Mission Creek is a tiny pocket of San Francisco that sits between the Mission District and Potrero Hill. Historically, it was the bed of a tidal creek that once ran through this part of the city. By the early 1900s, the creek had been filled in and the land was left behind as marshy ground, not well-suited for housing. Instead, it became a patchwork of warehouses, light industry, and underused lots.

For much of the 20th century, this pocket of the city was part of San Francisco’s industrial backbone. You could find bakeries, canneries, furniture makers, print shops, and small-scale manufacturers. Over time, as industry modernized, many of these factories moved production elsewhere.

In the 1970s through the 1990s, the factories moved their production elsewhere the area became attractive to artists, makers, and small businesses looking for affordable large space. Studios and creative workshops began filling the old industrial buildings, and little by little, a community identity formed. Unlike larger, more defined neighborhoods, Mission Creek has always been small-scale and self-contained. A kind of hidden pocket with its own character, shaped by the mix of artists, craftspeople, and independent businesses who put down roots here.

That’s why it’s often called a microneighborhood. It doesn’t span many blocks, but it has its own distinct vibe and community spirit. It’s the kind of place where you still feel the history of industry and warehouses, while also seeing creativity, artistry, and local businesses thriving in the same spaces.

The bounds of Mission Creek Are 13th Street to 20th and Capp Street to Potrero Ave.