Once orchards and farms, now a vibrant neighborhood. That’s Mission Hill. Its story began long ago. Mission Hill sits about one mile from downtown Boston. It connects central neighborhoods such as Jamaica Plain and Roxbury.
Mission Hill got its name from two key things. First, it’s built on historic Parker Hill. This is a rocky hill left by a glacier. Second, the Mission Church complex was built in the late 1800s. People started calling the area Mission Hill instead of Parker Hill.
Originally, Mission Hill was part of Roxbury. Roxbury joined Boston in 1868. Mission Hill grew from farmland into a diverse urban area. It became home to important religious medical and educational places.
At the turn of the century Mission Hill became a residential area. Boston-style triple-decker houses sprung up. German settlers first came. Then Irish immigrants joined them. They worked in local factories and breweries. Later many Boston hospitals moved here. This formed the Longwood Medical Area.
Today Mission Hill is a one-square-mile neighborhood. About three-quarters of it is residential. You’ll find one to three-family homes and multi-family buildings. These were built from the 1940s through the 1960s. The Longwood Medical Area covers the other quarter. It has 21 health care research education and cultural institutions. This area has the largest job concentration in Boston outside downtown. It employs 37000 people. Over 52000 people work or study there on a typical weekday.
Mission Hill is racially and economically diverse. Its population is around 18722 people. The neighborhood is more racially diverse than others in Boston.
In the 1960s and early 1970s Mission Hill faced a big problem. Institutions wanted to expand. Residents feared they would take over the neighborhood. This made it hard for homeowners to get loans. The neighborhood seemed to be shrinking and decaying. So residents organized to solve these issues.
Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services was created in 1975. It aimed to reverse the economic decline. It worked to revitalize the neighborhood.
Over the years Mission Hill has seen many changes. The Mission Hill Triangle is an architectural landmark. It features homes from early landowners. You’ll also see brick row houses and triple-deckers. The streets wind up the steep hill. Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park offers great views of Boston’s skyline.
Brigham Circle is a key commercial area. It has restaurants bars shops and a major grocery store. It supports both Mission Hill and the Longwood Medical Area.
One Brigham Circle is a major mixed-use project. It created retail services business opportunities and a town center. It also added the 5.5-acre Kevin W. Fitzgerald Park.
Mission Hill has come a long way from its farming days. It’s now a thriving community with a rich history. It continues to evolve while keeping its unique character.