Neighborhood

Roxbury, Massachusetts is 375 years young. It's vibrant, dynamic, eclectic, multilayered, and multi-faceted. We have our own restaurants, stores, theaters, parks, playgrounds, schools, churches, mosques, landmarks, art, music, style - and best of all - people. We have a unique, complex culture that has influenced the United States since before the states even united.

Roxbury is the geographic center of Boston and it eminates a sense of culture that at once old, new, and ongoing. Originally known as "Rocksbury" for its huge outcroppings of puddingstone, Roxbury was founded in 1630 with borders that included Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and West Roxbury. Growth and prosperity made Roxbury so desireable that in 1867, Boston absorbed the town "rock, stock, and puddingstone."

Roxbury still retains the feel of a highly energetic small town. The flatland bustles with modern commerce as inhabitants traverse Washington, Dudley, and Warren Streets - roads that converge to become Roxbury's commercial center in the Dudley Square business district. The hills offer scenic vistas and more architectural styles than most neighborhoods in Boston. A vibrant arts scene, a rich history, and a strong and continuing tradition of activism and civic engagement all contribute to Roxbury's unique sense of place.

Roxbury is not just a physical community. It is a spiritual and emotional community for current residents (mostly people of African descent) and former residents (Irish, Jewish, and many others). It is now undergoing a period of renaissance and redevelopment and is home to a lively cultural mix that includes African-Americans, Cape Verdeans, people from across the Caribbean, Africans, Latinos, and European Americans. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy our businesses and cultural institutions.