Welcome to Central Square

A neighborhood in Cambridge, MA, Central Square is a diverse, eclectic community centered around the intersection of Massachusetts Ave, Prospect Street and Western Ave. Central Square is conveniently wedged between Harvard Square and Kendall Square and offers of a lively variety of ethnic restaurants, bars, live music, artists, local businesses and national chains. Cambridge City Hall is also in Central Square, which in the mid 1800s replaced Harvard Square as the downtown of Cambridge. Cambridge is located on the north side of the Charles River, which separates Cambridge from Boston. Home to Harvard University as well as MIT, Cambridge has a rich history. Originally established in 1630 as the town Newtowne, by the 700 original Puritan colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, its name was changed to Cambridge in 1638 shortly after the founding of Harvard College. Cambridge was an active village, comprising of mostly Puritan colonists for many years to come. Cambridge was incorporated as the second city in Massachusetts in 1846.