Jamaica Plain, Residential neighborhood and gay village in Boston, United States
Jamaica Plain is a residential neighborhood and gay village in southwestern Boston that encompasses several parks and Jamaica Pond. The area stretches between the historic downtown and western suburbs and is lined with tree-shaded streets of Victorian wooden houses and three-story apartment buildings.
The neighborhood grew into one of America's first streetcar suburbs after the Civil War, when new transit lines allowed working and middle-class families to settle here. In the 1970s, artists and queer residents moved into the then-affordable houses and reshaped the area.
The neighborhood identity shows along Centre Street, where used bookstores stand next to Latin American restaurants and weekly farmers markets take place. This mix of small shops and community initiatives reflects the open atmosphere that has drawn queer residents for decades.
Centre Street forms the main axis with cafes, grocery stores and bookshops that are easy to reach on foot. The green spaces around Jamaica Pond invite walking, while the Orange Line connection provides quick access to downtown.
The Arnold Arboretum, a 281-acre (114 hectare) tree park managed by Harvard University, lies within the neighborhood boundaries and holds over 16,000 plants from temperate climates. Visitors can walk through the collections organized by botanical families at no charge.
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