Central Square, Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Central Square Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Central Square, looking down Massachusetts Avenue toward Kendall Square and Harvard Bridge to Boston
Central Square Location in Greater Boston area Show map of Greater Boston area Central Square Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Central Square Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Built	1793
Architect	Hartwell and Richardson, et al.
Architectural style	Late 19th and 20th century Revivalism, Late Victorian, Federal
MPS	Cambridge MRA
NRHP reference No.	90000128
Added to NRHP	March 2, 1990

Central Square is a lively area in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's located where Massachusetts Avenue, Prospect Street, and Western Avenue meet. Another important spot nearby is Lafayette Square. This area is where Massachusetts Avenue, Columbia Street, Sidney Street, and Main Street come together.

Central Square is surrounded by other interesting places. Harvard Square is to the northwest. Inman Square is north along Prospect Street. Kendall Square is to the east along Main Street. A special part of Central Square, between Clinton Street and Main Street, is called the Central Square Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it's an important historical place.

Discovering Central Square's Culture

Central Square was named an official Cultural District in Massachusetts in 2012. This means it's a place known for its arts and culture. The area is famous for its many different kinds of restaurants. You can find food from all over the world here!

Central Square also has many churches, fun bars, and places to enjoy live music and theater. One unique spot is Richard B. Modica Way, also known as "Graffiti Alley." It's a popular place for street art and is a special part of Central Square. Many new businesses have opened in the area. These include companies that work on medicines, video games, and the internet. They like being close to MIT and Boston's medical centers.

You can also find many different places of worship here. These include Christ the King Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church. There are also Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church and St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church.

A Look at Central Square's History

Central Square, Cambridge, Mass., around 1911.

Central Square has a rich history shaped by many different groups of people. At first, people from England and Canada lived here. In the mid-1800s, many Irish immigrants moved to the Square. Later, people from other parts of Europe also made Central Square their home.

More recently, people from the West Indies, South America, and Africa have moved to the area. This mix of cultures makes Central Square a very diverse place.

Did you know that actor Ben Affleck grew up in Central Square? Also, the famous Necco factory was located here for many years. It made candy from 1927 to 2003. Today, the old Necco factory building is used for labs by Novartis.

Getting Around Central Square

Several Cambridge neighborhoods meet at Central Square. To the east, Area 4 is on the north side of Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridgeport is on the south side, between Massachusetts Avenue and the Charles River. These areas were once known as The Port. The area to the west of Central Square is called Mid-Cambridge.

It's easy to get to Central Square using public transportation. You can take the MBTA Red Line to Central station. Many buses also stop here, including routes 1, 64, 70, 83, and 91.

The Necco Co. water tower, built in 1927. It was painted like a roll of Necco Wafers in 1996. It got a new design in 2004 by Novartis.

The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline is special. It's named after Mark Sandman, a musician who often played at The Middle East in Central Square.

Central Square is a busy place for shopping and businesses. It serves the nearby neighborhoods of Cambridgeport, Riverside, Mid Cambridge, Area 4, and MIT.

Central Square around 1900.

Famous People from Central Square

Many well-known people have lived in Central Square, including:

• Ben Affleck, actor
• Casey Affleck, actor
• Matt Damon, actor
• Ken Brown, filmmaker
• Lisa Crafts, animator
• Patrick Ewing, athlete
• Vernon Grant, cartoonist
• John Forbes Nash, mathematician
• Margaret Hamilton, scientist and engineer

Cool Businesses to Visit

Central Square is home to some interesting businesses:

• Central Square Theater
• The Middle East (nightclub)
• Toscanini's

Books About Central Square

• Central Square (1998), by George Packer. Graywolf Press ISBN: 1-55597-277-2