South Boston

South Boston
South Boston from the air in 2010
Nickname: 
Southie (colloquially)
Coordinates: 42°20′10″N 71°02′45″W / 42.33611°N 71.04583°W / 42.33611; -71.04583
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountySuffolk
Neighborhood ofBoston
Annexed by Boston1804
Area
  Land3.1 sq mi (8 km2)
Population
 (2010)
33,688
  Density10,867/sq mi (4,196/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
Zip Code
02127
Area code(s)617 / 857

South Boston (colloquially known as Southie) is a densely populated neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, located south and east of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. It has undergone several demographic transformations since being annexed to the city of Boston in 1804. The neighborhood, once primarily farmland, is popularly known by its twentieth century identity as a working class Irish Catholic community. Throughout the twenty-first century, the neighborhood has become increasingly popular with millennial professionals.

South Boston contains Dorchester Heights, where George Washington forced British troops to evacuate during the American Revolutionary War. South Boston has undergone gentrification, and consequently, its real estate market has seen property values join the highest in the city. South Boston has also left its mark on history with Boston busing desegregation. South Boston is also home to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, a celebration of the Irish-American culture and the Evacuation Day observance.