Mission Hills, San Diego facts for kids
Mission Hills is a lovely neighborhood in San Diego, California, United States. It sits on hills just south of the San Diego River valley. From Mission Hills, you can see amazing views of downtown San Diego, Old Town, and San Diego Bay.
This area is mostly for homes, but it also has cool shops and restaurants. You can find these along Washington Street and in other small areas. Many of the oldest houses in Mission Hills were built between 1908 and 1930. They come in many different styles, like Craftsman, Prairie School, and Spanish Colonial Revival.
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Where is Mission Hills Located?
The city of San Diego divides Mission Hills into two parts: North Mission Hills and South Mission Hills. Washington Street is the line that separates them.
North Mission Hills is the area north of Washington Street. It is:
- East of Old Town
- West of Dove Street and Hillcrest
- South of Mission Valley
South Mission Hills is the area south of Washington Street. It includes older parts of the neighborhood. It is:
- East of India Street and Middletown
- North of Palm Street
- West of Reynard Way and Dove Street
Mission Hills shares the 92103 zip code with Hillcrest. It is also part of San Diego's Uptown community planning area.
A Look at Mission Hills History
Mission Hills started to grow in the early 1900s. Many of the houses from that time are still standing today. People often work hard to keep them looking nice and original. Famous San Diego architects like William Hebbard and Richard Requa designed many of these homes.
From 1910 to 1939, streetcars connected Mission Hills to the rest of the city. These streetcars helped the neighborhood grow. You can still see where the streetcar stops used to be, with small groups of shops built around them.
The original shopping area is around Washington and Goldfinch streets. Two old buildings there, the Ace Drugstore (from 1913) and the Funcheon Building (from 1929), have been updated. This area is now called "Paseo de Mission Hills" and has a historic "Mission Hills" sign.
Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, new, modern homes were built along the edges of the canyons. These were designed by other famous architects like Lloyd Ruocco.
A very important person in Mission Hills history is Kate Sessions. She was a famous plant expert, also known as a horticulturalist. She started the Mission Hills Nursery in 1910, which is still open today! She helped shape how the neighborhood looks with its plants and gardens.
Main Streets in Mission Hills
The main streets for businesses are University Avenue and Washington Street. Other big streets include Fort Stockton Drive and Sunset Boulevard. Many of the streets that run north to south are named after birds, in alphabetical order from Albatross to Lark. Old streetcar tracks were built along some of these main roads, like Fort Stockton Drive.
Special Architecture and Historic Areas
Mission Hills has two special historic districts that the City of San Diego officially recognizes:
- Fort Stockton Line Historic District
- Mission Hills Historic District
These districts help protect the old buildings and the unique look of the neighborhood.
Parks and Fun Things to Do
Mission Hills has great places to play and relax. Pioneer Park and Mission Hills Park are two popular spots in the neighborhood.
In 2019, the San Diego Public Library opened a brand new library called the Mission Hills-Hillcrest/Harley & Bessie Knox Library. It's a big, beautiful building in the Craftsman style. This new library replaced an older one that used to serve both Mission Hills and Hillcrest.
If you like being outdoors, Mission Hills has two canyons with trails for hiking. These are Robyn's Egg Trail and the Allen Road Canyon Trail. They are great for exploring nature!
Schools in Mission Hills
Public schools in Mission Hills are part of the San Diego Unified School District. The main public elementary school is Ulysses S. Grant Elementary School, which teaches students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Since there isn't a public high school right in Mission Hills, students can choose to go to Point Loma High School or San Diego High School.
There are also several private schools in Mission Hills. One of the most well-known is the lower school campus of the Francis Parker School. This school was started in 1912 and was known for its modern teaching ideas.
See also
In Spanish: Mission Hills (San Diego) para niños
