Dorchester

Dorchester’s recorded history began with the arrival of English settlers on the ship Mary & John in 1630, originally inhabited by the Massachusett tribe. One of the largest towns in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, it included areas like South Boston and Hyde Park and remained a rural farming community until its annexation to Boston in 1870.

Dorchester grew significantly during the 18th and 19th centuries, spurred by water-powered industry along the Neponset River, with its population surging from 2,347 in 1800 to 125,000 by 1917. In the 1900s, diverse immigrant contributions and residential expansion, including architecturally designed homes and iconic triple-decker houses, continued to shape the area. Despite mid-20th-century urban renewal challenges, the community thrived, with notable women contributing to literature, medicine, music, education, social work, and sports.

Today, Dorchester is a vibrant, diverse neighborhood home to over 125,000 residents.