Brighton, Boston: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1646, |
In 1646, Reverend John Eliot established a “Praying Indian” village on the present Newton-Brighton boundary, where resided local [[native americans|native]]s converted to Christianity. The first permanent English settlement came as settlers crossed the [[Charles River]] from [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], establishing Little Cambridge, the area's name before 1807. Brighton was originally a part of Cambridge.<ref>http://www.brightonbot.com/history.php Brighton Board of Trade history page</ref> |
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Before the [[American Revolutionary War]], Little Cambridge become a small prosperous farming community |
Before the [[American Revolutionary War]], Little Cambridge become a small, prosperous farming community with fewer than 300 residents. Its inhabitants included wealthy Boston merchants such as [[Benjamin Faneuil]]. |
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A key event in the history of Allston-Brighton was the |
A key event in the history of Allston-Brighton was the establishment in 1775 of a cattle market to supply the Continental Army. Jonathan Winship I and Jonathan Winship II established the market, and in the post-war period that followed, the Winships become the largest meat packers in the state. |
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The residents of Little Cambridge resolved to secede from Cambridge when the latter's government made decisions detrimental to the cattle industry and also failed to repair the Great Bridge linking the two towns. Legislative approval was |
The residents of Little Cambridge resolved to secede from Cambridge when the latter's government made decisions detrimental to the cattle industry and also failed to repair the Great Bridge linking the two towns. Legislative approval was obtained in 1807 and Little Cambridge christened itself Brighton. |
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From: [http://www.brightonbot.com/history.php Brighton Board of Trade] |
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== Transportation == |
== Transportation == |
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Revision as of 04:55, 19 November 2007
Brighton is a neighborhood of the City of Boston, Massachusetts, located in the northwest corner of the city.
History
In 1646, Reverend John Eliot established a “Praying Indian” village on the present Newton-Brighton boundary, where resided local natives converted to Christianity. The first permanent English settlement came as settlers crossed the Charles River from Cambridge, establishing Little Cambridge, the area's name before 1807. Brighton was originally a part of Cambridge.[1]
Before the American Revolutionary War, Little Cambridge become a small, prosperous farming community with fewer than 300 residents. Its inhabitants included wealthy Boston merchants such as Benjamin Faneuil.
A key event in the history of Allston-Brighton was the establishment in 1775 of a cattle market to supply the Continental Army. Jonathan Winship I and Jonathan Winship II established the market, and in the post-war period that followed, the Winships become the largest meat packers in the state.
The residents of Little Cambridge resolved to secede from Cambridge when the latter's government made decisions detrimental to the cattle industry and also failed to repair the Great Bridge linking the two towns. Legislative approval was obtained in 1807 and Little Cambridge christened itself Brighton.
Transportation
Brighton is accessible via the B line of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Green Line as well as its local bus (Routes 57 - Kenmore Square to Watertown Yard, 64 - Oak Square to Central Square (Cambridge) via Cambridge Street, 65 - Kenmore Square to Brighton Center via Longwood Medical District, 70 - Waltham to Central Square (Cambridge) via Western Avenue and 86 - Cleveland Circle to Harvard Square via Market Street) and inner-express bus (Routes 501 - Brighton Center to Financial District and 503 - Brighton Center to Copley Square) routes. The C and D branches of the Green line also run nearby though not through Brighton.
Geography
Brighton is a neighborhood of Boston that is connected to the rest of the city by the Allston neighborhood and is otherwise surrounded by Cambridge, Watertown, Newton, and Brookline. The Charles River separates Brighton from Cambridge and Watertown. According to the Census Bureau, Brighton, defined by zip code 02135, has a population of 43,887 and a land area of 2.78 square miles.
Brighton is, for the most part, administered jointly with the adjacent neighborhood of Allston (zip code 02134). The two are often referred to together as "Allston-Brighton" (and by some as "Brighton-Allston"), and have a combined population of 65,276 and a land area of 4.12 square miles.
As a separate neighborhood, Brighton has its own City Councillor, its own resident parking stickers, and its own distinctive history.
Colleges and universities
Brighton is host to the Bryman Institute, Saint John's Seminary and portions of Boston College and Harvard University. Currently the latter two institutions have ambitious and controversial plans to expand their presence in Brighton. The area is also proximal to other colleges, including Boston University, and houses many of their students and faculty.
See also the List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Boston.
Famous residents
- William F. Galvin, Secretary of State
- Joe Kennedy, son of the late Robert Kennedy
- James Lynch, member of the Dropkick Murphys
- Fred Salvucci, former Massachusetts secretary of transportaion
- Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River, among many other Boston-set novels
- Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, was born in Brighton.
- Patrick J Kennedy, U.S. Congressman for Rhode Island's 1st district
Notes
- ^ http://www.brightonbot.com/history.php Brighton Board of Trade history page
References
- Dr. William P. Marchione, "A Short History of Allston-Brighton"
- Dr. William P. Marchione, The Bull in the Garden (1986)
- Dr. William P. Marchione, Images of America: Allston-Brighton (1996)
Excerpts: