Home to zip code 02135, Brighton is a diverse neighborhood of Boston that is popular with young adults and working class families, alike. Although Brighton is a quieter and more residential part of the city than the neighboring,
Allston, it still pulses with the exuberant electricity that has long made this area popular with grad students and young professionals. To find the neighborhood's eclectic shopping, coffee shops, and nightlife options, head down Washington Street. Get your fill at
Boca Grande or snag a book at the
Boston Public Library- Faneuil Hall and head over to
Cafenation to indulge yourself in literature and espresso. With dozens of ethnic restaurants and a multitude of unique boutiques, you're sure to find something that catches your fancy in this dynamic neighborhood.
Long before it became Brighton, the area across the Charles River from Cambridge was settled by farmers for agriculture. For 160 years, it was called "Little Cambridge" and was part of
Cambridge proper. During the Revolutionary war, a cattle market was established in the town to feed the Continental Army. This enterprise continued to flourish after the war, making the area economically viable.
In 1807, the city of Brighton was created when the residents of Little Cambridge seceded from the larger town after Cambridge let bridges and other key infrastructure elements fall into disrepair. Brighton flourished with its cattle industry and the population and other industries grew within the city. In 1874, Brighton was annexed by the city of Boston; shortly thereafter, street cars moving from downtown Boston to Brighton were added and Brighton's population continued to explode.
Although Brighton's economy grew for a period, World War I and the Great Depression brought about unemployment and a surge in over-development. The area became a less expensive alternative to the high cost of living downtown. While the economic prospects have improved since that period, Brighton continues to be a home to artists and young people looking for an alternative to Boston's downtown areas.
Visitors are able to tour exhibits about Brighton's rich history at the
Brighton-Allston Heritage Museum.
The B line--the above ground section of the T's Green Line that runs from downtown to Boston College--follows the other major street in Brighton, Commonwealth Avenue. Comm Ave. is Brighton's most densely populated area, as the Green Line makes these area apartments convenient for commuting to both downtown Boston and to BU or BC.
