Introduction to Bayview-Hunter Point
Bayview-Hunters Point is located in the southeastern part of San Francisco. The entire eastern portion of the neighborhood is the San Francisco Bay and the former naval base of Hunters Point. Most of it landfill from the Bay. The entire southern half of the neighborhood is the Candlestick Point Recreation Area as well as the Candlestick Park Stadium.
The construction of the Hunters Point Dry Dock and Naval Yard in the early 20th Century led to the development of residential area and rapid industrial growth. The economy was mostly tied to the areas strong shipbuilding industry, but this diverse neighborhood also had substantial fishing, shrimping and farming industries. The area was populated by a diverse community of Italian, French, German, Mexican, and Chinese immigrants. The entrance of the U.S. in World War II would lead to great changes in the area.
The U.S. Navy’s need for shipbuilding, along with an increase in Blacks during the Second World War brought great economic, geographic, and demographic changes to Bayview-Hunters Point. Between 1940 and 1950 the population rose from 16,500 to 147,000, because of the new demand for wartime workers. During this same time the Black population grew from a mere seven in 1940 to over 11,000 in 1950.
The de-industrialization of the area in 1970’s, and the closure of the Hunters Point Naval base created urban blight, poverty, unemployment, and high crime. Many of the factories were not properly decontaminated leaving many of the residents to develop serious health issues, like asthma, cancer and high infant mortality rates. Gentrification in the 90’s pushed many out and left only the very poor. Today the area is 60 percent African American, the highest concentration of that ethnic group in San Francisco.
Here is a short video detailing this change
http://journalism.berkeley.edu/ngno/reports/bayview/mult_1_1206.html
