The Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, Daugava Stadium and the Staburadze confectionery factory (a part of Orkla Latvia) are located in the area, and it is dominated by late 19th to early 20th century working class houses.

Latvian writer Jānis Grīziņš [lv] described the working-class area of Grīziņkalns in his 1928 adventure story Vārnu ielas republika ('Vārnu Street Republic' or 'Crow Street Republic'), which then was used as the premise of the 1970 Soviet Latvian film of the same name (Vārnu ielas republika [lv]).

However, until the second half of the 19th century it was a quiet and secluded place dominated by sandy dunes and meadows.

The highest spot in the neighbourhood is Grīziņkalns mound, a 24-meter high sand dune.

They were very active during the Revolution of 1905 because many of its local leaders lived or worked in Grīziņkalns.