Roxbury, Boston

Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is one of the 23 official neighborhoods of Boston and is known as the "heart of Black culture in Boston." Roxbury was founded in 1630 as one of the first towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and became a city in 1846 before joining Boston in 1868.

The area includes many important places such as Longwood, Mission Hill, the Christian Science Center, the Prudential Center, Symphony Hall, Northeastern University, and Harvard Medical School. Roxbury has also created community gardens and the city's first urban farm to provide fresh food for people in need. The neighborhood continues to support its community with youth centers and social service programs.

Indigenous peoples

Before Europeans arrived, the area around Roxbury was home to the Massachusett people. These Native communities lived in small groups, moving between places for hunting in the winter and fishing near the coast in the summer. Some old books said no Native people lived there, but we now know this is wrong, thanks to old records and discoveries made in places like the Arnold Arboretum and Jamaica Pond.

European settlement in the 17th century

The Massachusetts Bay Colony started six towns, including Boston, Cambridge, and Roxbury. For over 200 years, Roxbury also included places called West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. Being three miles south, Roxbury was an important place for travel and trade because it was the only land path to the capital city. In the 1600s, Roxbury had many things that settlers valued, like land for farming, trees, a brook for water and power, and stone for building. The area is known for its hilly land and special stone called Roxbury Puddingstone, which was used in many buildings and helped the town grow.

The people of Roxbury began with the First Church in Roxbury, started in 1632. The church was both a place for worship and for town meetings. Early leaders included Amos Adams, Richard Dummer, and his wife Mary. The town’s most well-known leader was Reverend John Eliot, who helped teach the local people about Christianity. The town was first called “Rocksberry” because the rocky soil made farming difficult.

Boston was linked to the rest of Massachusetts by a narrow strip of land called the Boston Neck or Roxbury Neck, where many early colony leaders lived. One of these leaders, William Pynchon, left Roxbury in 1636 to start the town of Springfield, Massachusetts. Later, Roxbury became famous for its apple orchards, especially for a special type of apple called the Roxbury Russet, which was perfect for making cider.

Revolutionary War and following

The First Church of Roxbury was where William Dawes began his "Midnight Ride" on April 18, 1775. He rode to warn Lexington and Concord that the British were coming, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War. After the war, people who could afford it wanted to live in their own houses away from the city. This made Roxbury one of the first American suburbs. Many homes were built in a style called Greek Revival, inspired by ancient Greece, which the young United States admired.

In the early 1800s, trade in items like rum, salt, fish, and tobacco was very successful. This led to new transportation, including horse-drawn carriages and a railroad from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island in 1835. Many Irish people came to Massachusetts during the Great Famine in the 1840s, and some settled in Roxbury. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, built in 1846, was the first church with mostly Irish members. Some beautiful old homes from that time still exist today, like the Edward Everett Hale House and the Alvah Kittredge Mansion. As more workers were needed, old farms were divided into smaller homes, including row houses and multi-family homes, especially after trolley service started in 1887. Hibernian Hall, built in 1913, is now the Roxbury Center of the Arts.

20th century

In the early 1900s, many people from Germany moved to the United States, some settling in the Mission Hill area, which was part of Roxbury at the time. They helped build many breweries along Stony Brook until prohibition stopped alcohol production.

During the 1940s and 1950s, many people from the southern United States and the Caribbean islands, like Jamaica and Barbados, moved to northern cities such as Boston. This helped Roxbury become the center of the African American community in Boston.

City planners set aside land for Franklin Park, which is the largest park in Boston with 527 acres. It was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and is the final part of the Emerald Necklace, a seven-mile stretch of public parks that starts at Boston Common.

Lower Roxbury

Lower Roxbury was a lively area between Dudley Street and Tremont Street, with many shops along Ruggles Street. One famous shop was People's Market, Boston's first supermarket in a Black neighborhood, located at the corner of Douglas Square and Tremont Street.

In 1986, there was a plan called the Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project. It aimed to create a new city named "Mandela" that would include parts of several Boston neighborhoods. The idea was to have a local government that treated everyone fairly. However, a vote in 1988 decided not to move forward with this plan.

Industry

In the 1600s, many people in Roxbury worked on farms or lived off the land. By the 1700s, mills and tanneries became important, and in the 1800s, breweries, piano makers, iron foundries, and rubber makers provided jobs for more people.

By the early 1900s, Roxbury had many different places like department stores, hotels, silent movie theaters, banks, and even a bowling alley. As the marsh areas were filled in, factories and warehouses were built. Today, most of these spaces are used for offices or shops, with a focus on keeping jobs in the neighborhood and creating opportunities for young people.

Urban policy

As Roxbury grew during the 1800s, the northern part became a place where many people worked in factories. Many families from England, Ireland, and Germany lived there. The rest of Roxbury stayed mostly rural and saw the start of some of the first streetcar neighborhoods in the United States. This helped Roxbury become one of the first cities in Massachusetts. The area that was not made into a city became the town of West Roxbury.

In the early 1900s, many new immigrants settled in Roxbury, including a large Jewish community near Grove Hall. There was also a growing Irish population, especially around Dudley Square (now Nubian Square), which became a busy shopping area. In the 1940s and 1950s, many African Americans moved to Roxbury from the South, making it the heart of Black culture in Boston. Unfortunately, after the death of Martin Luther King Jr., some stores on Blue Hill Avenue were damaged, which hurt the area's growth. Problems like fires and trash also made it harder for businesses to thrive.

In 1987, the train route along Washington Street was moved to make way for a new park area. Local people have worked hard to bring back historic parts of Roxbury and create a special park area. There have also been plans to make Roxbury its own city again, but the idea was turned down by Boston's leader in 1986.

The building of a new park helped bring more development to the area, including a college and shopping places. Some parts of Roxbury, like Fort Hill, have seen more people moving in, including students and artists. New projects are underway to build homes and improve the neighborhood. In 2014, a program started to help new businesses grow in what used to be Dudley Square. There are plans to build more homes for people who need them and to make sure everyone, including those with disabilities, can use and enjoy the neighborhood.

Demographics

Roxbury is home to a diverse community with African American, Hispanic, and Asian families, as well as many young professionals. As of 2016, the neighborhood had a population of 59,626 people.

The area is very densely populated, with 13,346 people living in each square mile. Many people in Roxbury were born in other countries, and a large part of the population is younger than 25. The median household income is $34,616, and many residents use public transportation to get to work.

Housing

Roxbury has many places and groups that help with housing. There are government housing options, shelters, and many different organizations that help people find and keep homes. The Boston Fair Housing office helps people buy or improve their homes, offering training and money help for those buying for the first time. Other groups like MASS Housing and Action For Boston Community Development also work to make sure people can afford to live in their homes.

There are also programs that help families get fresh food and stay healthy. Project Bread supports community food programs all over Massachusetts, helping children, families, and older people get the food they need. The Food Project grows food and helps give it to people in need, working with young people and volunteers. The Foodsource Hotline is a free phone line where people can get help finding food, learning about meals at school or summer programs, and getting help with food assistance programs. These programs work together to make sure everyone has enough good food to eat.

Recreational centers

The Roxbury YMCA began in 1851. It helps young people learn about staying healthy and being responsible members of the community. It is one of the biggest urban YMCA locations in the country and offers many services for children and families, such as adult education, swimming, childcare, sports, and health programs.

The John A. Shelburne community center is a place for fun, learning, and cultural activities in the middle of historic Roxbury. The Reggie Lewis Center opened in 1995 and is used for sports like basketball, track, and soccer. It hosts many track meets and has programs to help students with homework, physical activities, and arts and crafts.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Students in Roxbury go to schools run by Boston Public Schools. These schools assign students based on their choices and where they live. Roxbury has several special schools, including Boston Latin Academy, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, and John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science. There are also charter schools like Roxbury Charter High Public School, which operated from 2003 to 2006.

Boston Public Schools started special “pilot schools” in 1994. These schools try new ways to help students learn better. Roxbury has six of these charter schools, which help students who are new to America, those who need extra help, or students who have had trouble in school.

Colleges and universities

Roxbury is home to Roxbury Community College, which offers two-year degrees and certificates. The college has students from many different backgrounds. There are also other learning centers in the area, like the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Emmanuel College, which offer special classes and spiritual learning.

Public libraries

The Boston Public Library has a branch called Shaw-Roxbury Branch in Roxbury. This library helps people learn and offers many books and resources. There is also a literacy center nearby to help people learning English.

Other educational services

Roxbury has special schools like Boston Day and Evening Academy, which helps students who have had trouble staying in school. City on a Hill Charter Public School is another school that helps students who need extra support to succeed. These schools work hard to make sure every student can graduate and go to college.

Entertainment

Museums

The Boston Children's Museum started in 1913 and is one of the biggest children’s museums in the world. It was made to help kids feel curious about science and the arts.

The Hamill Gallery of African Art was owned by Bobbi and Tim Hamill and was located in an old wallpaper factory. It had over 40,000 pieces from Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria. The gallery aimed to teach people about different cultures and real art. It opened in 1990 and closed in 2019.

Parks

Roxbury has many parks, such as those around the William J. Devine Memorial Golf Course and Franklin Park. Other parks include the Eliot Burying Grounds, Puddingstone Garden, and Buena Vista Urban wilds. These parks received money to help improve and renew the area. Other popular spots are Southwest Corridor Park, Highland Park (known as Fort Hill), and the Elma Lewis Playhouse Park, which holds concerts and events all year. The park is part of the Franklin Parks Coalition.

Miscellaneous entertainment in Roxbury

The Roxbury Center for the Arts, Culture, and Trade opened in 2005 to celebrate local culture through different kinds of arts.

The Roxbury International Film Festival started in 1999 and shows films made by or about people of color. For four days, many films are shown, and over 600 films have been screened so far. The festival is one of the largest in New England for filmmakers of color. It also offers workshops where artists can meet and learn new skills.

The Roxbury Unity Parade honors the area’s Black community and culture.

Roxbury also holds an Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace every year since 2000.

You can see public sculptures and murals on Ruggles Street and Malcolm X Boulevard.

MainStage theater at Roxbury Community College offers workshops for students and kids, along with public plays. The theater also invites public speakers for talks open to everyone.

Historic buildings

Abbotsford – 300 Walnut Avenue

Abbotsford was built in 1872 for industrialist Aaron Davis Williams Jr. Designed by architect Alden Frink, it is a beautiful Victorian Gothic-style villa. The home once had apple orchards and later became a school. Today, it is a museum for art from around the world.

Blue Hill Avenue Synagogue – 397 Blue Hill Avenue

Designed by architect Frederick Norcross in 1905, this building was used by a Jewish group. Later, it became a church and then a Baptist church. It shows a style called Late Romanesque Revival.

Cedar Street Marble Row Houses – 28–40 Cedar St.

These houses were built in 1871 and show a French style called Second Empire style. They were built to attract more people to live in the area.

Cox Building – John Eliot Square

Built in 1870, this building has shops on the bottom and rooms above. It also includes homes next to it.

Edward Everett Hale House – 12 Morley St.

Edward Everett Hale, a writer and church leader, lived here for many years. The house was built in 1841.

Eliot Burying Ground – Eustis St.

This is the oldest cemetery in Roxbury, established in 1630. It is named after Reverend John Eliot, who is buried there.

First Church of Roxbury – John Eliot Square

This is Boston’s oldest wooden church, built in 1804. It was built on land that was shared by the community long ago. The church welcomed Native Americans as members.

Freedom House – 14 Crawford St.

Founded in 1949, Freedom House has helped people in Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain. It has supported important events and changes in Boston.

Hibernian Hall – Dudley Square

Hibernian Hall started in New York City and moved to Boston. It was a place for Irish people to gather and celebrate their culture.

Landing Place – 500 Parker St.

This spot was used for boats long ago. A mill was built here, and later a big rope factory.

Malcolm X and Ella Little-Collins House – 72 Dale St

This was the home of Ella Little-Collins, sister of Malcolm X. She helped him during his early years. Malcolm started a community center here.

Mission Church - The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – 1545 Tremont St.

This church was built in 1874 in a style called Romanesque. It was made from stone found nearby.

Palladio Hall – 60–62 Warren St.

Built in the late 1870s, this building shows an Italian Renaissance style. It was designed by Nathaniel J. Bradlee.

Shirley Eustis House – 33 Shirley St.

This mansion was built between 1747 and 1750. It was used by soldiers during a big war and later became a home for a Massachusetts leader.

Spooner-Lambert House – 64 Bartlett St.

Built in 1782 for a leader of the Roxbury Artillery. A Boston merchant bought it in 1788.

William Lloyd Garrison House – Highland Park St.

This house was home to William Lloyd Garrison, who worked to end slavery. The house was built in the 1840s.

City infrastructure

Waste collection and disposal

The Code Enforcement Police help keep Boston clean by making sure people follow rules about trash and recycling. They walk, bike, or drive around the city to check on things like illegal dumping and unshoveled sidewalks.

The Waste Reduction Division collects recycling, trash, and yard waste for residents. They also have special days for getting rid of hazardous waste, paint, and motor oil, and they even offer compost bins for a discount. In Boston, you can put all your recyclables together in one bin for pickup on recycling days. They also collect leaf and yard waste from April to early December. Residents can safely dispose of hazardous waste and shred old documents for free on certain dates and events.

Transportation

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers subway and bus services to the Roxbury neighborhood.

The Silver Line bus route stops at Nubian Station, a bus stop above ground. Roxbury has many bus lines that help people get around.

Notable people

Roxbury has been home to many interesting people over the years. Some are well-known athletes like basketball players Jalen Adams and Shabazz Napier, and singers such as Ricky Bell and Bobby Brown from the group New Edition.

Others made their mark in different fields. Edward Brooke was one of the first African Americans elected to the U.S. Senate. Malcolm X spent important years growing up in Roxbury. Many artists, writers, and community leaders also lived there, contributing to its rich history.

Sites of interest

Roxbury, Boston, has many interesting places to visit and learn about. Some of these places include Franklin Park Zoo, where you can see many animals, and Hibernian Hall, an important historic building. There is also the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School for education. Nubian Square is a center for culture, and Roxbury Community College offers higher learning opportunities. The Shirley-Eustis House is an old house that shows how people lived long ago.