Outer Mission, San Francisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Outer Mission
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A southbound BART train passes San Francisco's Outer Mission neighborhood, between the Balboa Park station and the Daly City station. The photograph was taken on the pedestrian bridge next to the San Jose/Farallones stop of the SFMTA M line. NOTE: No BART trains stop at San Jose/Farallones.
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| Nickname(s):
Cayuga Terrace
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| Area | |
| • Total | 1.11 km2 (0.429 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1.11 km2 (0.429 sq mi) |
| Population
(2008)
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| • Total | 8,546 |
| • Density | 7,688/km2 (19,913/sq mi) |
| ZIP Code |
94112
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| Area codes | 415/628 |
Outer Mission is a small neighborhood located on the southern edge of San Francisco. It is mainly a place where people live. The neighborhood is bordered by Geneva Avenue to the northeast, Interstate 280 to the northwest, and Mission Street to the southwest. The city of Daly City is just to its south.
Outer Mission is close to other San Francisco neighborhoods like Mission Terrace, Crocker-Amazon, and Ingleside. It also touches Excelsior at one corner. A historic "car barn" for the Muni streetcars is found here. Cayuga Park is also a special spot in this neighborhood.
Contents
Outer Mission: Where is it Located?
The Outer Mission neighborhood is in the southeast part of San Francisco. Its borders are Interstate 280 on the west, Geneva Avenue to the north, and Mission Street and the Daly City border to the south.
It is surrounded by several other neighborhoods. To the west is Ingleside. To the north is Mission Terrace. Excelsior is to the northeast. Crocker-Amazon is to the southeast. And Daly City is directly to the south.
The name "Outer Mission" can sometimes be confusing. Some people think it's right next to the Mission District. However, Bernal Heights is actually south of the Mission District. Outer Mission is southwest of Geneva Avenue and west of the Cow Palace.
A Look Back: Outer Mission's History
The Outer Mission neighborhood began to develop around the 1910s. It was built as an expansion of the nearby Mission District. Back then, the Southern Pacific Railroad served the area.
Before it became a neighborhood, the land was mostly used for farms. Farmers grew vegetables like Swiss chard and potatoes for the city. Many of the first families to live in Outer Mission were of Irish and Italian backgrounds, similar to the Mission District.
What Makes Outer Mission Special?
Outer Mission has some unique features and attractions.
Parks and Green Spaces
The neighborhood is close to Cayuga Park and its playground. This park is quite special because it sits right under the BART train tracks. It has lots of plants and over 100 fun wooden statues. These statues were carved by the park's creator. The park also has a small baseball field and tennis courts for everyone to enjoy.
Homes and Community
Most of the homes in Outer Mission are single-family houses. They are often built close together and usually have a small fenced backyard.
Over the years, more families from Latino/Chicano and Asian/Filipino backgrounds have moved into the area. Outer Mission remains one of the few places in San Francisco where housing is still affordable for middle-class families.
Because of these changes, many homeowners have added small apartments, often in part of their garage. These "in-law" units usually have an extra bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. They often have a separate entrance. Owners might rent out these units to help pay for their homes. This means many people rent in Outer Mission, even though most buildings are single-family homes. Sometimes, these in-law units are built without official city permission. This can lead to more people living in the area than it was designed for, which can make streets crowded with cars.
Originally, Outer Mission houses had small front yards or planting areas. Over time, many people paved these areas to park their cars on the sidewalk. This made the streets look less green. However, the city has been encouraging residents to plant trees and create new garden spaces. So, front yards are starting to become popular again.
Getting Around: Transportation
Outer Mission is well-connected by public transportation. It is also next to I-280, which is one of San Francisco's main highways.
The BART train line runs right next to Outer Mission. Since the tracks are above ground, you can often see and hear the trains throughout the neighborhood. The Balboa Park Station is within walking distance. This station is a major hub for public transit. You can catch BART trains there, three Muni Metro lines (J-Church, K-Ingleside, M-Oceanview), and many bus lines. Some bus lines even run late into the night.
The main bus line serving Outer Mission is the 14 Mission. This bus travels along the entire length of Mission Street, from the Embarcadero all the way to Daly City. During busy times, Muni also runs faster versions: the 14-R (rapid, with fewer stops) and the 14-X (express, using the highway to and from downtown). The 88 BART Shuttle bus also passes through Outer Mission during peak hours, offering a quick way to get to Balboa Park. Plus, many bus lines run along Geneva Avenue, like the 8x, 54, and 43, which are easy to reach from the neighborhood.
In addition to Muni, SamTrans operates several bus lines on Mission Street. These can take you to places on the Peninsula.
While bicycling is not as common here as in some other neighborhoods, some residents do enjoy it. There are clear and wide bike lanes along most of Alemany Boulevard.
