Traditional Neighborhoods, Waterfront & New Development
South Boston or "Southie" offers a mix of tradition, beachfront living, and an ever-changing landscape among its place in the city of Boston. Once a more traditional neighborhood, it is transforming into a hotspot of activity with new developments, housing, eclectic cafes and nightlife adding a new degree of appeal.
History
First called Dorchester Neck, South Boston was once a part of Dorchester. It was originally an isthmus that linked Colonized Dorchester and Dorchester Heights, and its land area was later expanded by landfill. Its place in Revolutionary War history was sealed in 1776 when, starting at Dorchester Heights, George Washington and his troops forced the British to finally flee from Boston. Some 600 acres of what we know of today as South Boston was annexed by the City of Boston in 1804 to become one of its early neighborhoods. Irish immigrants came to the neighborhood in large numbers for trade and service work in the 1800's as the area became more active as an industrial center with factories machine shops, and based on its immediate proximity to shipyards. The neighborhood grew into a working class community through the years and the majority of its residents Irish, with pockets of Polish and Lithuanian residents whose families settled in later. South Boston was in the national news on a regular basis in the 1970's with coverage of residents' animated protests against the enforced desegregated school busing at the time. While it still retains its Irish heritage and identity, the steady influx of new young professionals and growing families in recent years drawn to the neighborhood has made it much more diverse. Its competitive property values and close proximity to both Downtown Boston and the water has made South Boston one of the most popular neighborhoods in Boston for both developers and residents over the past 20 years.
