South Boston is a heavily populated neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. It was formerly known as Dorchester Neck and today is referred to as "Southie" by its residents. South Boston is a traditionally Irish-American neighborhood, while it has a large number of Lithuanian, Polish and Italian citizens. City nickname: Beantown, The Hub, Athens of America Location in the state of Massachusetts Founded September 17, 1630 County Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 232. ... Irish Americans are residents or citizens of the United States who claim Irish ancestry. ...

It was here, on Dorchester Heights, during the American Revolutionary War that George Washington placed his cannon and forced the evacuation of the British troops from Boston on March 17, 1776. The British evacuated Boston for Halifax, Nova Scotia and the fortification, today known as Castle Island, fell to the American forces. Dorchester Heights is the central area of South Boston. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ... This article is about George Washingtons general life. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... Castle Island is a 22 acre major recreation site located in South Boston on Boston Harbor. ...

During the 1970s South Boston received national attention for its opposition to court mandated school integration by busing students to different neighborhoods (forced busing). In the 1990s, South Boston became the focus for a Supreme Court case on the right of gay and lesbian groups to participate in the Saint Patrick's Day parade. The case was decided in favor of the sponsors of the parade. Forced busing is the concept of achieving racial or economic integration in schools by transportation of schoolchildren by bus to schools outside their neighborhoods. ... St. ...

"Southie" is home to the first memorial for Vietnam Veterans in the United States. It was dedicated on September 13, 1981 and is located at Independance Square, which is more commonly called "M Street Park."

The City Point area of South Boston has seen a major increase in property values due to its close proximity to downtown Boston and gentrification. Poorer areas around Andrew Square and the Lower End face a lot of the same problems found in many city neighborhoods including drug addiction and street crime. This once impoverished part of Jersey Citys historic downtown is quickly becoming gentrified. ...

South Boston has produced its share of both notable and ignoble citizens. Among them are:

• John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• Raymond Flynn, United States Ambassador to the Vatican and Mayor of Boston.
• Richard Cushing, Cardinal Arch-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston.
• William Bulger, President of the Massachusetts Senate, President of the University of Massachusetts.
• James "Whitey" Bulger, alleged leader of the "Winter Hill Gang", head of Boston's organized crime, and high-level FBI informant. Currently a federal fugitive on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Brother of William Bulger.

West Broadway and Dorchester Street

, John William McCormack (December 21, 1891 - November 22, 1980) was an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts. ... Categories: People stubs | Ambassadors of the United States | Mayors of Boston ... Richard James Cushing (1895 - 1970) was a U.S. cardinal in 1958. ... William Michael Billy Bulger is a politician from Massachusetts in the United States. ... James Joseph Bulger (born September 3, 1929), is an American believed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to have played a role in at least eighteen murders that took place in the 1970s and 1980s. ... West Broadway at Dorchester St, looking west File links The following pages link to this file: South Boston, Massachusetts Categories: Public domain images ... West Broadway at Dorchester St, looking west File links The following pages link to this file: South Boston, Massachusetts Categories: Public domain images ...

External links

• South Boston Online: South Boston Online (http://www.southbostononline.com)
• South Boston Tribune: South Boston Tribune (http://www.southbostoninfo.com)
• South Boston Neighborhood: South Boston Neighborhood (http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/general.asp?id=9)
• Photographs 1890s to 1950s: History of South Boston (http://www.southboston200.com/Scrapbook1890.1950/scrapbook.shtml)
• Saint Patrick's Day Parade: Saint Patrick's Day Parade (http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/boston/boston.htm)
• South Boston Viet Nam Veterans Memorial: South Boston Viet Nam Veterans Memorial (http://www.vietvet.org/massvets.htm)
• St. Patrick's Day Parade court case: HURLEY v. IRISH-AMERICAN GAY GROUP OF BOSTON (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=U10260)