have been based in the northeast - Boston, NY, etc. although there were significant early communities around Fresno. Maybe some of the other members will have a better answer. In any case, welcome to HF.

[phantom22]

Excerpt from:

 

From Settlement to Metropolis

 

From the Gabrielino Indians who first settled in Glendale and the surrounding foothills to the teeming city of more than 200,000 we live in today, the Jewel City has had a long and storied history.

 

By Fred Ortega, News-Press and Leader

 

 

 

The '80s also saw the growth of immigrant populations in Glendale, with a survey showing a quarter of the city's students were Armenian and another 25% Hispanic. By the late 1990s, between 40,000 and 50,000 people -- a quarter of the city's population -- was Armenian. The city's first Armenian councilman and mayor, Larry Zarian, was elected in 1983 and went on to serve for 16 years.

 

Zarian traced the catalyst for Glendale becoming a magnet for Armenian migration to the establishment of St. Mary's Church and school in the city in the 1970s.

 

"Anywhere in the world where you find a church and school, people will want to be near it," Zarian told the News-Press in the late 1990s. "Glendale had an appealing educational system, safety and beauty and it was a clean, wonderful environment."

 

 

I can't help you with an answer to your question - "Why Glendale?" - actually I believe many of the early Armenian immigrants to the US would have been based in the northeast - Boston, NY, etc. although there were significant early communities around Fresno. Maybe some of the other members will have a better answer. In any case, welcome to HF.

[Arpa]

Why Glendale?

To understand Glendale one must look at the former “Californian capital of Armenia”- Pasadena.

Our own king of Pasadena , MosJan will tell you. There is an article in the November, 1998 issue of AIM magazine, where the transition from Pasadena to Glendale is touched upon.. One can google it but it is only a concise intro of the article.

Also, not to forget the original California Armenian capital- Fresno.

Edited May 29, 2006 by Arpa