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Ocean View

The Ocean View district has always been intrinsically tied to transportation. Started as a community built around a railway station, the Ocean View grew from a valley of dairy and vegetable farms to a vital urban neighborhood.

Alemany Boulevard, the Interstate 280 freeway, and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) took the place of the old steam locomotives, as the Ocean View continues to host the paths from San Francisco to the Peninsula.

Originally an Italian-Irish-German neighborhood, the Ocean View was one of the few places in post-World War II San Francisco where African-American families could buy property. During redevelopment in the Western Addition/Fillmore in the 1960s and 70s, more African-American families moved to this western neighborhood. In the past five years, relatively lower real estate prices have brought in a new influx of Asians, Latinos and Caucasians, making Ocean View one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco.

A lack of vital services in the area is an ongoing concern. A few landmark businesses, such as Reno's Barber Shop (opened 1960) and Furlough's Tonsorial Parlor (1955) continue on. The new Ocean View library was a major triumph for the often neglected neighborhood, and community groups have had marked success fighting drug dealing and crime over the past ten years. Ocean View Recreation Center and Park plays host to soccer games, children's programs, theatrical productions and all sorts of community events.

History of Ocean View, by Marsha Fontes, 1993.

Historical Photos of Ocean View

Image: Farralones and Capitol streets, looking south about 1910. Courtesy of Greg Gaar.

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This project is made possible by a grant from the CALIFORNIA COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES with generous support from the San Francisco Foundation, as part of the Council's statewide California Stories Initiative. The COUNCIL is an independent non-profit organization and a state affiliate of the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES. For more information on the Council and the California Stories Initiative, visit www.californiastories.org.

Page launched 26 May 2003.