Glendale is located between two large valleys, the San Fernando and the San Gabriel.  It is bordered to the north by the foothill communities of La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, and Tujunga.  Glendale is unique in that it has a thriving downtown area with many high rise buildings and many upscale shopping centers.

The largest employers are the City of Glendale, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Nestlé,  Glendale Memorial Medical Center, Glendale Community College, Public Storage, Glendale Unified School District, Walt Disney Imagineering, Acco Engineering Systems and Diagnostic Laboratories.  Many banks have offices in the downtown area as well. 

Glendale has many options for shopping including; Glendale Galleria which is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, Target and J. C. Penney, The Americana at Brand which is an up-scale outdoor mall (similar to The Grove in L.A.) and the Glendale Fashion Center.