East Boston
East Boston, nicknamed Eastie, is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts that was annexed by the city of Boston in 1637.[1] Neighboring communities include Winthrop, Revere, and Chelsea. It is separated from the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown and downtown Boston by Boston Harbor. The footprint of the East Boston neighborhood as it is known today was created in the 1940s by connecting five of the inner harbor islands using land fill.[2] Logan International Airport is located in East Boston, connecting Boston to domestic and international locations.[3]
"Jeffries Point" redirects here. For the headland in the South Sandwich Islands, see Cook Island, South Sandwich Islands.
East Boston
1637
4.7 sq mi (12 km2)
40,508
8,618/sq mi (3,327/km2)
East Boston has long provided homes for immigrants with Irish, Russian Jews and later, Italians.[4] John F. Kennedy's great-grandfather was one of many Irish people to immigrate to East Boston, and the Kennedy family lived there for some time. From 1920 to 1954, East Boston was the site of the East Boston Immigration Station, which served as the regional immigration hub for Boston and the surrounding area.[5] A once Italian dominated community, East Boston has demographically changed to reflect a diverse population of immigrants. After the 1990s, the neighborhood witnessed growing numbers of Latin American immigrants, who have come to make up over fifty percent of the population according to the 2020 Census data.[6]
East Boston Celebrations[edit]
East Boston has two annual recurring celebrations take place every summer. Eastie Week takes place for two weeks every July in collaboration between Boston Harbor Now and local partner organizations. During the celebrations, the organizations offer free and affordable events for families in East Boston.[62] Eastie Pride Day is a long-standing celebration founded by former City Councilor Sal LaMattina that takes place at Piers Park. The celebration is open and free to the public and offers food, music, kids games, and community resources.[63][64]