Milton

Originally part of Dorchester, the area known as Uniqity, or Lower Falls by the Neponset Tribe, was settled in 1630 by The Puritans who were soon joined in the 1650’s by refugees fleeing from the chaos of Oliver Cromwell and England’s Civil War. Its strategic location along the banks of the Neponset River helped make the early settlement one of the first industrial centers in colonial America. An early grist mill in the 1600’s soon expanded to a range of industries powered by the waters of the Neponset River and the financial capital of Boston investors. The area was incorporated as Milton in 1662 named after Milton Abbey, Dorset, England.

Just as the river fuel the town’s early prosperity, the newly invented railroad accelerated it’s growth into the 1800’s. The Granite Railway was established in 1826 to transport granite from nearby Quincy quarries to waiting ships docked along the river. It was the first commercial railroad in the United States. By the later half of the 19th century, Milton transformed into one of Boston’s many streetcar suburbs as the city’s burgeoning network of electric rail lines expanded southward.

Today Milton retains it’s charming suburban character. It is frequently listed by Money magazine as one of the “Top 10 Best Places to Live” in the United States. The town is home to The Blue Hills Reservation offering a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, skiing, and horseback riding as well as amazing views of Boston’s skyline and it’s iconic harbor islands. The town’s housing stock ranges from grand estates and traditional New England colonials to multi-family homes and small condominium developments. It’s served by the MBTA’s Red Line rapid transit which runs historic trolley cars dating from the 1940’s. Over its 400s years, Milton has been home to many famous residents, including the 41st President of the United States, George H.W. Bush who was born at 173 Adams Street in 1924.