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South Boston, Massachusetts

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	Topics South Boston, Massachusetts Topic Home South Boston is a densely populated neighborhood in BostonBoston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States.... , MassachusettsMassachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States.... , United StatesUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... , located south of the Fort Point ChannelFort Point Channel Fort Point Channel is a channel separating South Boston from downtown Boston, Massachusetts, feeding into Boston Harbor.... and abutting Dorchester Bay. It was formerly known as Dorchester Neck and today is referred to as Southie by its residents. South Boston is well known for being a working classWorking class Working class is a term used both in academic sociology as well as in ordinary conversation.... Irish-Catholic neighborhood. Almost all of the parishes are Irish-Catholic, the majority of restaurants and pubs Irish themed, and several Irish-American Clubs are located there. The politicians who represent the area are all Irish-Catholic. History Geographically, Dorchester Neck was an isthmusIsthmus An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that is bordered on two sides by water and connects two larger land masses.... , a narrow strip of land that connected the mainland of the colonial settlement of Dorchester, MassachusettsDorchester, Massachusetts Dorchester is the largest neighborhood within the City of Boston, located within Suffolk County, Massachusetts.... with Dorchester HeightsDorchester Heights Dorchester Heights is the central area of South Boston.... . Landfill has since greatly increased the amount of land on the eastern side of the historical neck, and widened the connection to the mainland to the point that South Boston is no longer considered separate from it. South Boston gained an identity separate from Dorchester, but the two were annexed by Boston in pieces, from 1804 to 1870. See History of Boston, MassachusettsHistory of Boston, Massachusetts The history of Boston, Massachusetts intertwines with the history of the United States.... It was here on Dorchester Heights, during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between Great Britain and r... that George WashingtonGeorge Washington George Washington commanded the American colonies' Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War , and was the fir... placed his cannon and forced the evacuation of the British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776. The British evacuated Boston and Fort William and MaryFort William and Mary Overview Fort William and Mary was a colonial defensive post at New Castle, New Hampshire.... for HalifaxHalifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM, is a Canadian regional municipality, the largest populatio... , Nova ScotiaNova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on Canada's southeastern coast.... . Fort William and Mary was replaced with a brick fortification known as Fort IndependenceFort Independence (Massachusetts) Fort Independence is a granite fortress that provided harbor defenses for Boston, Massachusetts, USA.... . That fort was replaced by a granite fortification (bearing the same name) prior to the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America between the federal government and 11 Sout... , and still stands on Castle Island. During the 1970s South Boston received national attention for its opposition to court mandated school desegregationFacts About Desegregation Desegregation is the process of ending racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States.... by busingDesegregation busing Desegregation busing, referred to as forced busing by opponents to desegregated schools in some areas, is the practice... students to different neighborhoods. In the 1990s, South Boston became the focus for a Supreme Court case on the right of gayGay Summary Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay is a word usuall... and lesbianLesbian A lesbian is a female who is exclusively emotionally, sexually, romantically and/or aesthetically attracted to other females... groups to participate in the Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day Overview Saint Patrick's Day is the feast day which annually celebrates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, on March 17.... parade. The case was decided in favor of the parade's sponsors when the United States Supreme Court supported the South Boston Allied War Veterans' right to determine who can participate in their annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Local Dorchester author Paul Joseph Walkowski and Attorney William Connolly detailed the ordeals of the Veterans in their book "From Trial Court to the United States Supreme Court." "Southie" is home to a memorial for Vietnam Veterans. It was dedicated on September 13, 1981 and is located at Independence Square, which is more commonly called "M Street Park." The City Point area of South Boston, labeled "East Side" by realtors, has seen a major increase in property values due to its close proximity to downtown Boston and gentrificationFacts About Gentrification Gentrification is a process in which low-cost, physically deteriorated neighborhoods experience physical renovation and an ... . Poorer areas around Andrew Square and the Lower End, referred to as the "West Side" by real estate brokers, face a lot of the same problems found in many city neighborhoods including drug addiction and street crimeStreet crime *Street crime* is a loose term for criminal offences taking place in public places.... . South Boston is a neighborhood that actively involves children and young adults. Two common places for children and young adults to attend to after a long school day would be the Neighborhood House (ollie) and the South Boston Boys & Girls Club. At the Neighborhood house, which is located up the point of South Boston, some children and teens are able to go there once schools let out. They are able to do their homework, play in the gym, use computers and attend dances on Friday nights. At the Boys & Girls Club the ages range from 6 to 18 year olds. At the Boys & Girls Club members are able to attend different area such as the gym, games room, discovery or the library. Each area is made for all the members to interact with different tasks. At the Boys & Girls club members are able to go from 3 to 9 o'clock if they are of appropriate age. There is always a great event that taks place on Fridays at the Boys & Girls Club. Both places for children and young adults allows them to have a better future because they are kept off the streets at night. The section of South Boston north of First Street is targeted for massive redevelopment by the administration of Mayor Thomas MeninoThomas Menino Thomas Michael Menino is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts and the city's first Italian-American mayor as well as b... and the Boston Redevelopment AuthorityBoston Redevelopment Authority Summary The Boston Redevelopment Authority is a planning and development agency in Boston.... . Initially referred to as the "Seaport District" by the BRA, this area was officially restyled the "South Boston Waterfront" after virulent protest from natives and local politicians, including City Council President James M. Kelly. The Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) Project, also known as the "Big Dig" has created a completely new transportation network for this area and quite a few new hotel and office projects have come online in the past few years. The recently opened Boston Convention and Exhibition CenterBoston Convention and Exhibition Center The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is the largest exhibition center in the Northeast United States, with some 1,700... straddles D Street and a new home for the Institute of Contemporary ArtInstitute of Contemporary Art The Institute of Contemporary Art is a museum and exhibition space in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, founded in 1936.... hangs over Boston Harbor just north of Northern Avenue. Demographics South Boston is well known for being an Irish-American neighborhood. A small portion of its residents are of PolishPolish American A Polish American is an American citizen of Polish descent.... and Italian descent. Schools Public Excel High School (9-12) Monument High School (9-12) Separate Division Odyssey High School (9-12) Separate Division James Condon Elementary School (K-5) Joseph P. Tynan School (K-5) Michael J. Perkins School (K-5) Oliver Hazard Perry School (K-8) Patrick F. Gavin Middle School (6-8) Private Gate Of Heaven Elementary School (K-8) St Brigid School (K-6} St Peter Academy (K-8) Cultural and Language Schools Szkola Jezyka Polskiego w Bostonie (John Paul II Polish School for Children and Teens) Source: Public housing South Boston is home to some of the oldest public housingPublic housing Public housing or project homes is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which ... projects in the United States. In the last 30 years they have changed from having a mostly white population to a more ethnically mixed population. These housing facilities are under the control of the Boston Housing Authority and include West Broadway, West Ninth Street(these two facilities are next to each other and commonly called the "D Street Projects"), Old Colony, and Mary Ellen McCormack (also known as the Old Harbor). The West Broadway Ninth Street Projects were knocked down in 2005 and are now a retirement housing building. Other developments are the Foley and Monsignor Powers. According to recent information from the Boston HeraldBoston Herald The *Boston Herald* is a tabloid newspaper, the smaller of the two big dailies in Boston, Massachusetts, with a daily circ... , three out of the six most dangerous housing projects in Boston are in "Southie". West Broadway, Mary Ellen McCormack, and Old Colony ranked fourth, fifth, and sixth on the list with 88, 77, and 72 reported crimes last year. Transportation South Boston is served by three Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Red LineRed Line (MBTA) The Red Line is the newest of the MBTA rapid transit lines in the Boston, Massachusetts area.... rapid transit stations: BroadwayBroadway (MBTA station) Broadway is a station on the Red Line subway at the intersection of Dorchester Avenue and Broadway in South Boston, Massachu... , AndrewAndrew (MBTA station) Andrew is a station on the rapid transit Red Line at Dorchester Avenue at Andrew Square, by Southampton Street, Dorchester S... and JFK/UMassJFK/UMass (MBTA station) JFK/UMass Station is located at the intersection of Columbia Road and Morrissey Boulevard, in the Dorchester neighborhood of... (formerly Columbia). MBTA bus serviceMBTA buses in South Boston The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates a number of buses in South Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, most of them con... connects these stations with the residential areas of South Boston, downtown Boston and the Back Bay. The MBTA Silver LineSilver Line (MBTA) The Silver Line is the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's sole Bus Rapid Transit line, running in two, unconnected... , a bus rapid transitBus rapid transit Summary Bus rapid transit is a broad term given to a variety of different transportation systems that, through infrastructural and s... service running partly in a tunnel from South StationSouth Station (Boston) South Station, located at Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street, in the U.S.... , also serves the north side of South Boston and City Point. South Boston is also served by five bus routes including the numbers 5, 7, 9, 10, 11. Notable residents James "Whitey" Bulger, brother of William M. Bulger and alleged head of Boston's organized crime Winter Hill GangWinter Hill Gang The Winter Hill Gang is a loose confederation of Boston, Massachusetts area, mostly Irish-American organized crime figures.... . Is a federal fugitive on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Most Wanted List William M. BulgerWilliam M. Bulger Summary William Michael Bulger to James Joseph Bulger and Jean, was the third of their six children.... , former president of the Massachusetts SenateMassachusetts Senate The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commo... , former president of the University of MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts The University of Massachusetts is the five-campus public university system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.... James Brendan Bennet ConnollyJames Connolly (athlete) James Brendan Bennet Connolly was an American athlete and author.... , athlete and author who, in 1896, became the first modern Olympic champion John CunniffJohn Cunniff Summary John Cunniff was an American NHL hockey coach.... , professional hockey coach and athlete Richard Cushing, Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston Michael F. FlahertyMichael F. Flaherty Michael F. Flaherty is an at-large member of the Boston City Council.... , former President of the Boston City Council, current At Large City Councillor. Raymond FlynnRaymond Flynn Raymond Leo Flynn, also known as Ray Flynn, was the Mayor of Boston from 1984 to 1993, and later the American ambassad... , United States Ambassador to the Holy SeeHoly See The Holy See is the episcopal see of Rome.... and former Mayor of Boston David Lindsay-AbaireDavid Lindsay-Abaire David Lindsay-Abaire is an American playwright who wrote Fuddy Meers, among others.... , Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize Overview The Pulitzer Prize is an American award regarded as the highest honor in print journalism, literary achievements, and musica... -winning playwright Stephen LynchStephen Lynch (politician) ... , Congressman, one of the lead investigators in the "Steroids in baseballSteroids in baseball The question of steroid use in baseball has been an ongoing issue for Major League Baseball since the mid 1990s and into the... " investigation Michael Patrick MacDonaldMichael Patrick MacDonald Summary Michael Patrick MacDonald is an Irish-American activist against crime and violence and author of his memoir, All Souls: A ... , author John W. McCormack, Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the United States House of Representatives The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the lower house of Congress, the House... Will McDonoughWill McDonough Will McDonough gave the American Football League honest exposure in his articles and columns in a nationally prominent newsp... , sportswriter and television analyst John Joseph Moakley, Congressman, Chair of U.S. House Committee on Rules Patrick NeePatrick Nee Patrick Nee is an Irish immigrant, former mobster, Vietnam vet, and the bestselling author of the memoir A Criminal and a... , bestselling author and former associate of Whitey Bulger Brian NoonanBrian Noonan Brian Noonan is a retired American ice hockey center.... , Stanley Cup Champion 1994, New York RangersNew York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City, New York, USA.... Kevin WeeksKevin Weeks Kevin "Two" Weeks is a former Irish-American mobster, and former lieutenant to Mob boss James Bulger of the Winter Hill Gan... , Bulger's successor as the boss of the neighborhood's Irish MobIrish Mob , the [[Twin... , Federal witness, and bestselling author Further reading Alcorn, Frank, "Southie Boy", Carmel, Ind.: Cork Hill Press, c2005. Malloy, Ione, "Southie won't go : a teacher's diary of the desegregation of South Boston High School", Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1986 MacDonald, Michael Patrick, "All Souls", London: Little, Brown, 2000, c1999. McMullin, Thomas A., , Historical Journal of Massachusetts, Winter 2000. Review of Thomas O'Connor's book. O'Connor, Thomas H., "South Boston: My Home Town, The History of an Ethnic Neighborhood", Northeastern University Press, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, 1994. External links (St. Patrick's Day Parade court case)