Oakland Point, Oakland, California facts for kids
Oakland Point, also known as Gibbons' Point, was a small piece of land that once stuck out into San Francisco Bay. It was located in West Oakland, California. Today, this area is part of the busy Port of Oakland shipping terminal.
Contents
History of Oakland Point
How Oakland Point Got Its Name
Oakland Point was first called Gibbons' Point. It was named after an early American settler, Rodman Gibbons. He built a small dock, called a wharf, there.
The Railroad Arrives
In 1868, a big company called the Central Pacific Railroad bought Gibbons' wharf and the land around it. They built something huge there: the Oakland Long Wharf. This was a massive train station and dock. It was the end point for the famous Transcontinental Railroad, which connected the east and west coasts of the United States.
Later, in the 1880s, another railroad company, the Southern Pacific Railroad, bought the Long Wharf. They rebuilt it and called it the Oakland Mole. This new construction completely changed the shape of Oakland Point.
Besides the wharf, the Central Pacific Railroad also built a huge area for trains to park and be repaired. This area became one of the main train yards for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Today, the same train yard is used by the Union Pacific Railroad.
The Oakland Point Neighborhood
The area around Oakland Point was first known by the same name. But soon, it became part of the larger West Oakland neighborhood. From the late 1800s through the 1930s, it was a lively neighborhood. Many different groups of people lived and worked there.
Changes in the Neighborhood
Around the time of World War II (1939-1945) and up to today, the area became mostly African American. For a long time, African American men who worked on the railroad lived there. They lived alongside other groups of people who also worked for the railroad.
During World War II, thousands of African Americans moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. They came from the southern United States to work in the many factories and industries that supported the war effort. Many of them moved into the established community of African American railroad workers in West Oakland.
Bringing Back the Name: Prescott-Oakland Point
Recently, the name "Oakland Point" has been used again. This is part of a plan to improve and rebuild parts of West Oakland. A local group called the Prescott-Oakland Point Neighborhood Association has adopted the name.
Part of this redevelopment includes fixing up the historic 16th Street Station. This old train station will not be used for trains anymore. Instead, it will be the main building for a new housing area called Central Station.
