Fruitvale, Oakland, California

Location of Fruitvale in the City of Oakland.

Fruitvale is a neighborhood in eastern Oakland, California, in the United States. It is located about two miles southeast of Lake Merritt and is home to Oakland's largest Latino population. Fruitvale's ZIP code is 94601.

The name (originally Fruit Vale) comes from the many fruit orchards (largely apricot and cherry) which dominated the area in the late 1800s. After the 1906 earthquake, the onslaught of refugees from San Francisco caused a population boom, and the unincorporated neighborhood was annexed into the City of Oakland by 1909.

The Fruitvale shopping district is located along International Boulevard (formerly East 14th Street), from Fruitvale Avenue to 38th Avenue and is one of the major commercial areas of Oakland. The area is home to many Latino businesses and hosts several annual cultural events, including a Cinco de Mayo parade and a Dia De Los Muertos festival.

The Fruitvale BART station is located near the center of the shopping district, at the corner of Fruitvale Avenue and East 12th Street.

In 2004, the Unity Council opened the Fruitvale Transit Village. The "Fruitvale Village" has become a model of transit oriented development; showcasing a mixture of retail and housing integrated with public transportation.

Jingletown

The subsection of the neighborhood adjacent to the Oakland Estuary is called Jingletown, also called "JT" by East Oakland natives. The history of Jingletown, begins with its name, originating from a habit of nearby mill workers, largely males of Portuguese and Azorean background, who would jingle the coins from a week's work in their pockets as they walked to display their prosperity. With the closure of the mill, the neighborhood fell into disrepair and became host to major gang and drug activity. In 1998, the neighborhood became home to an award-winning affordable housing project that has helped to revitalize the community. However, crime rates are on the rise again; in March and April of 2008, there were six shooting in only four weeks.

External links

• Unity Council (formerly Spanish Speaking Unity Council) - Community organization.
• The school of Mosaic Art in Jingletown
• Interactive Fruitvale District Map - Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Oakland Fire Department - Engine Company 13 - Fruitvale District - Unofficial FD Site