The neighborhood of Roxbury is a diverse and ethnic hub, that is full of rich culture and tradition. While it may have earned itself a bad rap with the occasional incidence of crime, in reality, Roxbury is a great place to explore! No matter what month you visit Roxbury, you are almost guaranteed to find some sort of cultural event happening.
Roxbury is also home to the Franklin Park Zoo, an amazing zoo that features a petting zoo as well as animals from all around the world. It is a must see for any Bostonian. Along with the zoo, you will find golf courses, and hiking trails around Franklin Park. If you are looking for ethnic cuisine, look no further than Roxbury! No matter what kind of eats you are in the mood for, you are guaranteed to find some really tasty places to grab a bite-- places like
Bob the Chef's Jazz Cafe,
Merengue Restaurant, and
New York Pizza.
Sitting between
Brookline and
Dorchester, Roxbury was founded as a separate town at the same time as Boston in 1630 and remained independent until the 1860s.
Its history has been shaped by the different immigrant groups that have called it home - first Puritan landowners who were known for their wonderful orchards, followed by Irish and German immigrants who worked in the industries that arrived after the Industrial Revolution - particularly the breweries along the Stony Brook. Roxbury became a largely Jewish neighborhood in the early 20th century and then in the 1950s an influx of African Americans changed the demographic of the area again.
