South Medford, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
South Medford is the southern part of Medford, Massachusetts
. The neighborhood has been predominantly Italian American
in South Medford, but one quarter of the residents are non-white.
South Medford was founded together with Medford in 1630, making it the 4th oldest English settlement in North America
.
in character for over two hundred years, during which the South Medford Baptist church and other institutions were founded.
The historic Stearns House was built in 1845 in the village, near a canal that closed in 1852.
In 1890, Medford was described as "an ancient and charming suburban town" with its own railway line, the Medford Branch Railroad, although South Medford was then so rural as not to rate either its own rail station or its own post office.
At some time in the 20th Century, it became predominantly Italian-American in character.
of house values is between $300,000 and $500,000. Three quarters of residents are of the "white" race.
South Medford is closer to Downtown Boston than most of Boston. Its southern borders stretch to Somerville, and its northern borders are often disputed as stretching to Alexander's market, Barry Park, or even sometimes historic Medford Square. The Prudential Center can be seen in the background looking south from Main Street. Charlestown
is one mile (1.6 km) away from its southern-most border.
Traditionally, the neighborhood was largely Italian-American. South Medford has more Italian bakeries than the North End of Boston, most notably La Cascia's and Italo's. Bob's Foods is often named to have the best Steak & Cheese's in the country, and mainstream media such as Fox News, Phantom Gourmet, and Boston Magazine has picked up on this. Frank Sinatra
used to frequent DePasquale's in South Medford, along with "Crazy Guggenheimer" Frank Fontaine
, and Rocky Marciano
. You can still hear many of the residents speaking Italian in South Medford, as well as remnants from the rich Italian-American past such as a bocce
court at the South Medford Fire Station, as well as "Video Italiano", an Italian video store in South Medford that was around before an English video store.
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
. The neighborhood has been predominantly Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
in South Medford, but one quarter of the residents are non-white.
South Medford was founded together with Medford in 1630, making it the 4th oldest English settlement in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
History
In 1630, South Medford was founded by English settlers. It remained mostly White Anglo-Saxon ProtestantWhite Anglo-Saxon Protestant
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant or WASP is an informal term, often derogatory or disparaging, for a closed group of high-status Americans mostly of British Protestant ancestry. The group supposedly wields disproportionate financial and social power. When it appears in writing, it is usually used to...
in character for over two hundred years, during which the South Medford Baptist church and other institutions were founded.
The historic Stearns House was built in 1845 in the village, near a canal that closed in 1852.
In 1890, Medford was described as "an ancient and charming suburban town" with its own railway line, the Medford Branch Railroad, although South Medford was then so rural as not to rate either its own rail station or its own post office.
At some time in the 20th Century, it became predominantly Italian-American in character.
Location and demographics
South Medford has an area of 2.344 square miles (6.1 km²), and a population of 22,132, making its population density of 9,442 people per square mile, which is denser than Medford generally. The rangeRange (statistics)
In the descriptive statistics, the range is the length of the smallest interval which contains all the data. It is calculated by subtracting the smallest observation from the greatest and provides an indication of statistical dispersion.It is measured in the same units as the data...
of house values is between $300,000 and $500,000. Three quarters of residents are of the "white" race.
South Medford is closer to Downtown Boston than most of Boston. Its southern borders stretch to Somerville, and its northern borders are often disputed as stretching to Alexander's market, Barry Park, or even sometimes historic Medford Square. The Prudential Center can be seen in the background looking south from Main Street. Charlestown
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
is one mile (1.6 km) away from its southern-most border.
Traditionally, the neighborhood was largely Italian-American. South Medford has more Italian bakeries than the North End of Boston, most notably La Cascia's and Italo's. Bob's Foods is often named to have the best Steak & Cheese's in the country, and mainstream media such as Fox News, Phantom Gourmet, and Boston Magazine has picked up on this. Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
used to frequent DePasquale's in South Medford, along with "Crazy Guggenheimer" Frank Fontaine
Frank Fontaine
Frank Fontaine was an American comedian and singer.Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he is best known for his appearances on television shows of the 1950s and 1960s, including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Jack Benny Show, and The Tonight Show.One of his earliest appearances was on the radio show,...
, and Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
. You can still hear many of the residents speaking Italian in South Medford, as well as remnants from the rich Italian-American past such as a bocce
Bocce
Bocce is a ball sport belonging to the boules sport family, closely related to bowls and pétanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire...
court at the South Medford Fire Station, as well as "Video Italiano", an Italian video store in South Medford that was around before an English video store.
Parks of South Medford
South Medford is home to many urban parks, including:- Tufts Park
- Columbus Park
- Barry Park
- Spicer Field
Notable residents
- Mike PagliaruloMike PagliaruloMichael Timothy Pagliarulo, aka "Pags" , is a former Major League Baseball third baseman during the 1980s and into the mid 1990s...
- Former NY Yankees & San Diego Padres hitter - Joe SaccoJoe SaccoJoe Sacco is a Maltese-American comics artist and journalist. He achieved international fame through the 1996 American Book Award-winning Palestine, and his graphic novel on the Bosnian War, Safe Area Goražde.- Biography :...
- NHL & U.S. Olympic hockey star, Toronto Maple Leafs - Dave Sacco - NHL & U.S. Olympic hockey star, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
- Keith TkachukKeith TkachukKeith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
- NHL & U.S. Olympic hockey star, Saint Louis Blues - Shawn BatesShawn BatesShawn William Bates is an American professional ice hockey center and is currently a free agent. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.- College :...
- NHL hockey star, Boston bruins & NY Islanders