Allston–Brighton

Allston–Brighton is a set of two interlocking Boston neighborhoods, Allston and Brighton.

Geographical and technical Issues

Allston and Brighton's border runs along Everett Street in the North, running south along Gordon Street and terminates at the Brookline town line along Kelton Street (with land to the east of these streets falling in Allston, to the west, Brighton). Allston and Brighton are also identified by their respective postal zip codes (Allston's is 02134, Brighton's is 02135). Allston is generally understood as being in the northeast corner of Allston–Brighton, where it meets Brookline and the rest of Boston in the commercialised Union Square or "Allston-Village" area. Brighton is seen as the larger southwestern portion of Allston–Brighton encompassing Brighton Center and the generally less urbanised neighbourhoods. They are connected to the Fenway/Kenmore area of Boston by a tiny strip of land containing Boston University along the Charles River, with Brookline lying to the south and southeast, Cambridge to the north and Newton to the west, so they retain a very distinct neighbourhood identity together. Allston–Brighton is often perceived as being separate from the rest of the city since many urbanised Greater Boston areas such as Cambridge and Somerville are independently governed cities, but it is in fact part of the city of Boston. It is divided by the Massachusetts Turnpike (also known as Interstate 90) into the main southern area and a smaller northern "spur" separated from Cambridge by the Charles River.