County Past
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Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
350historic places
—earliest paper
1643formed
797,936pop. 2020
30cemeteries
—CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 350 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1966; 58 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near Boston, Revere, Chelsea.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for Massachusetts is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Suffolk titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

176 of 350 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

350 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
AbbotsfordBostonBuilding1987
Adams-Nervine AsylumBostonBuilding1982
African Meetinghouse NHLBostonBuilding1971
All Saints' ChurchBostonBuilding1980
Allston Congregational ChurchBostonBuilding1997
Almont ApartmentsBostonBuilding2014
Ames BuildingBostonBuilding1974
Appleton, Nathan, Residence NHLBostonBuilding1977
Arlington Street ChurchBostonBuilding1973
Armory of the First Corps of CadetsBostonBuilding1973
Arnold Arboretum NHLBostonSite1966
Ascension-Caproni Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2019
Austin, Francis B., HouseBostonBuilding1988
Ayer, Frederick, Mansion NHLBostonBuilding2005
Back Bay Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1973
Baker Congregational ChurchBostonBuilding1998
Baker, Sarah J., SchoolBostonBuilding1983
Beach-Knapp DistrictBostonDistrict1980
Beacon Hill Historic District NHLBostonDistrict1966
Bedford BuildingBostonBuilding1979
Bellevue StandpipeBostonStructure1990
Bellingham Square Historic DistrictChelseaDistrict1985
Bellingham-Cary HouseChelseaBuilding1974
Benedict Fenwick SchoolBostonBuilding2004
Benjamin Silverman ApartmentsBostonBuilding2018
Bennington Street Burying GroundBostonSite2002
Berger FactoryBostonBuilding1980
Bigelow SchoolBostonBuilding1985
Blackstone Block Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1973
Blake and Amory BuildingBostonBuilding2014
Blake, James, HouseBostonBuilding1974
Boston African American National Historic Site (Additional Documentation)BostonDistrict1980
Boston Athenaeum NHLBostonBuilding1966
Boston Common NHLBostonDistrict1987
Boston Common and Public GardenBostonDistrict1972
Boston Consumptives HospitalBostonDistrict2002
Boston Edison Electric Illuminating CompanyBostonBuilding1980
Boston Fish Pier Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2017
Boston Harbor Islands Archeological DistrictBostonDistrict1985
Boston Light NHLBostonStructure1966
Boston National Historical ParkBostonDistrict2015
Boston National Historical ParkBostonDistrict1974
Boston Naval Shipyard NHLBostonDistrict1966
Boston Police Station Number One-Traffic Tunnel Administration BuildingBostonBuilding2015
Boston Public Garden NHLBostonDistrict1987
Boston Public Library NHLBostonBuilding1973
Boston Transit Commission BuildingBostonBuilding2007
Boston Young Men's Christian AssociationBostonBuilding1998
Boston Young Men's Christian UnionBostonBuilding1980
Bowditch SchoolBostonBuilding1990
Boylston BuildingBostonBuilding1980
Brighton Center Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2001
Brighton Evangelical Congregational ChurchBostonBuilding1997
Brook Farm NHLBostonSite1966
Building at 138-142 Portland StreetBostonBuilding1985
Buildings at 825-829 Blue Hill AvenueBostonBuilding2014
Bulfinch Triangle Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1986
Bunker Hill Monument NHLBostonStructure1966
Bunker Hill SchoolBostonBuilding1987
Calf Pasture Pumping Station ComplexBostonBuilding1990
Camden Street Development Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2022
Cartoof & Sherman ApartmentsBostonBuilding2020
Cathedral of St. George Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1998
Central Congregational Church NHLBostonBuilding2012
Charles PlayhouseBostonBuilding1980
Charles River Reservation (Speedway)-Upper Basin HeadquartersBostonBuilding2010
Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal ChurchBostonBuilding1983
Charlestown HeightsBostonSite1998
Charlotte Street-Esmond Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2022
Chelsea Garden CemeteryChelseaSite2001
Chelsea Square Historic DistrictChelseaDistrict1982
Chestnut Hill Reservoir Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1990
Christ ChurchBostonBuilding1986
Church Green Buildings Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1999
Church of ChristRevereBuilding1984
Clapp HousesBostonBuilding1974
Codman BuildingBostonBuilding1983
Codman Square DistrictBostonDistrict1983
Collins BuildingBostonBuilding2005
Columbia Road-Bellevue Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2017
Columbia Road-Devon Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2017
Columbia Road-Strathcona Road Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2018
Columbus Avenue and Bragdon Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2024
Commonwealth Pier FiveBostonBuilding1979
Compton BuildingBostonBuilding2008
Congregation Adath JeshurunBostonBuilding1999
Congregation Agudath ShalomChelseaBuilding1993
Congress Street Fire StationBostonBuilding1987
Copp's Hill Burial GroundBostonSite1974
Copp's Hill TerraceBostonSite1990
Crawford Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2020
Crowninshield HouseBostonBuilding1972
Custom House DistrictBostonDistrict1973
Cyclorama BuildingBostonBuilding1973
Davidson, Sarah, Apartment BlockBostonBuilding2013
Dearborn SchoolBostonBuilding2000
Dill BuildingBostonBuilding1980
Dillaway SchoolBostonBuilding1980
Dimock Community Health Center Complex NHLBostonBuilding1985
District 13 Police StationBostonBuilding1988
Dixwell Street Apartments Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2024
Dorchester Heights Historic DistrictDorchesterDistrict2001
Dorchester Heights National Historic SiteBostonStructure1966
Dorchester North Burying GroundBostonDistrict1974
Dorchester ParkBostonSite2008
Dorchester Pottery WorksBostonBuilding1985
Dorchester South Burying GroundBostonSite2014
Dorchester Temple Baptist ChurchBostonBuilding1998
Dorchester-Milton Lower Mills Industrial DistrictBostonDistrict1980
Dorchester-Milton Lower Mills Industrial District (Boundary Increase)BostonDistrict2001
Douglass, Frederick, Square Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1996
Downtown Chelsea Residential Historic DistrictChelseaDistrict1988
Dudley Station Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1985
Dudley Terrace–Dudley Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2022
EDNA G. shipwreck (Eastern Rig dragger)BostonSite2010
Eagle Hill Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1998
East Boston High School, OldBostonBuilding2006
Egleston SubstationBostonBuilding2010
Eliot Burying GroundBostonSite1974
Eliot Congregational ChurchBostonBuilding1994
Eliot HallBostonBuilding1988
Elm Hill Avenue-Georgia Street-Cheney Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2023
Elm Hill Park Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2021
Engine House No. 34BostonBuilding1985
Esmond Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2018
Ether Dome, Massachusetts General Hospital NHLBostonBuilding1966
Evergreen CemeteryBostonSite2009
Fairview Cemetery (Additional Documentation)BostonSite2009
Faneuil Hall NHLBostonBuilding1966
Faneuil, Peter, SchoolBostonBuilding1994
Fenway ParkBostonBuilding2012
Fenway Studios NHLBostonBuilding1978
Fenway-Boylston Street DistrictBostonDistrict1984
Fields Corner Municipal BuildingBostonBuilding1981
Filene's Department StoreBostonBuilding1986
First Baptist ChurchBostonBuilding1972
First Church of Jamaica PlainBostonBuilding1988
First Congregational Church of Hyde ParkBostonBuilding1999
Forest Hills CemeteryBostonSite2004
Fort Banks Mortar BatteryWinthropSite2007
Fort IndependenceBostonSite1970
Fort Point Channel Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2004
Fort Warren NHLBostonDistrict1970
Fowler-Clark-Epstein FarmsteadBostonBuilding2020
Fox, I.J., BuildingBostonBuilding2015
Frances and Isabella ApartmentsBostonBuilding2002
Francis Street-Fenwood Road Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2016
Fulton-Commercial Streets DistrictBostonDistrict1973
Fulton-Commercial Streets Historic District (Boundary Increase)BostonDistrict2000
Gardner, Isabella Stewart, MuseumBostonBuilding1983
Garrison, William Lloyd, House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Garrison, William Lloyd, SchoolBostonBuilding1980
Gibson House NHLBostonBuilding2001
Goldsmith BlockBostonBuilding2007
Goodwin, Ozias, HouseBostonBuilding1988
Governor Shirley Square Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2016
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New EnglandBostonBuilding1988
Greenville Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2021
Greenwood Memorial United Methodist ChurchBostonBuilding2002
Gridley Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2014
Haffenreffer BreweryBostonBuilding1982
Hale, Edward Everett, HouseBostonBuilding1979
Harding, Chester, House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Harrison Square Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2002
Harriswood CrescentBostonBuilding1986
Harvard Avenue Fire StationBostonBuilding1983
Harvard Avenue Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2000
Harvard Stadium NHLBostonStructure1987
Haskell, Edward H., Home for NursesBostonBuilding2004
Hayden BuildingBostonBuilding1980
Headquarters House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Hibernian HallBostonBuilding2004
Highland SchoolWinthropBuilding2014
Highland Spring Brewery Bottling and Storage BuildingsBostonBuilding2010
Home for Aged CouplesBostonBuilding2005
Home for Destitute Jewish ChildrenBostonBuilding2014
Homestead Street Apartments Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2023
Hoosac Stores 1 & 2-Hoosac Stores 3CharlestownDistrict1985
House at 1 Bay StreetBostonBuilding1994
House at 17 Cranston StreetBostonBuilding1987
Howe, Samuel Gridley and Julia Ward, House NHLBostonBuilding1974
Hoxie, Timothy, HouseBostonBuilding1987
Humboldt Avenue Historic DistrictBostonBuilding2021
Hyde Park High SchoolBostonBuilding2024
Immaculate Conception RectoryRevereBuilding2002
International Trust Company BuildingBostonBuilding1979
Intervale Street-Blue Hill Avenue Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2020
Intervale Street-Columbia Road Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2019
John Adams CourthouseBostonBuilding1974
John Eliot Square DistrictBostonDistrict1973
John F. Kennedy Federal BuildingBostonBuilding2021
Joshua Bates SchoolBostonBuilding2008
Kimball, C. Henry, HouseChelseaBuilding1982
King's Chapel NHLBostonBuilding1974
Kittredge, Alvah, HouseBostonBuilding1973
LUNA (tugboat) NHLBostonStructure1983
Lawrence Avenue Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2021
Lawrence Model Lodging HousesBostonBuilding1983
Leather DistrictBostonDistrict1983
Lenox Street Apartments Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2024
Liberty Tree DistrictBostonDistrict1980
Locke-Ober RestaurantBostonBuilding1986
Long Island Head LightBostonStructure1987
Long Wharf and Custom House Block NHLBostonStructure1966
Loring, Harrison, HouseBostonBuilding1983
Loring-Greenough HouseBostonBuilding1972
Lower Roxbury Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1994
Lyman, Theodore, SchoolBostonBuilding2014
Malcolm X-Ella Little Collins HouseBostonBuilding2021
Mariner's HouseBostonBuilding1999
Massachusetts General Hospital NHLBostonBuilding1970
Massachusetts Historical Society Building NHLBostonBuilding1966
Massachusetts Mental Health CenterBostonDistrict1994
Massachusetts School of ArtBostonBuilding1989
Massachusetts Statehouse NHLBostonBuilding1966
McKay, Donald, HouseBostonBuilding1982
Metropolitan TheatreBostonBuilding1980
Mission Hill Triangle Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1989
Monument Square Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1987
Monument Square Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1990
Moreland Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1984
Morton Street, Metropolitan Park System of Greater BostonBostonDistrict2005
Mount Hope CemeteryBostonSite2009
Mount Pleasant Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1989
Nathan Warnick ApartmentsBostonBuilding2019
Naval Hospital Boston Historic DistrictChelseaDistrict1973
Nazing Court ApartmentsBostonBuilding2004
Nell, William C., House NHLBostonBuilding1976
Neponset Valley Parkway, Metorpolitan Park System of Greater BostonBostonDistrict2005
New England Conservatory of Music NHLBostonBuilding1980
New Riding ClubBostonBuilding1987
Newspaper RowBostonBuilding1983
Newton, Edward B., SchoolWinthropBuilding1997
Nix's Mate DaybeaconBostonStructure2004
North Terminal GarageBostonBuilding1997
Oak Square SchoolBostonBuilding1980
Ohabei Shalom CemeteryBostonSite2008
Old City Hall NHLBostonBuilding1970
Old Corner BookstoreBostonBuilding1973
Old Harbor Reservation Parkways, Metropolitan Park System of Greater BostonBostonDistrict2008
Old North Church NHLBostonBuilding1966
Old South Church in Boston NHLBostonBuilding1970
Old South Meeting House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Old State House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Old West Church NHLBostonBuilding1970
Otis, (First) Harrison Gray, House NHLBostonBuilding1970
Otis, (Second) Harrison Gray, HouseBostonBuilding1973
Paine Furniture BuildingBostonBuilding2002
Park Street DistrictBostonDistrict1974
Parker HouseBostonBuilding2023
Parkman, Francis, House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Peabody, TheBostonBuilding2001
Phipps Street Burying GroundBostonSite1974
Piano Row DistrictBostonDistrict1980
Pierce HouseBostonBuilding1974
Pierce-Hichborn House NHLBostonBuilding1968
Pilgrim Congregational ChurchBostonBuilding2013
Publicity BuildingBostonBuilding2003
Quincy Grammar SchoolBostonBuilding2017
Quincy Market NHLBostonBuilding1966
ROSEWAY (schooner) NHLBostonSite1997
Repertory Theatre of BostonBostonBuilding2023
Revere Beach Reservation NHLRevereSite2003
Revere Beach Reservation Historic DistrictRevereDistrict1998
Revere City Hall and Police StationRevereBuilding2012
Revere, Paul, House NHLBostonBuilding1966
Richards, Ellen H. Swallow, House NHLJamaica PlainBuilding1992
Richardson BlockBostonBuilding1986
Riviera, TheBostonBuilding1995
Ronan, Mary, T., SchoolRevereBuilding1982
Roslindale Baptist ChurchBostonBuilding1998
Roslindale Congregational ChurchRoslindaleBuilding1991
Roslindale SubstationBostonBuilding2013
Roughan HallBostonBuilding1982
Roxbury High FortBostonSite1973
Roxbury Highlands Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1989
Roxbury Presbyterian ChurchBostonBuilding1991
Rumney Marsh Burying GroundRevereSite2004
Russia Wharf BuildingsBostonBuilding1980
Saint Augustine Chapel and CemeteryBostonDistrict1987
Saint Mark's Episcopal ChurchBostonBuilding2014
Samuel Edelman ApartmentsBostonBuilding2019
Savin Hill Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2003
Sears Roebuck and Company Mail Order StoreBostonBuilding1991
Sears' Crescent and Sears' BlockBostonBuilding1986
Sears, David, House NHLBostonBuilding1970
Second Brazer BuildingBostonBuilding1986
Second Church in BostonBostonBuilding2010
Sherman Apartments Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2012
Shirley-Eustis House NHLRoxburyBuilding1966
Shubert, Sam S., TheatreBostonBuilding1980
Slade Spice MillRevereStructure1972
South Boston Boat Clubs Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2005
South Boston Naval Annex Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2022
South End DistrictBostonDistrict1973
South End District (Boundary Increase II)BostonDistrict2025
South End District (Boundary Increase)BostonDistrict2014
South Station HeadhouseBostonBuilding1975
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church ComplexBostonDistrict1989
St. Luke's and St. Margaret's ChurchBostonDistrict1997
St. Mary's Episcopal ChurchBostonBuilding1998
St. Paul's Church NHLBostonBuilding1970
St. Stephen's ChurchBostonBuilding1975
Stearns, R. H., HouseBostonBuilding1980
Stony Brook Reservation Parkways, Metropolitan Park System of Great Boston MPSBostonDistrict2006
Students HouseBostonBuilding1997
Suffolk County JailBostonBuilding1980
Sumner Hill Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1987
Sumner, Charles, House NHLBostonBuilding1973
Symphony Hall NHLBostonBuilding1999
Symphony and Horticultural HallsBostonBuilding1975
Temple Place Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1988
Terminal Storage Warehouse DistrictBostonDistrict2012
Textile DistrictBostonDistrict1990
Thane Street Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2020
Theodore Parker Unitarian Universalist ChurchBostonBuilding2020
Town Hill DistrictBostonDistrict1973
Tremont Street Subway NHLBostonStructure1966
Trinity Church NHLBostonBuilding1970
Trinity Neighborhood HouseBostonBuilding1992
Trinity RectoryBostonBuilding1972
Trotter, William Monroe, House NHLDorchesterBuilding1976
Truman Parkway-Metropolitan Park System of Greater BostonBostonDistrict2005
U.S.S. CONSTITUTION NHLBostonStructure1966
US Post Office GarageSouth BostonBuilding1986
USS CASSIN YOUNG (destroyer) NHLBostonStructure1986
Union Oyster House NHLBostonBuilding2003
Union WharfBostonBuilding1980
United Shoe Machinery Corporation BuildingBostonBuilding1980
United State Post Office, Courthouse, and Federal BuildingBostonBuilding2011
Upham's Corner MarketBostonBuilding1990
Uphams Corner Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2024
VFW Parkway, Metropolitan Park System of Greater BostonBostonDistrict2005
Vermont BuildingBostonBuilding1984
Walnut Park Historic DistrictBostonDistrict2022
Walton and Roslin HallsBostonBuilding2013
Washington Street Theatre DistrictBostonDistrict1979
West Street DistrictBostonDistrict1980
Westerly Burial GroundWest RoxburySite1987
Wigglesworth BuildingBostonBuilding1982
Wilbur TheatreBostonBuilding1980
Winthrop BuildingBostonBuilding1974
Winthrop Center/Metcalf Square Historic DistrictWinthropDistrict2010
Winthrop Parkway, Metropolitan Parkway System of Greater BostonRevereDistrict2004
Winthrop Shore Dr., Metropolitan Park System of Greater BostonWinthropDistrict2004
Winthrop, Deane, HouseWinthropBuilding1990
Wirth, Jacob, BuildingsBostonBuilding1980
Woodbourne Historic DistrictBostonDistrict1999
YWCA BostonBostonBuilding2004
Youth's Companion BuildingBostonBuilding1974

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

Suffolk was formed in 1643 (1643-05-10) from unknown / original county.

SUFFOLK created as one of four original counties in Massachusetts. SUFFOLK included territory in the northeast corner of present Rhode Island.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

Suffolk County population from 1790 to 2020 (Census historical series).

897k462k28k179018001840188019101920196020002020
17901800182018401860188019001920194019501960198020002020
44,87528,01543,94095,773192,700387,927611,417835,522863,248896,615791,329650,142689,807797,936

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

National Park Service sites nearby

NPS

Park units within about 40 km of the county centroid (from NPS Public POIs; no API key).

SiteTypeDist.
Boston African American National Historic SiteNational Historic Site4.6 km
Boston National Historical ParkNational Historical Park4.8 km
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation AreaNational Recreation Area8.3 km
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic SiteNational Historic Site8.7 km
Adams National Historical ParkNational Historical Park9.4 km
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic SiteNational Historic Site9.5 km
Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic SiteNational Historic Site9.9 km
Saugus Iron Works National Historic SiteNational Historic Site14.5 km
Salem Maritime National Historic SiteNational Historic Site23.0 km
Minute Man National Historical ParkNational Historical Park27.1 km
Lowell National Historical ParkNational Historical Park41.9 km

Source: NPS National Datasets / Public POIs. The NPS Developer API requires a free key and was not used.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

30 cemeteries and 1 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 30 of 30 listed
NameLatLon
Adath Jeshurun Cemetery42.25812-71.15475
Bennington Street Cemetery42.38098-71.02109
Bunker Hill Burying Ground42.37931-71.06159
Cedar Grove Cemetery42.27828-71.05698
Central Burying Ground42.35289-71.06592
Copps Hill Burial Ground42.36717-71.05607
Dorchester South Burying Ground Cemetery42.27857-71.067
Evergreen Cemetery42.33854-71.16209
Fairview Cemetery42.24719-71.14217
Garden Cemetery42.39032-71.03253
Gethsemane Cemetery42.28709-71.17921
Granary Burying Ground42.35745-71.06183
Grove Street Jewish Cemeteries42.25928-71.15344
Kings Chapel Burying Ground42.35836-71.05983
Market Street Burying Ground42.35046-71.1523
Mount Benedict Cemetery42.29743-71.16709
Mount Hope Cemetery42.28276-71.10826
Mount Lebanon Cemetery42.29108-71.1802
New Calvary Cemetery42.2794-71.10383
Phipps Street Burying Ground42.37628-71.06768
Rest Haven Cemetery42.35486-70.95878
Saint Augustine Burying Ground42.33436-71.04973
Saint Josephs Cemetery42.28621-71.17366
Saint Josephs Cemetery42.2938-71.17413
Saint Josephs Cemetery42.29176-71.18005
Saint Mary's Cemetery42.29048-71.07995
Saint Marys Cemetery42.25906-71.15598
South End Burying Ground42.33799-71.07383
Thompson Island Cemetery42.31003-71.01227
Westerly Burying Ground42.28143-71.15871
Historical populated places — 1 of 1
NameLatLon
Fort Winthrop42.35204-71.01199

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for Suffolk County, Massachusetts

Terms: hmdb.org/copyright.asp. Linking is encouraged by HMdb.