Dogtown, Oakland, California facts for kids
Dogtown is a special nickname for a part of West Oakland in Oakland, California. This area is officially known as Clawson. The name "Dogtown" was first used by Oakland Police officers. They started calling it this because there were many stray dogs living there in the early 1980s.
What is Dogtown?
Dogtown is a unique neighborhood within the larger city of Oakland. It got its unusual name from a simple observation. Police officers noticed a large number of dogs without homes in the area. This led them to coin the catchy nickname that stuck.
Where is Dogtown Located?
Dogtown has clear borders that help you find it on a map.
- To the east, it is next to Adeline Street.
- On the west side, its border is Mandela Parkway. This parkway was once known as the Cypress Street Viaduct.
- Its northern limit is the 580 freeway.
- To the south, it extends to 28th Street.
These boundaries help define this specific part of West Oakland.
How is Dogtown Changing?
Dogtown is currently going through many exciting changes. In the past, this area was mostly used for factories and industrial businesses. Now, it is being redeveloped. This means old buildings are being updated or new ones are being built. Many of these new buildings are for people to live in. Some are "live-work" spaces, where people can both live and run their businesses. This transformation is bringing new life and new residents to Dogtown.
