Roslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, bordered by Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, West Roxbury and Mattapan. It is served by an MBTA Commuter Rail line, several MBTA bus lines and the MBTA Orange Line in nearby Jamaica Plain. Roslindale has its own branch of the Boston Public Library, the neighborhood is covered by Boston Police District E-5 in West Roxbury, Boston EMS Ambulance 17 is stationed in Roslindale, and the Boston Fire Department has a station on Canterbury Street which houses Ladder 16, Engine 53 & District Chief 12. Roslindale's original fire company, Engine 45, was deactivated on April 10, 1981 due to budget cuts. The portion of the Arnold Arboretum south of Bussey Street is located in Roslindale.
Six miles south-southwest of downtown Boston, Roslindale was originally part of the town of Roxbury. In 1851, current day Jamaica Plain, Roslindale and West Roxbury seceded from Roxbury. The area voted in 1873 to be annexed to the City of Boston.
In the 1860s, the area was called South Street Crossing, due to the railroad's intersection with South Street. However, when the community applied for a post office district of its own, the name "South Street Crossing" proved to be unacceptable to the government. The name Roslindale was suggested by John Pierce, a well-traveled member of the community, who told the assembled citizens that the area reminded him of the beautiful historic town of Roslin, Scotland, outside Edinburgh. Pierce thought the area was like a dale because of the hills surrounding it. Thus the combination of "Roslin" and "dale" was submitted to the United States Postal Service and the name Roslindale was formally established.
Roslindale grew residentially as a classic streetcar suburb. The railway was built after the American Civil War, and spawned a new round of commercial development. Roslindale saw steady growth in its residential population, beginning in the 1880s, with the introduction of the horse-drawn street railway service between Forest Hills and Dedham.
On March 14, 1887, a Boston & Providence Railroad train consisting of a locomotive and nine passenger cars inbound from Dedham to Boston with over 200 passengers, was passing over a bridge at Bussey Street, in the current Arnold Arboretum, when the bridge collapsed causing the rear five cars to pile up on top of each other, killing twenty-three and injuring over one hundred.[4] This is considered one of the first major rail catastrophes in the country, and contributed to the widespread inspection of train bridges across the U.S.
In the 1920s, Roslindale Village assumed the configuration it has today, with tree-lined Adams Park at its center. Roslindale falls in a crease between several other Boston neighborhoods and the parts of Roslindale adjacent to these surrounding neighborhoods take on the characteristics of those neighborhoods. For example, the western part of Roslindale blends seamlessly with West Roxbury's one and two family residences and tree lined streets; and Roslindale's northern area consists of dense two and three family residences amidst light industrial buildings similar to the adjacent Stony Brook corridor in Jamaica Plain.
Prior to the rise of suburban shopping malls in the 1970s, the Roslindale business district, Roslindale Square, was a major shopping district for the city of Boston, with department stores, showrooms, food markets, and a movie theatre. After suffering years of vacant storefronts and increased vandalism during the 1970s, 80s & 90s Roslindale Square enjoys limited success today as a local shopping district.
Roslindale is a diverse neighborhood—the ethnic breakup as of 2010, has 49% Non-Hispanic White, 18% Non-Hispanic Black or African-American, 25% Hispanic or Latino and 3% Asian or Pacific Islander.
"Annunciation-cathedral-night" by Chonak - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Spread out in this attached Single-family. Architecturally Significant New Construction Townhouses on a quaint dead-end street in the Woodbourne Neighborhood of Jamaica P...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Stephen Lussier from Listing Office: Arborview Realty Inc..
Architecturally Significant New Construction Townhouses on a quaint dead-end street in the Woodbourne Neighborhood of Jamaica Plain/ Roslindale. Diligently and conscienti...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Stephen Lussier from Listing Office: Arborview Realty Inc..
Spacious 2004 construction with flexible floor plan, hardwood floors & abundant natural light throughout. Semi open concept main level with large kitchen, dining room, li...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Meg Vulliez from Listing Office: RE/MAX Unlimited.
Indulge in the luxury living within this meticulously renovated 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom single-family home in the heart of Roslindale. Boasting a generous 2-car parking f...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Daniel Coelho from Listing Office: eXp Realty.
This attractive 2019, 4 level townhome in Roslindale provides ample living space, natural light, storage, 2 parking spaces, EV charging, and convenience. Just 1 mi from ...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: The Movement Group from Listing Office: Compass.
Expansive turn of the century Colonial in the Garden Suburb of Boston! Meticulously maintained, 55 Metropolitan Ave is the home you’ve been searching for. Enter to be gre...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Twalee Manwon from Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty Boston-Metro | Back Bay.
Opportunity knocks! Sitting pretty in the coveted Prospect Hill neighborhood, this 2 unit property is available for the first time in decades! Each sunlit unit has 2 bedr...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Maiullari Brennan Team from Listing Office: Engel & Volkers Boston.
HUGE PRICE REDUCTION. Unique opportunity to own a spacious and solid 2-family home in the highly sought-after neighborhood of Roslindale. Both units have similar layout a...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Josh Noel from Listing Office: All In 1 REALTORS®.
Introducing two stunning new construction townhomes in Roslindale. This high-end spacious unit feature 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths. The first floor features an open floor...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Chris Kostopoulos Group from Listing Office: Keller Williams Realty.
**Open House Sat & Sun 11-1! This loved home with great bones is ready for you to make it your own! 4 bedroom 2 full bath home near Peter’s Hill at the Arnold Arboretum a...
Listing courtesy of Listing Agent: Cindi Lee McTiernan from Listing Office: Coldwell Banker Realty - Norwell - Hanover Regional Office.
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