Mission District

The Mission District of San Francisco, California is a neighborhood in the city with plenty of character. It is the sixth Alta California Mission named for San Francisco de Asis. The actual mission is the oldest building in the neighborhood that visitors may want to see.

Mission Street is the main avenue through the neighborhood, where most of the shops, stores, and restaurants are located. The borders of the neighborhood include Route 101 to the east and west, with Potrero Hill and Eureka Valley on the east and west. Valencia and Dolores Streets are the north and south borders, with Bernal Heights and South of Market for the south and north neighborhoods.

Mission District is known for its microclimates, which means the district can have a markedly different climate than the rest of San Francisco and the state. Another interesting fact about the district is the land it is built on. Mission District was once land for the Yelamu Indians, roughly 2,000 years ago. Spanish Missionaries settled the area in the late 18th century. The main draw to the area was Mission Creek providing a water source for survival. This district has seen a revitalization in the new millennium, wiping out most unsavory gang activity.