Get to Know: The Richmond District

Image by Patricia Silva, @patrix15 on Instagram. Used with permission.

The Richmond District is a large residential area in the northwestern corner of San Francisco in SFAR’s District 1, comprised of three sub-neighborhoods: The Inner, Central, and Outer Richmonds. The entire tract is bounded by California or Clement Street to the north and Fulton Street to the south. The Inner Richmond encompasses the stretch from Arguello to Park Presidio; Central Richmond goes from Park Presidio to 32nd Avenue; and Outer Richmond from 32nd to 42nd Avenue, at the beach.

As with most of San Francisco, the area was almost entirely sand dunes prior to development. After the 1906 quake and fire, when many sought shelter and refuge in Golden Gate Park, development of the Richmond District kicked into high gear to meet the rising demand for housing in the Western Neighborhoods. The architecture is reflective of the time, with plenty of Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, and other early 20th-century styles.

The area has robust commercial zones that line California and Clement Streets, and to somewhat lesser extent Balboa Street, particularly in the Outer Richmond. It’s a foodie’s paradise, with a kaleidoscopic array of restaurants influenced by immigration from around the world. A few highlights are in the map below.

Perhaps the greatest draw to the Richmond is its access to so much of the city’s great parkland: Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, Land’s End, and Ocean Beach flank it on three sides. There are also plenty of transit options to take commuters straight downtown in minutes.

Interested in checking out the Richmond? Contact me, and we’ll go together.