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West Roxbury

An experimental utopian community here in the 19th century attracted such intellectual writers as Emerson, Hawthorne, and Thoreau. Today, West Roxbury is more ideal suburb than idealist retreat. Along tree-lined streets of mostly single-family homes, many residents keep active in religious, community, and civic associations.

Populating the main thoroughfare of Centre Street is a balanced blend of food markets, clothing stores, restaurants, specialty stores, banks, and other commercial services. Twenty minutes from Boston's Center, West Roxbury is bordered in part by Allandale Street, West Roxbury Parkway, and the cities of Newton and Brookline.