Brockton, MA

Brockton is located roughly 17 miles south of Boston. Once a farming community, Brockton has grown into an industrial city known for its hospitals. Brockton was known as the "Shoe City" for its footwear manufacturing prowess from the Civil War through much of the 20th century. Often described as the biggest small town in the region, Brockton has a population of 94,000.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Much of the Brockton's rental market caters to students. Proximity to several area colleges creates a strong demand for affordable short-term housing. In recent years, Brockton was recognized by Boston Globe Magazine as one of the Boston area's top Five Hot Communities for first-time home buyers.

Brockton includes several distinct neighborhoods:

• The Montello neighborhood comprises the north side of the city. For more than a century, Montello Heel Manufacturing Inc. has operated in the neighborhood.
• The Campello neighborhood lies in the south side of Brockton.
• The neighborhoods surrounding downtown contain the oldest and densest residential development. Homes in this area have often suffered from negligence and fallen into disrepair. These neighborhoods are Pleasant/Prospect (also called Walnut/Turner), the Edgar Playground area and Perkins Park.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Health care is the number one industry in Brockton.

• Caritas Good Samaritan Hospital, a branch of Caritas Christi Health Care, is the second largest health care system in New England, and is among the largest employers in Brockton and the surrounding area.
• The Brockton Hospital, a branch of Signature Healthcare, boasts a vast network of local providers and is another major employer in the city.
• Brockton is also home to the Veterans Administration Hospital.

Mutual Oil Co., among the largest independent gasoline distributors in New England, is headquartered in Brockton. Founded in 1942, the company distributes on behalf of a wide range of major oil and gas corporations.

The construction, hospitality, and insurance industries are also prominent employers in Brockton. The city was once a shoe manufacturing capital, but many of the original shoe companies have closed. A wide variety of small businesses make up a large component of the city's economy.

SHOPPING

• The Westgate Mall is a major shopping center in Brockton. The mall opened in 1963 and was renovated in 2000. It is located on a site of approximately 50 acres.

FOR VISITORS

• Brockton visitors can stop in at the Fire Museum, which was built to preserve the atmosphere of a classic fire station and honors the history of the city's fire department. Notable features include an exhibit memorializing the 1941 Strand Theatre fire, in which 13 area firefighters were killed. A beautifully restored Hand-Tub Pumper, a large antique fire engine from the 1850s, is on display.
• The South Street Historic District, which is located on South Street between Main Street and Warren Avenue. It featured the first underground three-wire electrical system in the world and was activated in 1883 by pioneering inventor Thomas Edison.
• Fuller Craft Museum has won numerous architectural design awards. The museum's ever-changing exhibits display artistic furniture, clothing, jewelry and tapestries. Year-round, the museum holds workshops and educational events.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Brockton Symphony Orchestra: With classical concerts throughout the year, featuring works by Beethoven, Stravinsky, Wagner, and other world-renowned composers, the Brockton Symphony Orchestra is the leading performing arts institution in Brockton.
• Buckley Performing Arts Center: Part of the Massasoit Community College, the center is home to the region's longest-running arts series, LIVE! at Massasoit Performance Series. The center features plays and musicals, and houses television, radio, and painting studios.
• Brockton Historical Society: Located outside of the city center, the Historical Society oversees the Brockton Fire Museum, the Shoe Museum, and The Homestead. Originally built in 1767 and updated with numerous additions over the years, The Homestead offers a useful glimpse into changing architectural styles and tastes from colonial times to the present day. It also houses the Shoe Museum, which celebrates the city's role as the largest provider of shoes in the country during the Civil War.

FAMILY FUN

• D.W. Field Park: With roughly 756 acres, the park is a major draw for nature lovers in Brockton. Its sloping hills still recall the pastures and farmlands that once defined the city's landscape. A number of ponds and picnic areas provide space for recreational activities, and there are miles of bike paths.
• D.W. Field Golf Course: This 18-hole golf course is another way to enjoy the beauty of the park. The course includes a Tudor style clubhouse.

EVENTS

• During the first two weeks in July, the Brockton Fair offers amusement park rides, live music, boxing, a demolition derby, a baby contest and the requisite summer fireworks. The fair attracts thousands of attendees yearly.

EDUCATION

Brockton is home to several educational institutions:

• Downtown Brockton houses the main campus of Massasoit Community College. The college is a public, two-year institution that enrolls several thousand students annually and boasts a wide range of majors in arts, sciences and applied sciences.
• Eastern Nazarene College provides continuing and adult education classes to members of the community.
• The Brockton Hospital School of Nursing offers students certificates in nursing.

SPORTS TEAMS

Brockton is home to two of the greatest boxers of all time: Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, earning the community the nickname "The City of Champions." But team sports are also represented in the community:

• Baseball: The Brockton Rox is a minor-league team in the Canadian-American Association of Baseball.
• The Brockton High School's Boxer Football Team is among the most successful high school sports organization in Massachusetts, with nine perfect seasons among its numerous achievements.

LOCAL MEDIA

Brockton is served by several radio stations:

• WMSX-1410 Hispanic Broadcasters, Inc.
• WBET-1460 MAKji Broadcasting
• WILD FM-97.7 Urban Adult Contemporary