Neighborhoods in Boston facts for kids

Boston is a big city with many different areas called neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are important for how the city is organized and for its culture. The city of Boston has officially named 23 neighborhoods.

Here are the 23 official neighborhoods:

The islands in Boston Harbor are also part of the city. They are managed as the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Other city groups, like the Boston Redevelopment Authority, also have their own ways of naming neighborhoods. Boston also has many unofficial neighborhoods that overlap. These often have local groups that focus on smaller communities or shopping areas.

How Boston's Neighborhoods Grew Over Time

Boston's neighborhoods have changed a lot as the city has grown. The names West End, North End, and South End originally showed where they were on the Shawmut Peninsula. This was the first part of Boston. But because the city added nearby towns, these neighborhoods are no longer at the very edges of Boston.

Places like Back Bay and Bay Village used to be part of a real bay. They became neighborhoods after people filled in the water with land. This made the city much bigger! Other areas like Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, and Roxbury were once separate towns. They later became part of Boston. This history helps explain why these larger areas have clear borders.

Exploring Boston's Neighborhoods

Let's take a closer look at some of Boston's cool neighborhoods and what makes them special.

Downtown Boston and Nearby Areas

Neighborhoods of Boston as defined by the City's Office of Neighborhood Services

Downtown Boston is the city's busy center. It includes areas like Downtown Crossing, the Financial District, and Government Center.

Right around downtown are several unique neighborhoods:

• Chinatown/Leather District is a historic area. It used to be known for making clothes. Today, it has a lively Chinese and other Asian communities.
• South End is a diverse and welcoming community. It is also home to many artists and young professionals. There is also a strong African American community here.
• North End feels very Italian, with many Italian restaurants. While some Italian families have moved out, many young professionals now live here.
• Back Bay is west of the Boston Public Garden. It is known for its beautiful streets and buildings.
• Beacon Hill is where the Massachusetts State House is located. Both Back Bay and Beacon Hill are home to many important people. This includes politicians, famous writers, and business leaders.
• Bay Village is one of Boston's smallest neighborhoods. It has many old row houses built in the Greek Revival style.

North and East of Downtown

East Boston is north and east of downtown. Many people from Hispanic and Brazilian backgrounds live here. It is also where Logan International Airport is located. Charlestown is on the north side of the Charles River. It was once mostly Irish and is home to the Bunker Hill Monument. Now, many young professionals live in Charlestown.

West of Downtown

West of downtown are several neighborhoods popular with students:

• Fenway Kenmore is next to Boston University. Many college students and young professionals live here. It is also where the famous Fenway Park baseball stadium is found.
• Allston and Brighton have many students from nearby universities. Recent graduates also often choose to live here.
• Mission Hill is a diverse neighborhood. It is close to the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. This area has many world-class hospitals and medical schools.

South of Downtown

South of downtown, you'll find these neighborhoods:

• Dorchester is Boston's largest neighborhood. It is a working-class community and is considered Boston's most diverse area.
• Roxbury is mostly populated by African Americans, Caribbean Americans, and Latinos. It has historically been the center of Boston's Black community.
• Jamaica Plain is home to white professionals and Latinos. It also includes a large part of the Arnold Arboretum, a famous plant museum.
• South Boston is a mostly Irish-American neighborhood. It hosts the city's big St. Patrick's Day parade every year.

Further South

South of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester are these neighborhoods:

• Roslindale is known for its small shopping area. It also includes a smaller part of the Arnold Arboretum. Roslindale has recently become a neighborhood where minority groups make up the majority of residents.
• Mattapan has the highest number of African Americans in Boston.
• Hyde Park and West Roxbury feel like suburbs, even though they are part of Boston. Both have large areas of wooded parks. Hyde Park has many African Americans and Caribbean Americans. West Roxbury is mostly white, but its African American, Middle Eastern, and Latino populations are growing fast.

Smaller Areas Within Neighborhoods

The 23 official neighborhoods in Boston are made up of about 84 smaller areas, squares, and districts. For example, the Boston Redevelopment Authority defines 16 planning districts. Unofficially, Boston has around 105 neighborhoods in total!

Here are some of the smaller areas you might find within the main neighborhoods:

• Allston and Brighton include: Allston Village, Brighton Center, Cleveland Circle, and Packard's Corner.
• Back Bay includes: Copley Square (with the Boston Public Library) and Newbury Street.
• Bay Village is also known as South Cove.
• Beacon Hill includes: Louisburg Square and the Massachusetts State House.
• Charlestown includes: Bunker Hill, The Navy Yard, and City Square.
• Chinatown and the Leather District are often grouped together.
• Dorchester includes: Adams Corner, Ashmont, Fields Corner, Lower Mills, and Savin Hill.
• Downtown Boston and the Financial District include: Downtown Crossing, Government Center, and Post Office Square.
• East Boston includes: Eagle Hill, Jeffries Point, Orient Heights, and Logan International Airport.
• Fenway/Kenmore includes: Kenmore Square, Boston University, and Fenway Park.
• Hyde Park includes: Readville and Fairmount Hill.
• Jamaica Plain includes: Hyde Square and Forest Hills.
• Mattapan includes: Wellington Hill and Mattapan Square.
• Mid Dorchester includes: Bowdoin-Geneva, Codman Square, and Four Corners.
• Mission Hill and Longwood include: Brigham Circle and Parker Hill.
• North End includes: Hanover Street.
• Roslindale includes: Roslindale Square.
• Roxbury includes: Egleston Square, Fort Hill, Franklin Park, and Nubian Square.
• South Boston includes: Andrew Square, Fort Point, and the Seaport District.
• South End includes: South of Washington (SoWa).
• West End includes: Charles Street, North Station (and TD Garden), and Massachusetts General Hospital.
• West Roxbury includes: Parkway.

Images for kids

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  Aerial view of Back Bay and the neighboring City of Cambridge across the Charles River

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  General view of Bay Village

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  Map of Mid Dorchester and Dorchester

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  Christopher Columbus Park in Downtown Waterfront

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  Lilac Sunday, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain

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  North End, Boston

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Barrios de Boston para niños