Chapter 11: Neighborhoods
Even though San Francisco is a small sized city, there are many different neighborhoods or districts that exist, each with a distinct style and flavor. I've written a little about each area based on the map above.
This is the area where Golden Gate Park resides and the Presidio. It is also popular for its many critically acclaimed restaurants and shopping. Historically it was a Jewish and Italian area, but after WWII it became more Chinese, to which it is now referred to as the “New Chinatown.”
This district borders the south of Golden Gate Park. It is a primarily residential area built on a grid. It contains the campus of the University of California, San Francisco, and is called to as “The Avenues.”
The Castor is probably best known as the “Gay” area of the City, but because of many Victorian homes, it does contain “straight” residents and families. In fact, there is a gentrification of young families with children moving in the last few years. Historically it was dairy farms and dirt roads, inhabited by Mexican land barons and European homesteaders. It is now a popular place for late nightclubs and is one of the safest neighborhoods in the City.
Noe Valley is a socially/shopper friendly place. It is filled with family residences with a mixed economic and political diversity--, from working class, dot.comers, millionaires, and Hollywood film crews, liberal and conservatives alike. It was named after the last Mexican Mayor of the area Jose de Jesus Noe. Though gentrification, property has risen to the millions.
Twin Peaks is named after the two hills that sit in the surrounding neighborhood. The peaks themselves, 922 feet high, 31 acres of undeveloped land. It is a popular hiking spot and contains a bird sanctuary.
The Marina was developed after the big earthquake of 1906 (in fact there is a myth that the area was built on dumped rubble from the earthquake). It is filled with upper scale apartment buildings and restaurants. Historically, this is the area where Native Americans resided.
The Presidio which sits in the Marina neighborhood used to be a Spanish Military base. It is now a historic landmark, run by the Golden Gate Park National Park.
Pacific Heights is the most luxurious of all the City’s neighborhoods. There are Victorian mansions, which were built after the earthquake, and you’ll find some of the greatest views of the whole City. For this reason, it is a tourist attraction.
The Height-Ashbury district is another well known district as the Hippy Mecca in the 1960s. There are actually two streets that intersect named Height & Ashbury for which it gets its name. The bohemian hippy subculture mentality still prevails in this area, although some mainstream stores do exist here, it consists of mostly indipendedntly own stores.
This area is the most commercial and tourist visited area. Fisherman’s Warf and Downtown contain many, many mainstream stores and tourist kitschy stores. Union Square in downtown is literally a square park flanked by mounds of department and fashion stores. One can ride the famous cable cars around this area. Despite its tourist appeal, it is an entertaining area.
Chinatown, although visited by tourist, does not really cater to tourist, per se. It is a thriving Chinese community. Statistically it draws more tourist than Golden Gate Bridge!
Russian Hill is a mostly residential neighborhood, charmed by coffeshops, unusual stores and antique shops. The famous crooked street, Lombard, runs down the hill. The place got its name from goldminers who discovered several tombstones containing Russian writing on them. The best guest of their identity were fur traders or sailors. The tombstones were never preserved and lost, but the nickname “Russian Hill” stuck. The names does not imply a large Russian community here. The actual Russian community in the City exist in the Richmond district.
Noe Hill is another highly affluent area, probably the first rich area that comes to mind in San Francisco, mainly because this is where the “old money” resides (for this reason, and it is easy, it has the nickname “Snob Hill”). Rows of mansions fill the streets. It is also famous for the many movies that have been filmed in the area such as “The Rock,” “Vertigo,” “Dirty Harry,” and the 1980’s TV series “Full House.”
The Mission district is where the “spice of life” is. For one, it is the highest concentration of Latin Americans (and their ethnic foods, i.e. Salvadorian, Nicaraguan, Mexican) and figuratively because of the many popular nightclubs that line Valencia Street. It is a artsy/hipster place and reminds me a lot of Echo Park/Silverlake in Los Angles, only cooler, lol!
Bernal Heights is the forgotten area of San Francisco, situated to the South of the Mission district. It is a quiet neighborhood that attracts artist, progressives and has a large lesbian population. It is attractive to first homebuyers and dog lovers, as it is one of the few areas where you can get a house with a small yard (most houses in the City lack yards, and apartments do no contain yards). Through gentrification, it has lost its reputation as being a dangerous area filled with drugs and violence. Historically this area was a rancho owned by Jose Cornello de Bernal and during the 1906 earthquakes this area did not suffer as much damage due to the fact that it sits on a bedrock foundation.
Excelsior district is an area that runs along south of Interstate 280, with its intersections being Mission Street and Ocean Avenue. It is the most ethnically diverse area. The area over the years has tried to gain attraction through development and entertainment festivals that celebrate its diversity and present culture. Gerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead grew up in the area, so there is a “Jerry Day” celebration near his birthday, August 5, attracting thousands yearly. The McLaren Park Amphitheater was renamed the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater on July 21, 2005. This is where Jerry Day is held.
Bayview is a small district that stretches along Third Street, south of Evans Avenue. Its Neighborhood History Preservation Project is housed there. There are urban gardens and public art projects that have been developed entirely by the residents, who are organized and call themselves the Quesada Garden Initiative.
Hunters Point is west of Bayview is home to the Shipyards. It also boasts the warmest area in the City. It also contains toxic waste yards (wonder if that affects the climate). Since the 1950’s it has been a Afro-American community, Blacks who migrated from the Southern states seeking work in the shipyards.
District 1 – Richmond/Laurel Heights
This is the area where Golden Gate Park resides and the Presidio. It is also popular for its many critically acclaimed restaurants and shopping. Historically it was a Jewish and Italian area, but after WWII it became more Chinese, to which it is now referred to as the “New Chinatown.”
District 2 & 3 – Sunset
This district borders the south of Golden Gate Park. It is a primarily residential area built on a grid. It contains the campus of the University of California, San Francisco, and is called to as “The Avenues.”
District 4 & 5 – Castro/Noe Valley – Twin Peaks
The Castor is probably best known as the “Gay” area of the City, but because of many Victorian homes, it does contain “straight” residents and families. In fact, there is a gentrification of young families with children moving in the last few years. Historically it was dairy farms and dirt roads, inhabited by Mexican land barons and European homesteaders. It is now a popular place for late nightclubs and is one of the safest neighborhoods in the City.
Noe Valley is a socially/shopper friendly place. It is filled with family residences with a mixed economic and political diversity--, from working class, dot.comers, millionaires, and Hollywood film crews, liberal and conservatives alike. It was named after the last Mexican Mayor of the area Jose de Jesus Noe. Though gentrification, property has risen to the millions.
Twin Peaks is named after the two hills that sit in the surrounding neighborhood. The peaks themselves, 922 feet high, 31 acres of undeveloped land. It is a popular hiking spot and contains a bird sanctuary.
District 6 & 7 – Marina/Presidio – Pacific Heights – The Height-Ashbury
The Marina was developed after the big earthquake of 1906 (in fact there is a myth that the area was built on dumped rubble from the earthquake). It is filled with upper scale apartment buildings and restaurants. Historically, this is the area where Native Americans resided.
The Presidio which sits in the Marina neighborhood used to be a Spanish Military base. It is now a historic landmark, run by the Golden Gate Park National Park.
Pacific Heights is the most luxurious of all the City’s neighborhoods. There are Victorian mansions, which were built after the earthquake, and you’ll find some of the greatest views of the whole City. For this reason, it is a tourist attraction.
The Height-Ashbury district is another well known district as the Hippy Mecca in the 1960s. There are actually two streets that intersect named Height & Ashbury for which it gets its name. The bohemian hippy subculture mentality still prevails in this area, although some mainstream stores do exist here, it consists of mostly indipendedntly own stores.
District 8 & 9 – Fishermans Warf – Chinatown/North Beach – Russian/Nob Hill – Downtown – Soma/Potero Hills – Mission/Bernal Heights
This area is the most commercial and tourist visited area. Fisherman’s Warf and Downtown contain many, many mainstream stores and tourist kitschy stores. Union Square in downtown is literally a square park flanked by mounds of department and fashion stores. One can ride the famous cable cars around this area. Despite its tourist appeal, it is an entertaining area.
Chinatown, although visited by tourist, does not really cater to tourist, per se. It is a thriving Chinese community. Statistically it draws more tourist than Golden Gate Bridge!
Russian Hill is a mostly residential neighborhood, charmed by coffeshops, unusual stores and antique shops. The famous crooked street, Lombard, runs down the hill. The place got its name from goldminers who discovered several tombstones containing Russian writing on them. The best guest of their identity were fur traders or sailors. The tombstones were never preserved and lost, but the nickname “Russian Hill” stuck. The names does not imply a large Russian community here. The actual Russian community in the City exist in the Richmond district.
Noe Hill is another highly affluent area, probably the first rich area that comes to mind in San Francisco, mainly because this is where the “old money” resides (for this reason, and it is easy, it has the nickname “Snob Hill”). Rows of mansions fill the streets. It is also famous for the many movies that have been filmed in the area such as “The Rock,” “Vertigo,” “Dirty Harry,” and the 1980’s TV series “Full House.”
The Mission district is where the “spice of life” is. For one, it is the highest concentration of Latin Americans (and their ethnic foods, i.e. Salvadorian, Nicaraguan, Mexican) and figuratively because of the many popular nightclubs that line Valencia Street. It is a artsy/hipster place and reminds me a lot of Echo Park/Silverlake in Los Angles, only cooler, lol!
Bernal Heights is the forgotten area of San Francisco, situated to the South of the Mission district. It is a quiet neighborhood that attracts artist, progressives and has a large lesbian population. It is attractive to first homebuyers and dog lovers, as it is one of the few areas where you can get a house with a small yard (most houses in the City lack yards, and apartments do no contain yards). Through gentrification, it has lost its reputation as being a dangerous area filled with drugs and violence. Historically this area was a rancho owned by Jose Cornello de Bernal and during the 1906 earthquakes this area did not suffer as much damage due to the fact that it sits on a bedrock foundation.
District 10 – Excelsior/Bayview – Hunters Point
Excelsior district is an area that runs along south of Interstate 280, with its intersections being Mission Street and Ocean Avenue. It is the most ethnically diverse area. The area over the years has tried to gain attraction through development and entertainment festivals that celebrate its diversity and present culture. Gerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead grew up in the area, so there is a “Jerry Day” celebration near his birthday, August 5, attracting thousands yearly. The McLaren Park Amphitheater was renamed the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater on July 21, 2005. This is where Jerry Day is held.
Bayview is a small district that stretches along Third Street, south of Evans Avenue. Its Neighborhood History Preservation Project is housed there. There are urban gardens and public art projects that have been developed entirely by the residents, who are organized and call themselves the Quesada Garden Initiative.
Hunters Point is west of Bayview is home to the Shipyards. It also boasts the warmest area in the City. It also contains toxic waste yards (wonder if that affects the climate). Since the 1950’s it has been a Afro-American community, Blacks who migrated from the Southern states seeking work in the shipyards.
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