“Central what?” someone mutters as they glance around. Central Square Historic District. It is an area in Cambridge Massachusetts. This area centers on the junction of Massachusetts Avenue Prospect Street and Western Avenue. Lafayette Square also forms part of it. It sits at the junction of Massachusetts Avenue Columbia Street Sidney Street and Main Street.
Harvard Square lies northwest along Massachusetts Avenue. Inman Square sits north along Prospect Street. Kendall Square is to the east along Main Street. The section of Central Square along Massachusetts Avenue is historic. It runs between Clinton Street and Main Street. It gained a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
In October 2012 Central Square became an official Cultural District. The Mass Cultural Council made the designation. Central Square has ethnic restaurants churches and bars. There are live music and theatre venues. Richard B Modica Way is also known as Graffiti Alley. Some call it a hallmark of Central Square.
Gentrification has changed the area quickly. Upscale restaurants have opened here. Many startups have moved into the Square. These include pharmaceutical videogame and Internet companies. They want to be near MIT and Boston medical resources. They also seek relatively low costs. Some critics say these changes have diminished the Square’s edge. Older businesses such as Manray have closed.
Many houses of worship stand in the area. These include Christ the King Presbyterian Church. Also, you can find the First Baptist Church here. Sts Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church is nearby. St Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal Church is another large historic congregation.
Central Square’s history involves waves of immigration. The original population included English and Canadian people. Between 1850 and 1890 many Irish immigrants came here. In the late Nineteenth Century people came from throughout Europe. Later immigration waves included people from the West Indies South America and Africa.
Actor Ben Affleck once called Central Square home. The Necco factory operated here from 1927 to 2003. Novartis now uses the old Necco factory building for labs. Several Cambridge neighborhoods meet at Central Square. Area 4 lies on the north side of Massachusetts Avenue. Cambridgeport is on the south side between Massachusetts Avenue and the Charles River. These neighborhoods were once known as The Port or Old Port. The area to the west and northwest is known as Mid Cambridge.
You can reach Central Square via Central station on the MBTA Red Line. Buses 1 64 70 83 and 91 also serve the area. The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline honors Mark Sandman. He was an indie rock musician. He often played at The Middle East in Central Square.
Central Square serves as the commercial center for nearby neighborhoods. These are Cambridgeport Riverside Mid Cambridge Area 4 and MIT. Cambridge City Hall sits in Central Square. The main branch of the Cambridge Post Office is also here. The Cambridge Police Department headquarters was formerly at 5 Western Avenue. It moved to 125 Sixth Street near Kendall Square.
Many notable people have lived in Central Square. Besides Ben Affleck these include Casey Affleck Ken Brown and Lisa Crafts. Also Patrick Ewing Vernon Grant John Forbes Nash and Margaret Hamilton.
Central Square Cambridge a place where history culture and diversity meet. It makes this area a unique destination. Take a stroll through the streets explore its landmarks and soak in the atmosphere of Central Square.