Roslindale
Roslindale began as a classic street car suburb. Today, one of the most unique characteristics of the area is the sheer number of people from all backgrounds who call Roslindale home. Roslindale Square, the heart of the neighborhood, is the subject of a National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street award. It is considered to be an example of the value of historic and aesthetic preservation in economic revitalization. [Roslindale Village Main Streets]
Jamaica Plain
Yes, Jamaica Plain is a part of the City of Boston; no, it is not its own town. Diversity is the strength of “JP,” to which it is lovingly referred by residents. Every ethnicity, socio-economic stratum, and sexual orientation is well represented in this neighborhood sandwiched primarily between Roxbury and Brookline (Brookline is its own town). The rich diversity in JP has created a strong character of social awareness and tolerance among neighbors and residents. [Jamaica Plain South Main Streets]
West Roxbury
Originally part of the town of Roxbury, West Roxbury formed its own government in 1851 and was annexed by Boston in 1874. Bordered by Roslindale and Hyde Park, West Roxbury’s main thoroughfare is Centre Street, lined with local restaurants and commercial establishments. Today, the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets and mostly single family homes give it a suburban feel in an urban setting. Life in the neighborhood centers around political and civic activism as well as local parishes and youth athletic leagues. [West Roxbury Main Streets]
Dorchester
Dorchester is Boston’s largest neighborhood and also its oldest, founded a few months before the city itself. The neighborhood’s historical diversity is exhibited in its architecture, from the old Victorian homes of wealthy Bostonians to the multi-family dwellings of later groups of immigrants. Today, Dorchester retains its diversity. Its main thoroughfare, Dorchester Avenue, connects many close-knit neighborhoods and thriving commercial districts of all kinds. Dorchester is also home to the University of Massachusetts at Boston and the John F. Kennedy Library.
