North Beach, San Francisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Beach
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Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach.
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 North Beach
Location in San Francisco
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| City and county | San Francisco |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.492 sq mi (1.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 18,915 |
| • Density | 38,450/sq mi (14,844/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
94111, 94133
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| Area codes | 415/628 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1659245 |
North Beach is a lively neighborhood in the northeast part of San Francisco. It is close to Chinatown, the Financial District, and Russian Hill. This area is known as San Francisco's "Little Italy" because many Italian Americans used to live here.
Even today, you can find many Italian restaurants in North Beach. Over time, people from many different backgrounds have moved into the neighborhood. North Beach was also a famous spot for the beatnik subculture in the 1950s. It has become a popular place for nightlife and a home for young professionals, families, and Chinese immigrants.
The American Planning Association (APA) has called North Beach one of the ten "Great Neighborhoods in America."
Contents
Discovering North Beach
North Beach is surrounded by several other interesting areas. To the south, you'll find the Financial District and Chinatown. To the west is Russian Hill, and to the east is Telegraph Hill. To the north, it borders Fisherman's Wharf at Bay Street.
Key meeting points in North Beach include Union and Columbus, the southwest corner of Washington Square, and Grant Avenue and Vallejo Street. The neighborhood has many apartments, duplexes, and beautiful Victorian homes. These buildings were rebuilt after the big earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed much of the area.
North Beach Through Time
Long ago, the northeast shoreline of San Francisco was much smaller. The area we call North Beach was actually a beach! In the late 1800s, people used landfill to create more land. Then, warehouses, fishing docks, and wharves were built on this new shoreline.
After the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many Italian immigrants helped rebuild the neighborhood. They brought their culture, which is still a big part of North Beach today. Famous Italian Americans from this area include baseball star Joe DiMaggio. He grew up here and even lived in North Beach for a short time with his wife, Marilyn Monroe. Former San Francisco mayor Joseph Alioto also came from this neighborhood.
The Beat Generation Era
In the 1950s, North Beach became the heart of the Beat Generation. This was a group of writers and artists who challenged traditional ideas. Many cafes and bars in the neighborhood became their meeting places. The word "beatnik" was created here by a newspaper writer named Herb Caen.
Famous writers like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Neal Cassady lived in North Beach. Another important poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, started the City Lights Bookstore. This bookstore is still open today on Broadway and Columbus. It is an official historic landmark and a key spot for remembering the Beat Generation.
In the 1960s, a popular comedy club called The Committee opened on Broadway. Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, Broadway was home to many live music clubs, including a punk rock club called the Mabuhay Gardens.
Changes Over the Years
Since the 1980s, fewer people have moved to North Beach from Italy. This, along with gentrification (when an area becomes more expensive), has caused the number of Italian American residents to decrease. At the same time, Chinatown has grown, expanding north into North Beach. This has led to a mix of mostly Chinese residents and young professionals living in the neighborhood today. However, some Italian Americans still call North Beach home.
Musician Paul Kantner lived in North Beach until his death. He often visited Cafe Trieste, a well-known coffee shop in the area.
Things to See and Do
Events and Celebrations
- The North Beach Festival is a big street fair held every June, usually on Father's Day weekend. It takes place on Grant Avenue and Columbus Avenue and is one of the oldest street fairs in the country.
- The Italian Heritage Parade, once called the Columbus Day Parade, is the longest-running Italian heritage celebration in the United States. The parade travels from Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, along Columbus Avenue, to Washington Square, right in front of Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco. In 2018, this event celebrated its 150th anniversary!
Local Life
North Beach still feels very Italian, with many Italian restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. You can find them along Columbus Avenue and around Washington Square.
Important Buildings
- The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, named after the city's patron saint, is on Vallejo Street.
- Saints Peter and Paul Church is often called "The Italian Cathedral of the West." It stands on Filbert Street, facing Washington Square. Joe DiMaggio married his first wife there, and he came back for photos after his marriage to Marilyn Monroe. This church is a famous San Francisco landmark and an important symbol of the neighborhood's Italian American history.
- An alleyway between Columbus and Grant Avenues is named for Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac. He once lived nearby and often visited the famous City Lights Bookstore and the many coffee shops in the area.
Learning in North Beach
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) serves the area. Students in North Beach attend John Yehall Chin Elementary School, which offers a Cantonese language program.
The Academy of Art University has a building in North Beach, across from Pier 39.
The San Francisco Art Institute was also located in the northern part of North Beach, on Russian Hill, until it closed in 2022.
Famous People from North Beach
Many notable people have lived in North Beach, including:
- Frankie Crosetti (1910–2002), a Major League Baseball shortstop.
- Joe DiMaggio (1914–1999), a Hall of Fame baseball player.
- Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919–2021), a famous poet and painter.
- Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997), a well-known poet and writer.
- Jack Hirschman (1933–2021), a poet and social activist.
- Gabe Kapler (born 1975), a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager of the San Francisco Giants.
- Bob Kaufman (1925–1986), a Beat poet and artist.
- B. Kliban (1935–1990), a cartoonist.
- Peter Macchiarini (1909–2001), a Modernist jeweler and sculptor.
- Marino Pieretti (1920–1981), an MLB baseball player.
- A. D. Winans (born 1936), a poet and writer.
Images for kids
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Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach.
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View of North Beach from Telegraph Hill, 1856
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Carol Doda's Condor Club in 1973
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View of Green Street looking west towards Columbus Avenue.
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Looking southeast from Columbus Avenue (on the left) and Stockton (on the right). The Transamerica Pyramid is visible in the background on Columbus Avenue.
See also
In Spanish: North Beach (San Francisco) para niños
