Russian Hill Neighborhood, San Francisco CA

About Russian Hill Neighborhood

Russian Hill’s claim to fame is Lombard Street, often called the world’s most crooked road (which isn't actually true!). Every day cars line up to drive down this one block stretch of twists and turns and tourists stand at the bottom taking pictures. But since this is the neighborhood’s only tourist attraction, Russian Hill is less of a destination and mostly a lovely residential neighborhood.

Russian Hill is bordered on the north by Fisherman's Wharf, on the east by North Beach, on the south by Nob Hill, and on the west by Pacific Heights. It keeps to itself but is tucked between very popular attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square to the north, areas dense with shops, restaurants, and throngs of tourists gazing out at the beautiful Marin County coastline across the Bay.

The heights can either be daunting for less resilient pedestrians or cyclists, or exhilarating for those interested in getting a workout whenever they leave the house. Buses are pretty easy to come by and the surrounding neighborhoods are within walking distance (as long as you’re willing to get a calf workout).

History of Russian Hill Neighborhood

The term "Russian Hill" refers to the graves of numerous Russian sailors (perhaps seal hunters) at the top of the hill on Vallejo Street, which were engraved in Cyrillic and marked with black Orthodox crosses (reported by Bayard Taylor in El Dorado, 1851).

Demographics of Russian Hill Neighborhood

Russian Hill has 16,342 residents, with a median age of 40. Males account for 51.08 percent of the total, while females account for 48.92 percent. In Russian Hill, US-born citizens make up 64.59 percent of the population, while non-US-born citizens make up 21.39 percent. Furthermore, non-citizens account for 14.03 percent of the population.

Transportation in Russian Hill Neighborhood

Muni is San Francisco's bus and metro system that operates buses, trains, cable cars, and the F-line heritage streetcar throughout the city.

Politics in Russian Hill Neighborhood

The steep hills in this upscale neighborhood with a diverse selection of shopping and dining will keep you in shape. Russian Hill has a higher than average violent crime rate and a high property crime rate in comparison to the rest of San Francisco.

Lifestyle in Russian Hill Neighborhood

Pockets of restaurants and shops give residents everything they need, especially on Polk and Hyde Streets towards the south of the neighborhood. Polk Street is crowded with boutiques, antique shops, trendy restaurants, and a few night spots. Some French influence has popped up around Polk and Green Streets, where you’ll find a café-boulangerie, a French antiques store, and a few gift and home décor shops.

Although it boasts some low-key nightlife, it’s primarily a quiet and clean neighborhood with an upscale vibe. You can find extravagant Victorian and Edwardian homes, along with a few high rise apartment buildings (some of the city’s first and finest). It’s a beautiful neighborhood in the middle of everything, dotted with parks with incredible views. It’s perfect for families and young couples who like to be active.

Schools in Russian Hill Neighborhood

The public schools in Russian Hill are above average.

Real estate in Russian Hill Neighborhood

Russian Hill is a prestigious San Francisco neighborhood. It is named after one of San Francisco's 44 hills, as well as one of the city's original "Seven Hills."

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