Central Square Historic District (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Central Square Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Central Square, looking down Mass Ave toward Kendall Sq and the Harvard Bridge to Boston
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Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°21′54″N 71°6′13″W / 42.36500°N 71.10361°W / 42.36500; -71.10361Coordinates: 42°21′54″N 71°6′13″W / 42.36500°N 71.10361°W / 42.36500; -71.10361
Built	1793
Architect	Hartwell and Richardson; et al.
Architectural style	Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian, Federal
MPS	Cambridge MRA
NRHP reference #	90000128
Added to NRHP	March 2, 1990

Central Square is an area in Cambridge, Massachusetts centered on the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Prospect Street and Western Avenue. Lafayette Square, formed by the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Columbia Street, Sidney Street and Main Street, is also considered a part of the Central Square area. Harvard Square is to the northwest along Massachusetts Avenue, Inman Square is to the north along Prospect Street and Kendall Square is to the east along Main Street. The section of Central Square along Massachusetts Avenue between Clinton Street and Main Street is designated the Central Square Historic District, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Central Square was designated an official Cultural District in the state of Massachusetts by the Mass Cultural Council in October 2012. Central Square is known for its wide variety of ethnic restaurants, churches, bars, and live music and theatre venues. It is gentrifying rapidly, and a number of upscale restaurants have opened in the Square. Many startups, including pharmaceutical, videogame and Internet companies, have moved research and office operations into the Square to take advantage of the proximity to MIT, Boston medical resources and relatively low costs. Some critics have claimed that the recent changes have diminished the Square's edge, as some of the older Square businesses such as Manray have closed. There is also a diverse array of houses of worship in the area, with Christ the King Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church and other large historic congregations meeting near the Square.

Central Square's history has been marked by several waves of immigration. The original population of the Square included people of English and Canadian ancestry. Between 1850 and 1890, the Square attracted many Irish immigrants, and in the late Nineteenth Century also became home to many others from throughout Europe. Later waves of immigration included people from the West Indies, South America and Africa.