West of downtown , across Van Ness Avenue , lies the large Western Addition neighborhood , which became established with a large African American population after World War II . The Western Addition is usually divided into smaller neighborhoods including Hayes Valley , the Fillmore , and Japantown , which was once the largest Japantown in North America but suffered when its Japanese American residents were forcibly removed and interned during World War II . The Western Addition survived the 1906 earthquake with its Victorians largely intact , including the famous " Painted Ladies " , standing alongside Alamo Square . To the south , near the geographic center of the city is Haight-Ashbury , famously associated with 1960s hippie culture . The Haight is now home to some expensive boutiques and a few controversial chain stores , although it still retains some bohemian character
1906 earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
San Francisco