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San Francisco In Depth
Officially named the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco is the only consolidated city-county (a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction) in California. The city-county of San Francisco encompasses a land area of about 46.9 square miles on the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula. Although San Francisco itself has a population of 812,826, the entire San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 4,455,560. In terms of the most densely populated large cities, San Francisco tops the list in California and sits second in the entire United States only behind New York City. In terms of population, San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and 14th in the United States.
Demographics (2011 U.S. Census Data)
Education
San Francisco’s neighborhoods display an eclectic range of histories, cultures and demographics; no neighborhood is quite like the next. With so much diversity available, interested residents don’t need to settle for second best since they have a lot of choice when it comes to finding a community that fits their particular needs and wants. Whether a new resident is a single business professional, a married graduate student or the breadwinner of a family household, San Francisco has a neighborhood that exemplifies their lifestyle. Plus, change is the pinnacle of personal growth, so if your initial San Francisco neighborhood doesn’t sustain your interests and lifestyle for long, there’s always a perfect fit nearby for you to call home in the Bay Area. Visit the City and County of San Francisco’s website at www.ci.sf.ca.us for a complete listing of the areas, but following are descriptions of the most popular neighborhoods.
Alamo Square
Alamo Square encompasses the four blocks that surround Alamo Square Park, most famous for its row of six colorful Victorian-style “Painted Ladies.” Attractions in the neighborhood include the Imperial Russian Consulate of the czarist days, the Archbishop’s Mansion (now a bed and breakfast) and the French-American School. The adjacent Fillmore Street is undergoing a renaissance with a spectacular mix of restaurants, galleries and restored jazz clubs that will be designated at a Jazz Preservation District.
Ashbury Heights
Up the hill from the Haight Ashbury neighborhood is the quaint Ashbury Heights, which was developed as part of a tract called Ashbury Park in 1911. A great feature of this neighborhood is a small park called Mt. Olympus, which is great for picnicking and dog walking atop the hill’s summit.
Bayview/Hunters Point
A working-class neighborhood on the southeast side of the city, Bayview/Hunters Point is near the formal naval shipyard and Candlestick Park, the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Here you’ll find a mix of single-family homes, apartments and factories. The main commercial strip in the area is Third Street. The Hunters Point section was the site for the first permanent dry dock on the entire Pacific Coast. An industrial area in the past, the Third Street light rail system is starting to create new housing and business opportunities.
Bernal Heights
To the south of the Mission District is Bernal Heights, a residential neighborhood identified by open parkland and a microwave tower on top of Bernal Heights Summit. Precita Park and Holly Park provide green areas for children to play, and the local branch of the San Francisco Public Library has a regular schedule of child-friendly activities, making the area an ideal location for young middle-class families. The northern slope of the area’s terrain is home to a thriving ecosystem that includes a variety of local plants and wildlife. In recent years, the area has seen a slow trend of young business professionals replacing the resident working-class population.
Buena Vista Hill
Adjacent to Ashbury Heights, Buena Vista Hill is home to the most heavily forested area of San Francisco, Buena Vista Park. The steep slopes in the neighborhood are lined with baroque-style mansions, restored Victorians, single-family homes and apartments.
The Castro
The Castro is an enclave of Eureka Valley that has a distinct cultural history. Considered the world’s largest residential gay neighborhood, it was the site of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) political activism of the 1960s and ’70s. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office, began his activism work from his camera shop in The Castro. The neighborhood is enjoyable and always draws visitors, but it comes into its own at nightfall with a roster of bars and dance clubs that creates a one-of-a-kind nightlife enjoyed by bar hoppers of all persuasions. Compared to other entertainment districts around the country, The Castro remains a safe neighborhood after dark.
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest in North America. Begun when the first Chinese immigrants came to the area in 1848, San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco where residents and visitors enjoy fantastic restaurants and beautiful Asian-inspired architecture on every corner. Festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate and promote the Chinese culture.
Officially named the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco is the only consolidated city-county (a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction) in California. The city-county of San Francisco encompasses a land area of about 46.9 square miles on the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula. Although San Francisco itself has a population of 812,826, the entire San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 4,455,560. In terms of the most densely populated large cities, San Francisco tops the list in California and sits second in the entire United States only behind New York City. In terms of population, San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and 14th in the United States.
Demographics (2011 U.S. Census Data)
- Population................................................812,826
- Population Growth (2010–11)...............0.9%
- Persons Per Square Mile......................17,179.1
Education
- School District: San Francisco
- Total Public School Enrollment (2011–12): 55,000
- Educational Attainment (adult population)
- High school diploma..........................85.7%
- College degrees..................................51.4%
San Francisco’s neighborhoods display an eclectic range of histories, cultures and demographics; no neighborhood is quite like the next. With so much diversity available, interested residents don’t need to settle for second best since they have a lot of choice when it comes to finding a community that fits their particular needs and wants. Whether a new resident is a single business professional, a married graduate student or the breadwinner of a family household, San Francisco has a neighborhood that exemplifies their lifestyle. Plus, change is the pinnacle of personal growth, so if your initial San Francisco neighborhood doesn’t sustain your interests and lifestyle for long, there’s always a perfect fit nearby for you to call home in the Bay Area. Visit the City and County of San Francisco’s website at www.ci.sf.ca.us for a complete listing of the areas, but following are descriptions of the most popular neighborhoods.
Alamo Square
Alamo Square encompasses the four blocks that surround Alamo Square Park, most famous for its row of six colorful Victorian-style “Painted Ladies.” Attractions in the neighborhood include the Imperial Russian Consulate of the czarist days, the Archbishop’s Mansion (now a bed and breakfast) and the French-American School. The adjacent Fillmore Street is undergoing a renaissance with a spectacular mix of restaurants, galleries and restored jazz clubs that will be designated at a Jazz Preservation District.
Ashbury Heights
Up the hill from the Haight Ashbury neighborhood is the quaint Ashbury Heights, which was developed as part of a tract called Ashbury Park in 1911. A great feature of this neighborhood is a small park called Mt. Olympus, which is great for picnicking and dog walking atop the hill’s summit.
Bayview/Hunters Point
A working-class neighborhood on the southeast side of the city, Bayview/Hunters Point is near the formal naval shipyard and Candlestick Park, the home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Here you’ll find a mix of single-family homes, apartments and factories. The main commercial strip in the area is Third Street. The Hunters Point section was the site for the first permanent dry dock on the entire Pacific Coast. An industrial area in the past, the Third Street light rail system is starting to create new housing and business opportunities.
Bernal Heights
To the south of the Mission District is Bernal Heights, a residential neighborhood identified by open parkland and a microwave tower on top of Bernal Heights Summit. Precita Park and Holly Park provide green areas for children to play, and the local branch of the San Francisco Public Library has a regular schedule of child-friendly activities, making the area an ideal location for young middle-class families. The northern slope of the area’s terrain is home to a thriving ecosystem that includes a variety of local plants and wildlife. In recent years, the area has seen a slow trend of young business professionals replacing the resident working-class population.
Buena Vista Hill
Adjacent to Ashbury Heights, Buena Vista Hill is home to the most heavily forested area of San Francisco, Buena Vista Park. The steep slopes in the neighborhood are lined with baroque-style mansions, restored Victorians, single-family homes and apartments.
The Castro
The Castro is an enclave of Eureka Valley that has a distinct cultural history. Considered the world’s largest residential gay neighborhood, it was the site of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) political activism of the 1960s and ’70s. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office, began his activism work from his camera shop in The Castro. The neighborhood is enjoyable and always draws visitors, but it comes into its own at nightfall with a roster of bars and dance clubs that creates a one-of-a-kind nightlife enjoyed by bar hoppers of all persuasions. Compared to other entertainment districts around the country, The Castro remains a safe neighborhood after dark.
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia as well as the oldest in North America. Begun when the first Chinese immigrants came to the area in 1848, San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco where residents and visitors enjoy fantastic restaurants and beautiful Asian-inspired architecture on every corner. Festivals are held throughout the year to celebrate and promote the Chinese culture.
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