Historic Bay Area Butchertown Districts: Suggested Walking Routes

By Thomas Valdriz

San Francisco

Figure 1: Location of Wholesale Butchers in San Francisco Circa 1886
Source: Robichaud and Steiner

Figure 2: San Francisco’s Butchertown 1870’s Source: Robichaud and Steiner

Figure 3: San Francisco’s Butchertown Walk
Source: Google Maps

Traveling to San Francisco’s Butchertown District is easily done through the use of public transit or by driving. Take BART to Civic Center station, then connect to the 19 SF Muni and stop at the intersection of 3rd and Evans streets.

South San Francisco

Figure 4: East Grand Ave Circa 1900
Source: South San Francisco Public Library

Figure 5: Western Meat Co at 200 E Grand Ave 1923
Source: South San Francisco Public Library

Figure 6: South San Francisco Tour
Source: Google Maps

South San Francisco’s Butchertown district is easily accessed by the SSF Caltrain, San Mateo Transit, or by automobile. By taking San Mateo Transit, tourists will be dropped off in the northwest corner of the district and can make their way southeast down E Grand Ave, the heart of SSF’s meatpacking district.

Oakland (Emeryville)

Figure 7: Emeryville’s  Butchertown 1903
Source: Richard Ambro

Figure 8: Emeryville Butchertown District Walk 
Source: Google Maps

Figure 9: Emeryville Stockyards 1914
Source: Richard Ambro

To get to Emeryville’s Butchertown District, Amtrak, AC Transit, or a automobile will suffice.  My suggested tour assumes you take Amtrak to Emeryville Station, dropping tourists at the southwest corner of the district.

Photo Sources:

[1] Robichaud, Andrew, and Erik Steiner. “Trail of Blood: The Movement of San Francisco’s Butchertown and the Spatial Transformation of Meat Production, 1849-1901.” Spatial History Project. Stanford University, 1 Apr. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[2] Robichaud, Andrew, and Erik Steiner. “Trail of Blood: The Movement of San Francisco’s Butchertown and the Spatial Transformation of Meat Production, 1849-1901.” Spatial History Project. Stanford University, 1 Apr. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[3] South San Francisco Public Library. “Street: Grand Avenue at Linden, Early 1900’s.”Flickr. Yahoo!, 21 May 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[4] South San Francisco Public Library. “Industry: Western Meat Company, Aerial View of Plant, 1923.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 21 May 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[5] South San Francisco Public Library. “Industry: Western Meat Company, early 1900’s, steam-engine next to building.” Flickr. Yahoo!, 21 May 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[6] Google Corporation. “Google Maps.” Google Maps. N.p., 1 Dec. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[7] Ambro, Richard. “The North End: “Butchertown”.” The Secret News. N.p., 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.

[8] Google Corporation. “Google Maps.” Google Maps. N.p., 1 Dec. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013.

[9] Ambro, Richard. “The North End: “Butchertown”.” The Secret News. N.p., 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.