Jamaica Plain is a part of the City of Boston; no, it is not its own town. Diversity is the strength of “JP,” to which it is lovingly referred by residents. Every ethnicity, socio-economic stratum, and sexual orientation is well represented in this neighborhood sandwiched primarily between Roxbury and Brookline (Brookline is its own town). The rich diversity in JP has created a strong character of social awareness and tolerance among neighbors and residents.

To understand the unique excitement of Jamaica Plain, it helps to know a little about its evolution. Did you know Centre Street is one of America’s oldest roads, dating back to the 1640s? Or that JP is home to America’s oldest community theatre?

JP’s origins date to the mid-1600s, when the area was part of the Town of Roxbury. In 1851 JP and West Roxbury separated from Roxbury, and the area officially became the Town of West Roxbury. As the nation’s industrial revolution moved forward, demands for common water supplies, streets, and sewer systems made it necessary for the JP area to become a part of Boston. In 1874, JP separated from West Roxbury and formally became a Boston neighborhood.

Looking at today’s Centre Street it’s a hard to imagine the JP of colonial times, when the area was a summer resort for Bostonians and a home to wealthy farmers. Centre Street was always a major thoroughfare, serving as the only route connecting Boston to points south. Much has changed in JP over its 400-year history, but important parts of the town’s past have been preserved and these elements contribute to the area’s unique feel and quality of life. The neighborhoods just off Centre Street reflect its colonial roots with narrow, winding one-way streets. Areas to the east and west of Centre Street are both designated historic districts containing beautiful Victorian-style residences.

Along Centre Street many older commercial buildings have been replaced in the last fifty years, but some structures dating back to the Victorian era through the 1920s do remain. The building that now houses the very popular JP Licks was built in the 1870s as a firehouse.

Other examples of fine architecture include the Loring-Greenough House and Museum, located at 12 South Street. Built in 1750, this Georgian house was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War. On nearby Eliot Street stands Eliot Hall, an 1831 Greek Revival structure housing The Footlight Club, America’s oldest continuously active theatre group. Close by and also built in 1831 is the Eliot School, a schoolhouse that now houses an art school

As JP moved into the 19th century, travel along Centre Street progressed from stagecoach to streetcars. With easy access to the Boston, Bostonians who wanted to live outside the city and commute to work began to move to JP in record numbers, creating one of America’s first suburban communities. JP also attracted thousands of Irish and German immigrants who came to the area to find work within the town’s factories and breweries, and to establish businesses on Centre Street.

Housing, places and photos of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts