The neighborhood
Tree-lined blocks of century-old homes, a big neighborhood park, and easy access to Temescal, South Berkeley, and BART. Here's a bit about where we live.
Where is Bushrod?
Bushrod sits in North Oakland, just south of the Berkeley line. Its heart is Bushrod Park at 59th and Shattuck. Oakland's neighborhoods don't have official borders, so ask three neighbors and you'll get three answers. A common way to describe it is:
- North: the Berkeley border, around Alcatraz Avenue
- South: Highway 24 and the edge of Temescal
- West: Martin Luther King Jr. Way
- East: toward Telegraph Avenue
Its neighbors are Temescal to the south and east, Santa Fe and Golden Gate to the west, and South Berkeley and the Lorin District to the north.
Bushrod at a glance
| ZIP codes | Mostly 94609, with edges in 94608 and 94618 |
|---|---|
| City council | District 1 (Zac Unger) |
| Nearest BART | Ashby, with MacArthur and Rockridge nearby |
| Main streets | Shattuck Ave, Telegraph Ave, MLK Jr Way, Alcatraz Ave |
| Named for | Dr. Bushrod Washington James |
A short history
The name
The neighborhood is named for Dr. Bushrod Washington James, a Philadelphia physician who donated the land for Bushrod Park in 1903. He was reportedly named for Justice Bushrod Washington, George Washington's nephew. The name fell out of everyday use in the 1980s and '90s, when most people just said "North Oakland," and it has come back in recent years.
Idora Park
From about 1904 to 1929, the blocks between Telegraph and Shattuck from 56th to 58th Streets were Idora Park, a "trolley park" built by the owners of the Key System to fill their streetcars on weekends. It had an opera house called the Wigwam, roller coasters, a zoo, a huge skating rink, and a 3,000-seat ballpark. When it closed, the land became the storybook homes of today's Idora Park neighborhood.
Streetcar suburb
Much of Bushrod was built in the early 1900s, when streetcar lines along Shattuck and Adeline linked North Oakland to downtown and to Berkeley. After the 1906 earthquake, many San Franciscans moved to the East Bay, and new blocks of Edwardian, Craftsman, and brown-shingle homes filled in. Streetcars on local streets ended in 1948, but the wide, walkable street grid they shaped is still here.
Black history in North Oakland
During and after World War II, many Black families moved to North Oakland in the Second Great Migration. They built a strong community in the face of redlining and housing discrimination. North Oakland is widely called the birthplace of the Black Panther Party. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale met at Merritt College, whose original campus was the old University High School building at 5714 MLK Jr Way, on the neighborhood's western edge. Merritt was also home to one of the country's first Black Studies programs.
Bushrod Park's fields turned out Hall of Famers and big leaguers, including Rickey Henderson and Frank Robinson. Read more on the park page.
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Walk it yourself: our self-guided history walk visits 14 stops, from the Don Budge courts to the site of Idora Park.
Dig deeper: Oakland LocalWiki, the Oakland Heritage Alliance, and the Mapping Inequality redlining map are great places to start.
Landmarks & places to know
Bushrod Park
Ten acres of fields, courts, and the rec center at 59th & Shattuck. More →
Old Merritt College
The former University High School building at 5714 MLK Jr Way, where the Black Panther Party's founders met.
Children's Hospital
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland is a major regional hospital and a big local employer, just south of the neighborhood.
Dover Street Park
A smaller neighborhood park and playground a few blocks west, popular with families.
Niebyl-Proctor Library
An independent library and event space on Telegraph, focused on history and social movements.
Murals
Keep an eye out on walls and underpasses around Shattuck, MLK, and Telegraph. North Oakland has a strong mural tradition.
Schools
Bushrod is served by Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). Public schools in and near the neighborhood include:
| School | Grades | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Sankofa United Elementary | K–5 | 581 61st St (across from the park) |
| Peralta Elementary | TK–5 | 460 63rd St |
| Emerson Elementary | K–5 | 4803 Lawton Ave (Temescal) |
School assignment depends on your address and OUSD's enrollment process. Check the OUSD enrollment site for your assigned school and deadlines.
Libraries
Temescal Branch
A beloved neighborhood branch with a strong kids' section. Its basement is home to the Oakland Tool Lending Library.
Hours & events
Golden Gate Branch
A neighborhood branch to the west, with programs for all ages.
Hours & eventsGetting around
BART
Ashby station (Adeline & Ashby) is the closest for most of the neighborhood. MacArthur is a quick bike or bus ride south and has every line, including trains to SFO. Rockridge is to the east.
AC Transit
- 18: Shattuck and MLK, to Berkeley and downtown Oakland
- 12: MLK, Temescal, and Grand Ave
- 6: Telegraph Ave, from UC Berkeley to downtown Oakland
Biking & walking
The neighborhood is flat and easy to get around. Quieter residential streets make good bike routes to Berkeley and downtown. See our getting-around tips for more.