Dorchester, now New England’s largest and most diverse neighborhood, was originally known as the Town of Dorchester and settled in 1630.
The formal annexation of Dorchester to Boston took place on January 3rd, 1870, following a referendum held the previous year. However, this union was a gradual process, beginning on March 6th, 1804. Before officially becoming part of Boston, various sections of Dorchester were either annexed or ceded to other areas, including parts of Quincy in 1792, 1814, 1819, and 1855. Several areas once part of Dorchester eventually became separate towns: Hyde Park in 1868, Milton in 1662, and Stoughton in 1726.
Long before European colonization, the area around Dorchester was inhabited by the indigenous Massachusett people, who established settlements along the Neponset River.
In celebration of its history, the Dorchester community gathers annually on the first Sunday of June to observe Dorchester Day, honoring the town’s founding in June 1630.
