Mission Hills, San Diego, California
Encyclopedia
Mission Hills is a neighborhood of San Diego, California
, USA. It is located on hills just south of the San Diego River
valley and north of downtown San Diego, overlooking Old Town
and San Diego Bay
. It was subdivided on January 20, 1908 as a smaller portion of what is now referred to as Mission Hills. The City of San Diego describes Mission Hills as being the area north of Horton Avenue, South of Mission Valley, West of Goldfinch Street and Reynard Way, and East of the Old Town community area. Mission Hills is part of the 92103 zip code area. It is part of the Uptown community planning area.
The area is primarily residential, with some small shops and restaurants.
.
In the 1910s, Mission Hills became one of the many San Diego neighborhoods connected by the Class 1 streetcars
and an extensive San Diego public transit system that was spurred by the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 and built by John D. Spreckels
. These streetcars became a fixture of this neighborhood until their retirement in 1939.
Modern homes were built along canyon rims as infill during the 1950s and 1960s by modern masters such as Lloyd Ruocco, Homer Delawie, John Lloyd Wright
and Sim Bruce Richards, among others. Ironically, San Diego's most famous architect, Irving Gill
, never built in Mission Hills, as by the time this area was being developed he was mainly working in Los Angeles County
.
The famous horticulturalist
Kate Sessions
helped to influence development in Mission Hills. She founded the Mission Hills Nursery, which is still an active business (since 1910).
. Since there is no public high school in the neighborhood, students are given the choice of attending Point Loma High School
or San Diego High School
.
Several private and religious schools are located in Mission Hills. The best known is the lower school campus of the private Francis Parker School
, founded in 1912. This school was run on progressive ideals by William Templeton Johnson and his wife Clara. Mr. Johnson designed the original school building and his wife ran the school.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA. It is located on hills just south of the San Diego River
San Diego River
The San Diego River is a river in San Diego County, California. It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains northwest of the town of Julian, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the river's watershed at . Below El Capitan Dam, the river runs...
valley and north of downtown San Diego, overlooking Old Town
Old Town, San Diego, California
Old Town is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It contains and is bounded by Interstate 8 on the north, Interstate 5 on the west, Mission Hills on the east and Bankers Hill on the south. It is the oldest settled area in San Diego and is the site of the first European settlement in...
and San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
. It was subdivided on January 20, 1908 as a smaller portion of what is now referred to as Mission Hills. The City of San Diego describes Mission Hills as being the area north of Horton Avenue, South of Mission Valley, West of Goldfinch Street and Reynard Way, and East of the Old Town community area. Mission Hills is part of the 92103 zip code area. It is part of the Uptown community planning area.
The area is primarily residential, with some small shops and restaurants.
History
The area was developed in the early 20th century and most of the houses are still from that era, often carefully preserved and restored. Homes there were also often designed by San Diego’s premier architects including William Hebbard, William Templeton Johnson, Emmor Brooke Weaver, Nathan Rigdon, Richard Requa, and Joel E. Brown. Master Builders such as the Pacific Building Company, Morris B. Irvin, and Martin V. Melhorn contributed by building in the vernacular architectureVernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
.
In the 1910s, Mission Hills became one of the many San Diego neighborhoods connected by the Class 1 streetcars
San Diego Class 1 Streetcars
The San Diego Class 1 Streetcars were a fleet of twenty-four unique streetcars that were originally built to provide transportation for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. The cars were designed by the San Diego Electric Railway Company under the leadership of John D. Spreckels and...
and an extensive San Diego public transit system that was spurred by the Panama-California Exposition of 1915 and built by John D. Spreckels
John D. Spreckels
John Diedrich Spreckels , the son of German-American industrialist Claus Spreckels, founded a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego, California in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. These streetcars became a fixture of this neighborhood until their retirement in 1939.
Modern homes were built along canyon rims as infill during the 1950s and 1960s by modern masters such as Lloyd Ruocco, Homer Delawie, John Lloyd Wright
John Lloyd Wright
John Lloyd Wright was an American architect and toy inventor. He invented Lincoln Logs in 1916. He was the son of Frank Lloyd Wright and brother of Lloyd Wright.-External links:*...
and Sim Bruce Richards, among others. Ironically, San Diego's most famous architect, Irving Gill
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill , American architect, is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. He designed several buildings considered examples of San Diego's best architecture.-Biography:...
, never built in Mission Hills, as by the time this area was being developed he was mainly working in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
.
The famous horticulturalist
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
Kate Sessions
Kate Sessions
Katherine Olivia "Kate" Sessions was an American botanist, horticulturalist, and landscape architect closely associated with San Diego, California, and known as the "Mother of Balboa Park."-Early life:...
helped to influence development in Mission Hills. She founded the Mission Hills Nursery, which is still an active business (since 1910).
Streets
The main business streets are University Ave. and Washington St. Other major streets are Ft. Stockton Dr. and Sunset Blvd. Cross streets are named for birds, in alphabetical order from Albatross to Jackdaw.Architecture and Historic Districts
Mission Hills contains two historic districts recognized by the City of San Diego:Education
Public schools in Mission Hills are part of the San Diego Unified School DistrictSan Diego City Schools
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
. Since there is no public high school in the neighborhood, students are given the choice of attending Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in the San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, California. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may...
or San Diego High School
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
.
Several private and religious schools are located in Mission Hills. The best known is the lower school campus of the private Francis Parker School
Francis W. Parker School (San Diego)
Francis Parker School, also known simply as Parker, is an elite college preparatory independent day school in San Diego, California, serving students from junior kindergarten through twelfth grade. Parker was founded in 1912 by Clara Sturges Johnson and William Templeton Johnson, themselves recent...
, founded in 1912. This school was run on progressive ideals by William Templeton Johnson and his wife Clara. Mr. Johnson designed the original school building and his wife ran the school.