San Antonio, Oakland, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Antonio
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 San Antonio
Location in Oakland, California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Alameda |
| City | Oakland |
San Antonio is a large area in Oakland, California. It stretches from east of Lake Merritt to Sausal Creek. This part of Oakland is known for being very diverse. The name San Antonio comes from Rancho San Antonio. This was the name of the land given to Luís María Peralta by the last Spanish governor of California.
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History of San Antonio
The first settlement in the San Antonio area began in 1851. A person named J. B. Larue bought land west of San Antonio Creek. This land was west of Clinton. Larue built a store and a dock, and a community grew around them.
The San Francisco and Oakland Railroad built a station in San Antonio. Later, the Central Pacific Railroad took over the line in 1870. They changed the station's name to Brooklyn. When the Southern Pacific Railroad took over in 1883, the name became East Oakland.
In 1856, the towns of Clinton and San Antonio joined together. They formed a new town called Brooklyn. This name came from a ship that brought Mormon settlers to California in 1846. In 1870, Brooklyn joined with nearby Lynn to become one larger town, still called Brooklyn. Finally, in 1872, the people of Brooklyn voted for their city to become part of Oakland.
Neighborhoods of San Antonio
The San Antonio district is made up of many smaller neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique feel, history, and mix of people.
- Bella Vista
- Cleveland Heights
- Clinton
- East Peralta/Eastlake
- Highland Park
- Highland Terrace
- Ivy Hill
- Jingletown
- Lynn
- Meadow Brook
- Merritt
- Oak Tree
- Rancho San Antonio
- Reservoir Hill
- Tuxedo
Cleveland Heights: A Hilltop View
Cleveland Heights is also known as Haddon Hill. It sits on a hill in the northwest part of the San Antonio district. From here, you can see Lake Merritt. This area used to be the town of Brooklyn before it joined Oakland in 1909.
The neighborhood is generally found between Lakeshore Avenue, East 18th Street, Park Boulevard, and MacArthur Boulevard/I-580. Oakland High School is located in the eastern part of this neighborhood. Many people call it China Hill because a large Chinese community lives there.
Eastlake: A Diverse Community
The Eastlake area used to be called East Peralta. It is located along International Boulevard, between 1st and 14th Avenues. Today, it is home to many immigrants, especially from southeast Asia.
East 12th Street has a large Vietnamese American population. You can find many Vietnamese restaurants and shops there. Because of this, the area is sometimes called Little Saigon. The local Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce is working to make this an official name. There is also a Vietnamese American Community Center on International Boulevard. Many Cambodian Americans and Laotian Americans also live in Eastlake.
Highland Park: Funktown's Legacy
Highland Park is the area around Highland Hospital. Its general borders are 14th Avenue to the south, 10th Avenue to the north, East 31st Street to the east, and Foothill Boulevard to the west.
Some Oakland residents know this area as Funktown. This nickname became popular in the late 1980s. The majority of people living in Highland Park are from diverse backgrounds. There are many Latinos, Asians, and African-Americans living there.
Jingletown: Where Coins Jingled
Jingletown is a part of the San Antonio neighborhood right next to the Oakland Estuary. Some locals also call it "JT."
The name "Jingletown" has an interesting origin. A long time ago, many Portuguese people lived here. Men would often gather on street corners, talking and jingling coins in their pockets. This sound gave the area its unique name.
Lynn: A Shoe Town's Past
Lynn was one of the first settlements in the area, located northeast of Brooklyn. In 1870, Lynn and Brooklyn joined together to form the town of Brooklyn. Then, in 1872, voters decided that Brooklyn should become part of Oakland.
Lynn was known for having a large shoe and boot factory. It was named after Lynn, Massachusetts, which was also famous for its footwear industry.
The Twomps: A Busy Hub
"The Twomps" is a local name for the neighborhood located between 20th and 29th Avenues.
The main street in The Twomps is 23rd Avenue. This avenue is a busy road that helps residents get to other main streets in the city. Many people travel on 23rd Avenue because it has lots of stores, laundromats, and other services for the neighborhood.
