The Seal of DorchesterBefore becoming the largest and most diverse neighborhood in New England, the area known as Dorchester was older than Boston itself. It was originally named the Town of Dorchester.
The formal annexation of Dorchester to Boston occurred on January 3rd, 1870, following a referendum held on June 22nd the previous year. However, the neighborhood’s union with Boston happened gradually, starting on March 6th, 1804. Before officially becoming part of Boston, different parts of Dorchester were either annexed or ceded to other areas like Quincy in 1792, 1814, 1819, and 1855. Sections of the original town became separate entities: Hyde Park (1868), Milton (1662), and Stoughton (1726).
Every year, the Dorchester community comes together on the first Sunday of June to observe Dorchester Day. This celebration commemorates the town’s founding in June 1630, marking the establishment of the initial British settlement situated at the present-day intersection of Columbia Road and Massachusetts Ave.
