Fruitvale explodes after 1906 earthquake

In 1906, the "Great Quake" occurred offshore of San Francisco, setting off days of shockwaves that you could feel from Oregon to Los Angeles. Experts estimate it was about 7.9 magnitude on the Richter scale. In addition to killing an estimated 3,000 people, the tremors and subsequent fires destroyed at least 28,000 buildings, leaving 200,000 refugees without homes.

Oakland saw a huge influx of newcomers to its urban area, which was desirable due to its cheap land and relatively low population. In fact, Oakland's population more than doubled from about 67,000 in 1900 to 150,000 in 1910. By 1910, approximately 5.5% of Oakland's population was non-White, of which the majority was Black or East Asian.