Outer Richmond Neighborhood, San Francisco CA

About Outer Richmond Neighborhood

The Richmond has many influences from the Chinese-American culture. One of its three commercial strips, Clement Street in the Inner Richmond segment, is sometimes called the second Chinatown due to the high concentration of Chinese establishments.

The Richmond is in many ways defined by its relation to the parks; the district is bordered by Golden Gate Park on the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and Lincoln Park, Land's End, Mountain Lake Park and the Presidio of San Francisco to the north, bisected by the Presidio Greenbelt.

The other two commercial strips are Geary Boulevard and Balboa Street.

The Richmond also has deep Irish and Russian roots and has many Catholic and Orthodox churches.

History of Outer Richmond Neighborhood

Previously an empty tract full of sand that ran into the ocean, the Richmond has been growing steadily for the last 100 years. Many waves of immigrants have settled here and made it a diverse cultural environment where you can find cuisines from Russia, Mexico, France, Italy and many areas of Asia.

Lifestyle in Outer Richmond Neighborhood

Unassuming ethnic restaurants can be found all over and nightlife tends to be low-key neighborhood watering holes. The casual atmosphere and unpretentious digs can come as a relief for those coming from fast-paced, more image-conscious neighborhoods. The Safeway in this neighborhood provides easy access to basics that may be missing at the numerous corner shops.

It has a bit of a beach town and overall village vibe and is somewhat popular for surfers, but be warned that most won’t enjoy the cold Pacific water and wetsuits are nearly mandatory for surfers. Further, a major drawback of the Outer Richmond is the constant fog which often rolls in in the afternoon and the rapidly changing weather that can bring in nasty winds on a moment’s notice. If you’re sure you can handle the often unpleasant weather though, the Richmond makes up for it by being quiet, immensely family-friendly (and friendly in general), and incredibly beautiful.

Real estate in Outer Richmond Neighborhood

Housing here includes large (though not high-rise) apartment buildings, single-family homes (some with incredible views of the ocean), bungalows, and a handful of Edwardian and Victorian homes. It it not a built up area and the homes and businesses tend to have a cozier feel and are often a little more affordable than other parts of the city.