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reviews
Charlestown is the oldest neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Originally called Mishawum by the Massachusett, it is located on a peninsula north of the Charles River, across from downtown Boston, and also adjoins the Mystic River and Boston Harbor. Charlestown was laid out in 1629 by engineer Thomas Graves, one of its early settlers, in the reign of Charles I of England. It was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Charlestown became a city in 1848 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874. With that, it also switched from Middlesex County, to which it had belonged since 1643, to Suffolk County. It has had a substantial Irish American population since the migration of Irish people during the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. Since the late 1980s the neighborhood has changed dramatically because of its proximity to downtown and its colonial architecture. A mix of Yuppie and Upper-middle class gentrification has influenced much of the area, as it has in many of Boston's neighborhoods, but Charlestown still maintains a strong Irish American population and "Townie" identity.
In the 21st century, Charlestown's diversity has expanded dramatically, along with growing rates of the very poor and very wealthy. Today Charlestown is a largely residential neighborhood, with much housing near the waterfront, overlooking the Boston skyline. Charlestown is home to many historic sites, hospitals and organizations, with access from the Orange Line Sullivan Square or Community College stops or the I-93 expressway.
reviews (12)
Driving in Charlestown is very easy and we also have the MBTA if you want to use that. The town is very friendly. There is a nice mall that a lot of people my age[senior citizens] enjoy. Healthcare is good. We have all the Boston Hospitals and a clinic here in town too.
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I'm 85 years old and have lived here my whole life. I was in Charlestown when no one had money. We would line up for food and have shared showers, but everyone was happy. In some ways, there is still that same sense of community here today. Things are changing though, and something has to be done. The town doesn't seem to be looking out for people like myself who have lived here for a long time. It used to be that I could have a fight or a disagreement with someone, about anything really, and we could come together and rely on other people to work it out. It's not that way anymore.