Allston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allston
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Packard's Corner where Commonwealth Avenue and Brighton Avenue meet in Allston
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| Nicknames:
Allston, Rat City, Rock City
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Suffolk |
| Neighborhood of | Boston |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| Zip Code |
02134
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| Area codes | 617 & 857 |
Allston is a lively neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was named after Washington Allston, a famous American painter and poet. Allston is often grouped with the nearby neighborhood of Brighton, and together they are called Allston–Brighton.
The homes in Allston are a mix of styles. You'll see many brick apartment buildings, especially near Commonwealth Avenue. Closer to Brighton, there are wooden triple-decker homes, which are buildings with three apartments, one on each floor. Lower Allston, which is a bit separate, has many older single-family and multi-family Victorian homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Contents
Exploring Allston's Location
Allston is located next to other Boston neighborhoods like Fenway, Kenmore, and Brighton. It also borders the town of Brookline. The Charles River forms Allston's eastern and northern edges. You can easily reach Cambridge, Massachusetts from Allston by crossing one of several bridges over the Charles River.
Lower Allston: A Quiet Corner
The part of Allston north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, close to the Charles River, is known as Lower Allston. This area includes streets north of Cambridge Street and the Turnpike, all the way to the river. Lower Allston is a quiet neighborhood with very little crime. It's a mix of young professionals, skilled workers, and long-time residents. Unlike other parts of Allston, fewer students live here.
Lower Allston is also close to major roads like Route 2 and the Mass Pike. For public transport, you can use the Red Line subway at Harvard Square, the Green Line at Packard's Corner, or various bus routes.
Harvard University's Growth in Allston
Harvard University has big plans for expanding its campus into Lower Allston. They are building new science and engineering buildings. Harvard's Allston campus will eventually be even larger than its original campus in Cambridge. This growth brings new opportunities and changes to the neighborhood.
Allston's Past: A Look Back
Allston used to be the eastern part of the town of Brighton.
How Allston Got Its Name
In 1867, a new train station opened for the Boston and Albany Railroad. In 1868, this station and the local post office were named "Allston." This name honored Washington Allston, a famous painter who lived and worked nearby in Cambridge. Some say it was even named after one of his paintings called "Fields West of Boston." Allston is proud to be the only community in America named after an artist!
Brighton, including Allston, became part of the City of Boston in 1874. The famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow even owned properties in Allston.
Railroads and Stockyards
Allston grew a lot because of its large railroad and livestock operations. There was a big rail yard and large stockyards where animals were kept, along with a slaughterhouse in northern Brighton. All these livestock activities stopped by the mid-1900s. However, much of the rail yard was still used until 2013.
Boston's "Automile"
A section of Allston along Commonwealth Avenue was once known as Boston's original "Automile." This area was full of automobile dealerships. Packard's Corner got its name from a Packard car dealership that used to be there. Today, only a few car dealers remain, but the buildings still show this history.
Allston's Culture and Fun
Allston is a vibrant neighborhood with many small businesses and restaurants. Brighton Avenue is famous for its wide variety of international foods. Harvard Avenue has many furniture stores, thrift shops, and resale stores, which are popular with the large student population.
The area south of the turnpike, around Harvard Avenue, is known as "Allston Village." It has many shops, bars, and restaurants, including a number of Korean American businesses.
Allston Christmas: Moving Day Madness!
Every year around September 1st, Allston and other parts of Boston experience something unique called Allston Christmas. This is when many renters, especially college students, move out of their apartments and new renters move in.
Many rental agreements in Boston end on September 1st. This means a huge number of people move at the same time! It can be hard to rent moving trucks during this period. People who are leaving often put their unwanted items like furniture, kitchenware, and clothes out on the street. This is like a giant scavenger hunt for new residents, and it also means a lot of extra trash and recycling for the city!
Music Scene in Allston
Allston is a hub for music lovers. It has several music venues like Brighton Music Hall, O'Brien's Pub, and the Paradise Rock Club. Many recording studios are also located here.
The neighborhood has a strong "do it yourself" (DIY) music community. The annual Allston-Brighton parade and the Allston DIY Fest showcase local musical talent. In the 1960s, famous artists like The Byrds and Chuck Berry even played free concerts in Allston's Ringer Park.
Sports in Allston
Allston has a history with major sports teams. The Boston Braves baseball team played at Braves Field (now Boston University's Nickerson Field) from 1915 to 1952. The Boston Patriots football team (now the New England Patriots) also played some seasons in Allston at Nickerson Field and Harvard Stadium.
Learning in Allston
Allston has several great schools, both public and private.
Public Schools for All Ages
Public schools in Allston are part of the Boston Public Schools system.
- The Gardner Pilot Academy (also called the Thomas Gardner School) serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
- The Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is on Armington Street. It's the oldest public school for the hearing impaired in the United States! Helen Keller attended this school, and Alexander Graham Bell was inspired by his work there to invent the telephone.
- The Jackson Mann School, also on Armington Street, teaches students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Private Schools and International Learning
The German International School Boston is a private, bilingual school on Holton Street. It was started in 2001 and offers classes from preschool to twelfth grade. It's a great place for students to learn in both German and English.
Colleges and Universities Nearby
Allston is close to three major universities:
- Harvard University has a large part of its campus in North Allston. This includes the Harvard Business School and most of its sports facilities like Harvard Stadium. Harvard is also building new academic buildings here.
- Boston University is located along Commonwealth Avenue. Many of its schools and buildings stretch from Kenmore Square to Packard's Corner.
- Berklee College of Music has a practice and rehearsal building in Allston.
Getting Around Allston
Allston has good public transportation options, making it easy to get around Boston.
Subway and Bus Lines
- The Green Line B branch of the Boston MBTA subway runs through Allston along Commonwealth Avenue.
- Many MBTA bus lines serve Allston, including routes 57, 64, 66, 70, and 86. The city has even added special bus lanes to help buses move faster.
Train Stations
- Until 2013, a large freight train yard called Beacon Park Yard was in Allston. Harvard University has since bought this land.
- There are plans to add new commuter rail stops in the Allston-Brighton area. The Boston Landing station opened in 2017.
- Another station called West Station is planned. It will be built as part of a project to straighten the Massachusetts Turnpike over the old rail yard. This new station will make it even easier for people to travel by train.
Allston's People
Allston is home to about 28,621 people. The cost of living here is higher than the national average. The average age of people in Allston is 27, which is quite young!
A Diverse Community
Allston has many different immigrant groups. The largest groups come from Russia, East Asia (especially Korea), South Asia, and South America (like Brazil and Colombia).
Students and Residents
A large number of young adults (ages 18-34) live in Allston, making up over 80% of the population. Many of these are college students. This can sometimes create a bit of tension between long-time residents and the students who move in and out each year. Allston is known for its lively atmosphere, with many bars and house parties, especially during the school year.
Fun Events in Allston
- Allston Squirt Gun Day: This is a fun, unofficial event held every August. People wear green and gather to have a giant water gun fight!
- Lincoln Street Green Strip: In 2005, a special art project called the Lincoln Street Green Strip was created in Allston.
- Allston Village Street Fair: Each year, Harvard Avenue hosts this fair. It features live music, international food, local businesses, and activities for families.
- Aerosmith Concert: In 2012, the famous rock band Aerosmith played a concert outside their old home at 1325 Commonwealth Avenue.
- Rat City Arts Festival: This festival showcases local artists and musicians. It's playfully named after Allston's nickname, "Allston Rock City," and also brings attention to the neighborhood's rat population.
- Allston Rat Race: Commonwheels, a local bike group, holds this event. It's a bike race combined with a community festival, where riders complete fun activities around the neighborhood.
See also
In Spanish: Allston para niños
