Dorchester is the largest geographic and most populated neighborhood in the city of Boston. Home to Dot Ave., it is also Boston's most diverse neighborhood, with large pockets of African Americans, Irish, Vietnamese, Caribbean, and South and Central American residents. In recent years, the neighborhood has seen an influx of young working professionals, working artists (in areas like Lower Mills, Peabody Square, and Savin Hill), and a growing GLBT community along Dorchester Avenue , while it's still predominantly a working class neighborhood and a thriving center of immigration. The neighborhood also includes vast economic diversity. Housing varies incredibly from housing projects in places like Bowdoin/Geneva and Franklin Field to stately Victorian homes in places like Ashmont Hill and Melville Park. Take advantage of Dorchester's multi-cultural constituency and enjoy food from Bon Appetit, specializes in Haitian cuisine, Restaurante Cesaria, specializes in Cape Verdean cuisine, Irie Jamaican Restaurant, specializes in Jamaican cuisine. Later, grab a drink at dbar, Blarney Stone, Tavolo Pizza or Ashmont Grill or watch your favorite team over a few beers at The Banshee and enjoy a night in Dorchester! Explore and discover Dorchester:

• Restaurants in Dorchester
• Bars and nightlife
• Shopping in Dorchester

News courtesy of Outside.in

Dorchester was originally founded as a town in 1630 (and is older than Boston itself, originally including what is now South Boston and Mattapan). It was annexed to the city of Boston in 1870 (during the same decade that other formerly independent towns were also annexed, such as, Jamaica Plain, Allston, Brighton, and Charlestown). It is home to the oldest elementary school in America as well as the oldest home in the city of Boston, dating back to 1648. In recent years there has been some gentrification in Dorchester, but the neighborhood still retains much of its traditional character. Dorchester has popularly been referred to as Dot by its residents and its central artery is referred to as Dot Ave. Dorchester is served by the MBTA Red Line (with the stops of JFK/UMass, Savin Hill, Fields Corner, Shawmut, and Ashmont), the Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley, as well as a variety of bus lines throughout the neighborhood. Culturally and educationally, Dorchester is home to the UMass Boston campus, Boston College High School and the JFK Presidential Library.

• Adams Village
• Bowdoin/Geneva (Meeting House Hill)
• Codman Square
• Fields Corner
• Four Corners
• Franklin Field
• Harbor Point (Columbia Point)
• Lower Mills (Cedar Grove)
• Neponset (Port Norfolk)
• Peabody Square (Ashmont)
  
• Polish Triangle
  
• Popes Hill
  
• Savin Hill
  
• Uphams Corner (Jones Hill/Everett Square)

The main arteries are Dorchester Ave. (runs through the center), Blue Hill Ave. (on the west side), and Morrissey Blvd. (on the east side). Dorchester Ave. and Blue Hill Ave. include vibrant business districts that represent the residents that live in the area. Dorchester also has a large amount of city beach in Boston, such as Malibu Beach and Tenean Beach and large city parks, including Dorchester Park, Franklin Park and Ronan Park. Perhaps its most famous landmark though is the famous Keyspan Gas Tank, which was painted rainbow colors by the famous artist Corita Kent.

• Adams Street
• Blue Hill Avenue
• Bowdoin Street
• Columbia Road
• Dorchester Avenue
• Freeport Street
• Gallivan Blvd
• Geneva Avenue
• Savin Hill Avenue

• 224 Boston Street
• Ashmont Grill
• Blarney Stone Bar
• Bon Appetit Restaurant
• Common Ground Cafe
• dbar
• Donovan's Village Tavern
• Euromart
• Lucky Cafe
• Mythos Pizza
• Shanti Taste of India
• Tavola Pizza
• The Banshee

Dorchester is served by the MBTA Red Line (with the stops of JFK/UMass Station, Savin Hill, Fields Corner, Shawmut and Ashmont), the Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley, as well as a variety of bus lines throughout the neighborhood.