Oakland, California
Oakland, California | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Oakland Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 37°48′16″N 122°16′15″W / 37.80444°N 122.27083°W PDT) | |
| ZIP Codes | 94601–94615, 94617-94624, 94649, 94659–94662, 94666[14] |
| Area codes | 510/341 |
| FIPS code | 06-53000 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277566, 2411292 |
| Website | www [15][16][17] |
Oakland is the largest city and the
Oakland's territory covers what was once a mosaic of
History
Ohlone era
The earliest known inhabitants were the Huchiun natives, who lived there for thousands of years. The Huchiun belonged to a linguistic grouping later called the Ohlone (a Miwok word meaning "western people").[22] In Oakland, they were concentrated around Lake Merritt and Temescal Creek, a stream that enters the San Francisco Bay at Emeryville.
Spanish and Mexican eras
In 1772, the area that later became Oakland was colonized, along with the rest of California, by Spanish settlers for the King of Spain. In the early 19th century, the Spanish crown granted the East Bay area to Luis María Peralta for his Rancho San Antonio. The grant was confirmed by the successor Mexican republic upon its independence from Spain.[23] Upon his death in 1842, Peralta divided his land among his four sons. Most of Oakland was within the shares given to Antonio Maria and Vicente.[24] The portion of the parcel that is now Oakland was called Encinar (misrendered at an early date and carried forward as "encinal") —Spanish for "oak grove"—due to the large oak forest that covered the area, which eventually led to the city's name.[5]
According to Stanford University historian Albert Camarillo, the Peralta family struggled to keep their land after the incorporation of California into the United States after the Mexican–American War. Camarillo claims the family was the victim of targeted racial violence. He writes in Chicanos in California, "They lost everything when squatters cut down their fruit trees, killed their cattle, destroyed their buildings, and even fenced off the roads leading to the rancho. Especially insidious were the actions of attorney Horace Carpentier, who tricked Vicente Peralta into signing a 'lease' which turned out to be a mortgage against the 19,000-acre rancho. The lands became Carpentier's when Peralta refused to repay the loan he believed was fraudulently incurred. The Peraltas had no choice but to abandon the homesite they had occupied for two generations."[25]
Development of Chinatown
During the 1850s—just as gold was discovered in California—Oakland started growing and further developing because land was becoming too expensive in San Francisco.[26] People in China were struggling financially as a result of the First Opium War, the Second Opium War, and the Taiping Rebellion, so they began migrating to Oakland, many of whom were recruited to work on railroads. However, the Chinese struggled to settle because they were discriminated against by the white community and their living quarters were burned down on several occasions.[27][page needed]
City beginnings
In 1851, three men—Horace Carpentier, Edson Adams, and Andrew Moon—began developing what is now downtown Oakland.[28] In 1852, the Town of Oakland was incorporated by the state legislature.[29] During this time, Oakland had 75–100 inhabitants, two hotels, a wharf, two warehouses, and only cattle trails. Two years later, on March 25, 1854, Oakland re-incorporated as the City of Oakland.[30] Horace Carpentier was elected the first mayor, though a scandal ended his mayorship in less than a year.[citation needed]
The city and its environs quickly grew with the railroads, becoming a major rail terminal in the late 1860s and 1870s. In 1868, the Central Pacific constructed the Oakland Long Wharf at Oakland Point, the site of today's Port of Oakland.[31]
A number of
1900–1950s
Plague epidemic
Oakland was one of the worst affected cities in California that was impacted by the San Francisco plague of 1900–1904. Quarantine measures were set in place at the Oakland ports requiring the authorities at the port to inspect the arriving vessels for the presence of infected rats.[32] Quarantine authorities at these ports inspected over a thousand vessels per year for plague and yellow fever. By 1908, over 5,000 people were detained in quarantine.[33] Hunters were sent to poison the affected areas in Oakland and shoot the squirrels, but the eradication work was limited in its range because the State Board of Health and the United States Public Health Service were only allotted about $60,000 a year to eradicate the disease. During this period Oakland did not have sufficient health facilities, so some of the infected patients were treated at home.[34]
The State Board of Health along with Oakland also advised physicians to promptly report any cases of infected patients.[35] Yet, in 1919 it still resulted in a small epidemic of Pneumonic plague which killed a dozen people in Oakland.[35] This started when a man went hunting in Contra Costa Valley and killed a squirrel. After eating the squirrel, he fell ill four days later and another household member contracted the plague. This in turn was passed on either directly or indirectly to about a dozen others.[36] The officials in Oakland acted quickly by issuing death certificates to monitor the spread of plague.[35]
Incorporation
At the time of incorporation in 1852, Oakland had consisted of the territory that lay south of today's major intersection of San Pablo Avenue, Broadway, and Fourteenth Street. The city gradually annexed farmlands and settlements to the east and the north. Oakland's rise to industrial prominence, and its subsequent need for a seaport, led to the digging of a shipping and tidal channel in 1902. This resulted in the nearby town of Alameda being made an island. In 1906, the city's population doubled with refugees made homeless after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
In 1908 lawyer, former miner and newspaper owner Homer Wood (1880–1976) suggested to his friend Frank Bilger of Blake and Bilger Rock Quarry and Paving Company that he organize a gathering to establish a
In 1917,
Oakland expanded during the 1920s, as its population expanded with factory workers. Approximately 13,000 homes were built in the 3 years between 1921 and 1924,[43] more than during the 13 years between 1907 and 1920.[44] Many of the large downtown office buildings, apartment buildings, and single-family houses still standing in Oakland were built during the 1920s; they reflect the architectural styles of the time.
Russell Clifford Durant established Durant Field at 82nd Avenue and East 14th Street in 1916.
During World War II, the East Bay Area was home to many war-related industries. Oakland's Moore Dry Dock Company expanded its shipbuilding capabilities and built over 100 ships. Valued at $100 million in 1943, Oakland's canning industry was its second-most-valuable war contribution after shipbuilding. The largest canneries were in the Fruitvale District, and included the Josiah Lusk Canning Company, the Oakland Preserving Company (which started the Del Monte brand), and the California Packing Company.[48]
President
In 1946,
Soon after the war, as Oakland's shipbuilding industry declined and the automobile industry went through restructuring, many jobs were lost. Economic competition increased racial tension.
1960–1999
In 1960, Kaiser Corporation opened its new headquarters; it was the largest skyscraper in Oakland, as well as "the largest office tower west of Chicago" up to that time.[55] In the postwar period, suburban development increased around Oakland, and wealthier residents moved to new housing. Despite the major increases in the number and proportion of African Americans in the city, in 1966 only 16 of the city's 661 police officers were black. Tensions between the black community and the largely white police force were high, as expectations during the civil rights era increased to gain social justice and equality before the law. Police abuse of blacks was common.[56][57]
Students
As in many other American cities during the 1980s, crack cocaine became a serious problem in Oakland. Drug dealing in general, and the dealing of crack cocaine in particular, resulted in elevated rates of violent crime, causing Oakland to consistently be listed as one of America's most crime-ridden cities.[59]
In 1980 Oakland's black population reached its 20th-century peak at approximately 47% of the overall city population.[60]
The 6.9
On October 20, 1991, a massive
During the mid-1990s, Oakland's economy began to recover as it transitioned to new types of jobs. In addition, the city participated in large development and urban renewal projects, concentrated especially in the downtown area, at the Port of Oakland, and at the Oakland International Airport.[63]
2000s
After his 1999 inauguration, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown continued his predecessor Elihu Harris' public policy of supporting downtown housing development in the area defined as the Central Business District in Oakland's 1998 General Plan.[64] Brown's plan and other redevelopment projects were controversial due to potential rent increases and gentrification, which would displace lower-income residents from downtown Oakland into outlying neighborhoods and cities.[65]
Due to
African-Americans dropped to 28% of Oakland's population in 2010, from nearly half in 1980, due to fast-rising rents and an extreme housing crisis in the region.[69]
The city inspected many warehouses and live/work spaces after a fire broke out in the Ghost Ship warehouse, killing 36 people in 2016.[70]
Oakland is the second U.S. city, after
In November 2019, two homeless mothers and their children moved into a vacant three-bedroom house in West Oakland. The group, calling themselves Moms 4 Housing, said their goal was to protest what they said was a large number of vacant houses in Oakland owned by redevelopment companies while the city experienced a housing crisis.[73] Two months later they were evicted from the house by three dozen sheriff's deputies, as hundreds of supporters demonstrated in favor of the women.[74] The incident received nationwide coverage.[75] The company that owns the house later said they would sell it to a nonprofit affordable housing group.[76] As of 2019, Oakland's per-capita homeless rate is higher than San Francisco and Berkeley. Between 2014 and 2020, Oakland strengthened its protections for tenants in order to reduce the displacement of its long-time residents.
Geography
Oakland is in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay. In 1991, the City Hall tower was at 37°48′19″N 122°16′21″W / 37.805302°N 122.272539°W (NAD83). (The building still exists, but like the rest of the Bay Area, it has shifted northwest perhaps 0.6 meters in the last twenty years.)
The United States Census Bureau says the city's total area is 78.0 square miles (202 km2), including 55.8 square miles (145 km2) of land and 22.2 square miles (57 km2) (28.48 percent) of water.
Oakland's highest point is near Grizzly Peak Blvd, east of Berkeley, just over 1,760 feet (540 m)
Oaklanders refer to their city's terrain as "the flatlands" and "the hills". Until recent waves of gentrification, these terms also symbolized Oakland's deep economic divide, with "the hills" being more affluent communities. About two-thirds of Oakland lies in the flat plain of the East Bay, with one-third rising into the foothills and hills of the East Bay range.
Ruptures along the nearby San Andreas Fault caused severe earth movement in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1906 and 1989. San Andreas quakes induces creep (movement occurring on earthquake faults) in the Hayward fault, which runs directly through Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose and other Bay Area cities.[78]
Neighborhoods
Oakland has more than 50 distinct neighborhoods. The city's greater divisions include downtown Oakland and its greater Central Business District, Lake Merritt, East Oakland, North Oakland, West Oakland, and the Oakland Hills. East Oakland, which includes the East Oakland Hills, encompasses more than half of Oakland's land area, stretching from Lakeshore Avenue on the east shore of Lake Merritt southeast to the San Leandro border. North Oakland encompasses the neighborhoods between downtown and Berkeley and Emeryville. West Oakland is the area between downtown and the Bay, partially surrounded by the Oakland Point, and encompassing the Port of Oakland. In 2011, Oakland was ranked the tenth most walkable city in the United States by Walk Score.[79]
Lake Merritt, an urban estuary near downtown, is a mix of fresh and salt water draining in and out from the Oakland Harbor at the San Francisco Bay and one of Oakland's most notable features.[80] It was designated the United States' first official wildlife refuge in 1870.[81] Originally a marsh-lined wildlife haven, Lake Merritt was dredged and bordered with parks from the 1890s to the 1910s. Despite this reduction in habitat, Oakland is home to a number of rare and endangered species, many of which are localized to serpentine soils and bedrock. Lake Merritt is surrounded by residential and business districts, including downtown and Grand Lake.
The city of Piedmont, incorporated in Oakland's central foothills after the 1906 earthquake, is a small independent city surrounded by the city of Oakland.
Climate
Oakland has a
Based on data gathered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Oakland is ranked No. 1 in climate among U.S. cities.[82] Oakland's climate is typified by the temperate and seasonal Mediterranean climate. Summers are usually dry and warm and winters are cool and damp. It has features found in both nearby coastal cities such as San Francisco and inland cities such as San Jose, making it warmer than San Francisco and cooler than San Jose. Its position on San Francisco Bay across from the Bay Bridge means the northern part of the city can have cooling maritime fog. It is far enough inland that the fog often burns off by midday, allowing it to have typically sunny California days. The hills tend to have more fog than the flatlands, as the fog drifts down from Berkeley.
The
Oakland, like much of Northern California, is susceptible to winter rainstorms and Atmospheric rivers. The wettest calendar year was 1983 with 44.28 inches (1,125 mm) and the driest year was 2013 with 4.11 inches (104 mm). The most rainfall in one month was 15.35 inches (390 mm) in January 1911. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 4.29 inches (109 mm) on January 26, 2008.[83] Rainfall near the bayfront is only 23 inches (580 mm), but is higher in the Oakland Hills to the east (up to 30 inches [760 mm]), with nearly all precipitation falling between November and April.
Overnight lows are mild. Oakland seldom experiences warm nights with the warmest recorded night of 72 °F (22 °C) in September 1971 and an average of 64 °F (18 °C) for the annual warmest low.[84] The coldest day of the year averages a mild 50 °F (10 °C) and has never been recorded below 36 °F (2 °C).[84]
The
| Climate data for Oakland Museum (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
82 (28) |
88 (31) |
97 (36) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
103 (39) |
99 (37) |
109 (43) |
103 (39) |
84 (29) |
75 (24) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 68.6 (20.3) |
72.5 (22.5) |
76.7 (24.8) |
82.2 (27.9) |
84.2 (29.0) |
88.7 (31.5) |
86.0 (30.0) |
87.5 (30.8) |
90.6 (32.6) |
87.7 (30.9) |
77.1 (25.1) |
68.0 (20.0) |
92.6 (33.7) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 59.8 (15.4) |
62.4 (16.9) |
64.7 (18.2) |
66.8 (19.3) |
68.6 (20.3) |
71.8 (22.1) |
71.6 (22.0) |
72.8 (22.7) |
74.6 (23.7) |
72.7 (22.6) |
65.8 (18.8) |
59.7 (15.4) |
67.6 (19.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 52.5 (11.4) |
54.7 (12.6) |
56.7 (13.7) |
58.5 (14.7) |
60.8 (16.0) |
63.4 (17.4) |
64.1 (17.8) |
65.2 (18.4) |
65.9 (18.8) |
63.7 (17.6) |
57.6 (14.2) |
52.4 (11.3) |
59.6 (15.3) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 45.1 (7.3) |
47.1 (8.4) |
48.7 (9.3) |
50.3 (10.2) |
52.9 (11.6) |
55.0 (12.8) |
56.6 (13.7) |
57.6 (14.2) |
57.2 (14.0) |
54.6 (12.6) |
49.4 (9.7) |
45.1 (7.3) |
51.6 (10.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 37.9 (3.3) |
40.2 (4.6) |
42.4 (5.8) |
45.0 (7.2) |
49.4 (9.7) |
51.9 (11.1) |
54.0 (12.2) |
55.6 (13.1) |
53.6 (12.0) |
49.0 (9.4) |
41.7 (5.4) |
37.5 (3.1) |
36.4 (2.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 30 (−1) |
29 (−2) |
34 (1) |
37 (3) |
43 (6) |
48 (9) |
51 (11) |
50 (10) |
48 (9) |
43 (6) |
36 (2) |
26 (−3) |
26 (−3) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.35 (110) |
4.35 (110) |
3.21 (82) |
1.37 (35) |
0.75 (19) |
0.20 (5.1) |
0.00 (0.00) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.10 (2.5) |
1.13 (29) |
2.44 (62) |
4.66 (118) |
22.61 (574) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.4 | 10.0 | 10.4 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 6.5 | 10.5 | 62.7 |
| Source: NOAA[85][86] | |||||||||||||
Vegetation
The higher rainfall in the hills supports woods of oak, madrona, pine, fir and a few redwood groves in the wetter areas. Before being logged in the 19th century, some of the tallest redwood trees in California (used for navigation by ships entering the Golden Gate) may have stood in the Oakland Hills. One old stump 30 feet (9.1 m) in diameter can be seen near Redwood Regional Park. Sunny, drier slopes are grassy or covered in scattered oaks and chaparral brush. Australian eucalyptus trees have been extensively planted in many areas, as they come from a similar climate.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,543 | — | |
| 1870 | 10,500 | 580.5% | |
| 1880 | 34,555 | 229.1% | |
| 1890 | 48,682 | 40.9% | |
| 1900 | 66,960 | 37.5% | |
| 1910 | 150,174 | 124.3% | |
| 1920 | 216,261 | 44.0% | |
| 1930 | 284,063 | 31.4% | |
| 1940 | 302,163 | 6.4% | |
| 1950 | 384,575 | 27.3% | |
| 1960 | 367,548 | −4.4% | |
| 1970 | 361,561 | −1.6% | |
| 1980 | 339,337 | −6.1% | |
| 1990 | 372,242 | 9.7% | |
| 2000 | 399,484 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 390,724 | −2.2% | |
| 2020 | 440,646 | 12.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 433,823 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[87] | |||
The
Race and ethnicity
The
| Racial composition | 2020 | 2010[89] | 1990[90] | 1970[90] | 1940[90] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White |
30.0% | 34.5% | 32.5% | 59.1% | 95.3% |
| —Non-Hispanic | 27.3% | 25.9% | 28.3% | 52.0%[a] | n/a |
Black or African American |
23.8% | 28.0% | 43.9% | 34.5% | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 27.0% | 25.3% | 13.9% | 7.6%[a] | n/a |
Asian |
16.1% | 16.8% | 14.8% | 4.8% | – |
From the
|
2019 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates
|
Racial Makeup of Oakland (2019)[91] White alone (34.50%) Black alone (24.94%) Native American alone (1.28%) Asian alone (14.30%) Pacific Islander alone (0.39%) Other race alone (18.27%) Two or more races (6.32%)
|
Racial/Ethnic Makeup of Oakland excluding Hispanics from Racial Categories (2019)[91] White NH (29.29%) Black NH (24.40%) Native American NH (0.33%) Asian NH (14.12%) Pacific Islander NH (0.39%) Other race NH (0.33%) Two or more races NH (4.32%) Hispanic Any Race (26.81%)
|
Racial Makeup of Hispanics in Oakland (2019)[91] White alone (19.43%) Black alone (2.03%) Native American alone (3.52%) Asian alone (0.68%) Pacific Islander alone (0.01%) Other race alone (66.90%) Two or more races (7.44%)
|
According to 2019 US Census Bureau estimates, Oakland's population rose to 433,044, and was 34.5%
White Americans are the largest racial/ethnic group at either 34.5% (including
Hispanics have been the second largest ethnic group since 2012 when they displaced the Black population. However, Black Americans still form the second largest racial group. By ethnicity, 26.8% of the total population is Hispanic-Latino (of any race) and 73.2% is Non-Hispanic (of any race).[91] The majority of Hispanics self-identify as Some Other Race (66.9%) with the remainder choosing White (19.4%), Multiracial (7.4%), Black (2.0%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (3.5%), Asian (0.7%), and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.1%).[91]
The Black population is the third largest ethnic group and second largest racial group at either 24.9% (including Black Hispanics) or 24.4% excluding Black Hispanics.[91]
The Asian population continues to remain the fourth largest group at 14.3% of the population.[91]
Educational attainment and income
The greater Oakland area[specify] has the fifth largest cluster of "elite zip codes" ranked by the number of households with the highest combination of income and education.[92] 37.9% of residents over 25 years of age have bachelor's degree or higher.[93] Oakland ranked among the top cities with residents with bachelor's degrees and graduate degrees per square mile.[94]
Oakland ranks in the top 20 of American cities in median household income, with a 2012 value of US$51,863.[95] In 2012, the median income for a household in the city was US$51,863 and the median income for a family was US$59,459. The mean income for a household was US$77,888 and the mean income for a family was US$90,948. Males had a median income of US$50,140 versus US$50,304 for females.[96] The unemployment rate as of December 2013 was 9.7%.[97]
In 2007 approximately 15.3 percent of families and 17.0 percent of the general population were below the poverty line, including 27.9 percent of those under age 18 and 13.1 percent of those age 65 or over. 0.7% of the population is homeless.[98] Home ownership is 41%[98] and 14% of rental units are subsidized.[98]
As of the census[99] of 2000, 19.4% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Households
The census reported 382,586 people (97.9% of the population) lived in households, 5,675 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2,463 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 153,791 households, out of which 44,762 (29.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 50,797 (33.0%) were
The population was spread out, with 83,120 people (21.3%) under the age of 18, 36,272 people (9.3%) aged 18 to 24, 129,139 people (33.1%) aged 25 to 44, 98,634 people (25.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 43,559 people (11.1%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
There were 169,710 housing units at an average density of 2,175.7 per square mile (840.0/km2), of which 153,791 were occupied, of which 63,142 (41.1%) were owner-occupied, and 90,649 (58.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%. 166,662 people (42.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 215,924 people (55.3%) lived in rental housing units.
Shifting of cultures
Oakland has consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically diverse major cities in the country.[100][101] A 2019 analysis by WalletHub showed that Oakland was the most ethnoracially diverse city in the United States.[102] The city's formerly most populous ethnic group, whites, declined from 95.3% in 1940 to 32.5% by 1990, due to a combination of factors, including suburbanization. Oakland became a destination for African Americans in the Great Migration during and after World War II as they gained high-paying jobs in the defense industry. Blacks have formed a plurality in Oakland for many years, peaking in 1980 at about 47% of the population.
Oakland's black population decreased by nearly 25 percent between 2000 and 2010.[103] The city's demographics have changed due to a combination of rising housing prices associated with gentrification and with blacks relocating to better (and in many cases more affordable) housing in Bay Area suburbs or moving to the Southern United States in a reverse migration, where conditions (including race relations) are considered to have improved in comparison to previous generations.[104][105][106] These trends and cultural shifts have led to a decline among some of Oakland's long standing black institutions, such as churches, businesses and nightclubs, which had developed during the growing years of the 1950s through 1970.[107]
In the 2010 census African Americans maintained their status as Oakland's single largest ethnic group, with 27% of the population, followed by non-Hispanic whites at 25.9%, and Hispanics of any race at 25.4%.[108] Ethnic Asians constitute 17%, followed by smaller minority groups.
Many immigrants have settled in the city. Immigrants and others have marched by the thousands down Oakland's
An analysis by the Urban Institute of
Gentrification
As of 2020, the San Francisco-Oakland Metro shows indications of having the greatest intensity of gentrification nationally, with over 31% of eligible neighborhoods gentrifying. Gentrifying neighborhoods showed significant increases in median home value, median household income, percentage of college educated residents, but also in economic inequality.[112]
Historically low-income neighborhoods have been rapidly changed by new, higher-income residents as high-wage tech workers and expensive housing have continued to push lower-wage residents out of Oakland.[112] In West Oakland, for example, median household income rose from $80,700 to $86,300 between 2010 and 2017, while the percent of population with four-year degrees rose from one-third to nearly one-half, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.[113]
Big tech companies have continued to transform the communities and culture of Oakland as modern apartments have appeared, housing prices have spiked, and many prior working-class residents have moved to suburbs further inland.[114]
According to 2015 data compiled by the Bay Area Equity Atlas, 91% of low-income households of color were either in neighborhoods that were gentrifying or were at risk of gentrification at the time.[115] The number was higher for individual low-income communities, with 96% of Native American households in neighborhoods that either experienced gentrification or were at risk of being gentrified, followed by Latino households at 94%, Black households at 92%, and Asian or Pacific Islander households at 88%.[115]
Crime
| 1992 | 175[118] |
| 1995 | 153[119] |
| 1996 | 102[119] |
| 2000 | 85[120] |
| 2001 | 87[120] |
| 2002 | 113[120] |
| 2003 | 114[120] |
| 2004 | 88[120] |
| 2005 | 94[120] |
| 2006 | 148[120] |
| 2007 | 127[120] |
| 2008 | 125[120] |
| 2009 | 110[120] |
| 2010 | 95[120] |
| 2011 | 110[120] |
| 2012 | 131[120] |
| 2013 | 92[120] |
| 2014 | 86[121] |
| 2015 | 83[122] |
| 2016 | 85[122] |
| 2017 | 72[123] |
| 2018 | 75[117] |
| 2019 | 78[116] |
| 2020 | 109[116] |
A 2014 study by the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law & Social Policy at the
A 2007 journal article identified crime in Oakland as being fueled by the dramatic increase of street narcotics sales and use since the 1970s, with Oakland becoming a major west-coast hub for heroin and cocaine distribution. Subsequent battle for control over the lucrative narcotics trade incited gang conflicts and violence, with shootings becoming a regular occurrence. A concurrent rise in rape, robbery, burglary, auto-theft and other crimes occurred as well. Prior to 1960, there had been successful government-funded social programs whereby rebellious teens were enrolled in youth centers that would teach them proper values and improve their behavior. However, similar programs since then have been inconsistent.[125]
By the 1970s, the police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) used military tactics such as SWAT teams, infiltration and counter intelligence in an attempt to counter groups such as the Black Panthers (responsible for several police ambushes), the S.L.A. and organized drug gangs such as the "69 Mob", with increases in arrests, prosecutions, and imprisonment.[125] During the first decade of the 21st century, Oakland has consistently been listed as one of the most dangerous large cities in the United States.[126]
The number of Oakland Police Department officers has varied from a low of 626 (in 1996 and in 2012) to a high of 814 (in 2002).[124] There were 723 officers at the end of 2015.[118] The city's strategic plan recommended 925 officers, and an independent study commissioned by the city in the mid-1990s recommended 1,200 officers.[127][128][129]
Among Oakland's 35 police patrol beats, violent crime remains a serious problem in specific East and West Oakland neighborhoods. In 2008, homicides were concentrated: 72% occurred in three City Council districts, District 3 in West Oakland and Districts 6 and 7 in East Oakland, although these districts have 44% of Oakland's residents.[130]
In 2012, Oakland implemented Operation Ceasefire, a gang violence reduction plan used in other cities, based in part on the research and strategies of author David M. Kennedy.[131][132][133][134]
Economy
Oakland is a major West Coast port, and the fifth-busiest in the United States by cargo volume.[135] The Port of Oakland handles 99% of all containerized goods moving through Northern California, representing $41 billion worth of international trade.[136][137] There are nearly 200,000 jobs related to marine cargo transport in the Oakland area.[138] These jobs range from minimum wage hourly positions to Transportation Storage and Distribution Managers who earn an annual average salary of US$91,520.[139]
The Port of Oakland was an early innovator/pioneer in the technologies of
As of 2013[update], the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolitan area has a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$360.4 billion, ranking eighth among metropolitan areas in the United States.[143] In 2014, Oakland was amongst the best cities to start a career, the highest ranked city in California after San Francisco. Additionally, Oakland ranked fourth in cities with professional opportunities.[144] Numerous companies in San Francisco continue to expand in or migrate over to Oakland.[145]
Oakland experienced an increase of both its population and of land values in the early-to-mid first decade of the 21st century. The
Top employers
As of 2020[update], the top employers in the city were:[146]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kaiser Permanente | 12,500+ |
| 2 | County of Alameda
|
8,000+ |
| 9 | Alameda Health System | 5,300+ |
| 3 | Oakland Unified School District | 5,000+ |
| 4 | City of Oakland | 4500+ |
| 5 | Bay Area Rapid Transit | 4,000+ |
| 6 | State of California
|
3,500+ |
| 7 | Children's Hospital Oakland | 2,500+ |
| 8 | Southwest Airlines | 2,500+ |
| 10 | Sutter Bay Hospitals and Foundation | 2,000+ |
Tourism
In 2013, over 2.5 million people visited Oakland, injecting US$1.3 billion into the economy.[147] Oakland has been experiencing an increase in hotel demand. Occupancy is 74%, while RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) increased by 14%, the highest increase of any big city in the western region of the United States.[148] Both Oakland and San Francisco were forecasted to experience the highest increases in ADR (Average daily rate).[149]
In recent years, Oakland has gained national recognition as a travel destination. In 2012, Oakland was named the top North American city to visit, highlighting its growing number of sophisticated restaurants and bars, top music venues, and increasing nightlife appeal.[150] Oakland also took the No. 16 spot in "America's Coolest Cities", ranked by metrics like entertainment options and recreational opportunities per capita, etc.[151] In 2013, Oakland topped the No. 1 spot in "America's Most Exciting Cities", notably having the most movie theaters, theater companies, and museums per square mile.[152] In "America's Most Hipster Cities", Oakland took the number-5 spot, cited for luring San Francisco "hippies" into the city.[153] Oakland has also increased its travel destination allure internationally.[154]
Arts and culture
Oakland has a vibrant art scene and claims the highest concentration of artists per capita in the United States.[155] In 2013, Oakland was designated as one of America's top twelve art communities, recognizing Downtown (including Uptown), Chinatown, Old Oakland, and Jack London Square as communities "that have most successfully combined art, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle to make vibrant neighborhoods."[156]
Galleries exist in various parts of Oakland, with the newest additions centered mostly in the
Historically a focal point of the West Coast
Attractions
Free walking tours are offered by the City.
- African American Museum and Library at Oakland
- AXIS Dance Company
- Chabot Space and Science Center
- Children's Fairyland
- Chinatown
- Dunsmuir House
- Fox Oakland Theatre, concert venue
- Jack London Square
- Joaquin Miller Park
- bird sanctuaryin North America, Lake Merritt Garden Center, Bonsai Garden
- Lake Temescal
- Mountain View Cemetery, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and resting place of many famous Californians
- Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, home of baseball's Oakland Athletics, and (until January 2020) of the Oakland Raiders of the NFL
- Oakland Aviation Museum
- Oakland California Temple, includes the gardens, visitors' center, family history center, & concert hall
- Oakland Museum of California
- Oakland Public Library
- Oakland Symphony
- Oakland Zoo
- Oakland Arena, directly adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum, former home to the Golden State Warriors of the NBA
- Paramount Theatre
- Pardee Home
- Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, Museum of History and Culture
- Redwood Regional Park
- Preservation Park
- USS Potomac, Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidential yacht
Nightlife
Downtown Oakland has an assortment of bars and
Recent years have seen the growth of the Oakland Art Murmur event, occurring in the Uptown neighborhood the first Friday evening of every month.[160] The event attracts around 20,000 people along twenty city blocks, featuring live performances, food trucks, and over 30 galleries and venues.[161][162]
"There is no there there"
Gertrude Stein wrote about Oakland in her 1937 book Everybody's Autobiography "There is no there there", upon learning that the neighborhood where she lived as a child had been torn down to make way for an industrial park. The quote is usually misconstrued to refer to Oakland as a whole.[163][164]
Modern-day Oakland has made steps to rebuke Stein's claim with a statue downtown titled There. In 2005 a sculpture called HERETHERE was installed by the City of Berkeley on the Berkeley-Oakland border at Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The sculpture consists of eight-foot-tall letters spelling "HERE" and "THERE" in front of the
Sports
Oakland has variously been represented by major professional teams in baseball, soccer, American football, basketball and hockey.
The Oakland Athletics (of Major League Baseball) won three consecutive World Series championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and appeared in another three consecutive World Series from 1988 to 1990, winning their fourth championship in 1989. Currently based at the Oakland Coliseum, the Athletics announced plans to build a new ballpark closer to the downtown area,[166] but plans have not been finalized.
The Oakland Roots SC are a professional soccer team that was formed in 2018. The Roots began play in 2019 in a new third division professional league known as the National Independent Soccer Association, however, the team announced that it would move into the second division of US professional soccer, and play in the USL Championship beginning in the 2021 season. The Roots play their home matches at Laney College Football Stadium
The Oakland Soul, a wonan's professional soccer club will begin play in May 2023 as an expansion team in the USL W League they will also play their home matches at LCFS
Oakland's former football team, the
Oakland's former basketball team, the Golden State Warriors won the 1974–75, 2014–15, 2016–17, and the 2017–18 NBA championships, while losing in 2016 and 2019. The Warriors, whose primary owners reside in Southern California, announced in April 2014 that they would leave Oakland once their new arena was built across the Bay in San Francisco. In 2019, the Warriors built and moved to Chase Center across the Bay. Since the team remained in the Bay Area, they decided not to revert to the San Francisco Warriors name it had in its first stint with the city.
Oakland's former hockey team, the
Oakland's ultimate team, Oakland Spiders, relocated to Oakland in 2022 after playing eight years as the San Jose Spiders.
| Club | Sport | Founded | League | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland Athletics | Baseball | 1901 (in Oakland since 1968) | MLB | Oakland Coliseum |
| Oakland Roots SC | Soccer | 2019 | USLC | Laney College Football Stadium |
| Oakland Spiders | Ultimate | 2014 (in Oakland since 2022) | AUDL | Oakland Technical High School |
Oakland's former sports teams include:
- Oakland Raiders, National Football League, 1960–1981, 1995–2019. (played at the Oakland Coliseum before relocating to Las Vegas in 2020.)
- Golden State Warriors, National Basketball Association, 1971–2019. (played in Oakland Arena before moving back to San Francisco for the 2019–20 season.)
- Oakland Oaks, Pacific Coast League of Baseball, 1903–1955. (The Oaks played at Oaks Park in Emeryville after 1912.)
- West Coast Negro Baseball League, 1946.
- Oakland Hornets, member of American Football League (1944)
- American Basketball League, 1962.
- American Basketball Association, 1967–1969.
- Oakland Seals, National Hockey League, 1967–1976.
- North American Soccer League, 1968.
- North American Soccer League, 1978.
- Oakland Invaders, United States Football League, 1983–1985.
- Oakland Skates, Roller Hockey International, 1993–1996.
- Oakland Slammers, International Basketball League, 2005–2006.
Parks and recreation
Parks
Oakland has many parks and recreation centers which total 5,937 acres (2,403 ha). In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, The Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization, reported that Oakland had the 18th best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.[167] In 2013, Oakland ranked fourth among American cities as an urban destination for nature lovers.[168]
Some of the city's most notable parks include:
- Bushrod Park
- Joaquin Miller Park
- Joseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park, home of the Oakland Zoo
- Lake Merritt
- Morcom Rose Garden best from July through October
- Mosswood Park
- Allendale Park
- Peralta Hacienda Historical Park,[169] headquarters of the Peralta rancho, Rancho San Antonio
- Mills Collegecampus
Additionally, the following seven East Bay Regional Parks are entirely or partially in the city of Oakland:
- Anthony Chabot Regional Park
- Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
- Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve
- Redwood Regional Park
- Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
- Roberts Regional Recreation Area
- Temescal Regional Park
Oakland
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