Brockton, MA
The shoe city that became the City of Champions, now one of the great Cape Verdean and Haitian cities of America
Brockton is the largest city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, about 25 miles south of Boston, a former shoemaking capital rebuilt by its immigrants. The 2020 census counted about 105,600 people.
The masthead year is 1821, when the North Parish of Bridgewater was set off as the town of North Bridgewater; it took the name Brockton in 1874 and became a city in 1881. Shoes made it. By the Civil War it was the largest shoe producer in the United States, its factories turning out boots for the Union army, and for decades afterwards the name stood for footwear across the country. The money brought early modernity: on 1 October 1883 Thomas Edison threw the switch on the world's first three-wire underground electrical system here, and the city lit its streets and factories before most of America. The shoe trade drifted away through the twentieth century, to the South and then abroad, and the last of the big factories closed long ago, leaving brick buildings, a downtown built for a richer era and a strong civic memory of work.
The city fills a broad, low stretch of country between Boston and the old colony towns, laid out along Main Street and the railway that runs north to south through the middle. Downtown sits around City Hall, a Romanesque landmark, and the Brockton station. Montello lies to the north and Campello to the south, both old villages with their own stations and post offices; the east side holds the main hospital and quieter residential streets, and the west side runs out towards the Brockton VA medical centre and the town of Easton. D.W. Field Park, the city's largest, a long chain of ponds and woods in the Olmsted manner, runs along the north-western edge. Most of the housing is wooden: three-deckers, Victorian singles and mid-century capes on tight lots.
Brockton calls itself the City of Champions, and means it. Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, was born and raised here, and Marvin Hagler, the middleweight champion, made the city his home and trained in its gyms; a statue of Marciano stands at Brockton High School. The high school, one of the largest in the state, has a famous football record, and its teams are the Boxers. The city's character now comes from its newer arrivals. At the 2020 census Cape Verdean was the most commonly reported ancestry, at about a fifth of residents, followed by Haitian, and Kriolu and Haitian Creole are heard as often as Portuguese, Spanish and English. Cape Verdean bakeries and restaurants, Haitian churches and Caribbean grocers line the main roads, and the Fuller Craft Museum, beside D.W. Field Park, is the region's specialist museum of contemporary craft.
Present-day Brockton is a working city with a commuter's address. The Fall River/New Bedford commuter rail line, which replaced the old Middleborough service through the city in 2025, gives it three stations and a direct run to South Station in Boston, and rising prices nearer Boston have pushed young families south. Healthcare, schools, government and retail are the largest employers. The city's problems are those of many former mill and factory towns: a poorer population than its neighbours, pressure on schools and city finances, and crime that is higher than in the surrounding suburbs though concentrated in particular streets. Downtown is being slowly rebuilt with new flats around the station, and the city's arts and Cape Verdean festivals bring people back into the centre in summer.
Where People Live
Downtown
The civic centre around the Romanesque City Hall, the courthouse and the commuter rail station, with older commercial blocks, new flats near the tracks and a growing number of Cape Verdean and Caribbean businesses.
Montello
The northern village, with its own commuter rail station and post office, a mix of three-deckers, small factories and shops along North Main Street.
Campello
The southern village around South Main Street, once the heart of the shoe factories, now a dense residential district with its own station.
East Side
Quieter residential streets east of the railway, home to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital and some of the city's larger older houses.
West Side
Suburban-feeling neighbourhoods running out towards Easton, with the VA medical centre and streets of mid-century houses.
D.W. Field Park
The city's great park along its north-western edge, a chain of ponds, woodland roads and walking paths, with the Fuller Craft Museum close by.
Westgate & Belmont Street
The retail strip along Route 123 and the Westgate area, where the shopping centres, car dealers and chain restaurants have gathered.
Where to stay
Garner Hotel Brockton - Boston by IHG
405 Westgate Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · ihg.com
Hampton Inn & Suites Foxborough/Mansfield Brockton
2 Foxborough Blvd, Foxborough, MA 02035 · hilton.com
Home2 Suites by Hilton Walpole Foxboro Brockton
2375 Boston Providence Hwy, Walpole, MA 02081 · hilton.com
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Rockland Scituate
929 Hingham St, Rockland, MA 02370 · hilton.com
Residence Inn by Marriott Boston Brockton/Easton
124 Liberty St, Brockton, MA 02301 · marriott.com
Super 8 by Wyndham Brockton
385 Westgate Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · wyndhamhotels.com
Best Western Rockland Scituate
909 Hingham St, Rockland, MA 02370 · bestwestern.com
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Brockton (Boston), MA
50 Christy's Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · choicehotels.com
Tru by Hilton Brockton
245 Westgate Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · hilton.com
Elmcourt Hotel Brockton
33 W Elm St, Brockton, MA 02301
Motel 6 Brockton, MA
391 Westgate Dr, Brockton, MA 02301 · motel6.com
Restaurants & places to go
Airports
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) 19 mi to the centre
Boston, MA, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 34 airlines (JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 103 destinations incl. London, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cancun, Chicago… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 34 airlines, 103 direct destinations
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, Embraer 190, 777-200LR) · 46 routes: Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cancun, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Dubai, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Nassau, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Oranjestad, Orlando, Philadelphia, Philipsburg, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providenciales, Punta Cana, Raleigh-durham, Richmond, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Savannah … +6 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, 737-800, 737-800, 757, Embraer 175, A319…) · 25 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Bermuda, Cancun, Charleston*, Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis*, Jacksonville*, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Myrtle Beach*, Nassau*, New York, New York*, Orlando, Paris, Providenciales, Raleigh-durham, Richmond*, Rome*, Salt Lake City
- American Airlines AA (A319, 737-800, CRJ, Embraer 190, A320, A321…) · 23 routes: Buffalo*, Cancun, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Harrisburg, London*, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh*, Portland*, Richmond*, Rochester*, San Diego*, Seattle*, Syracuse, Tokyo, Washington
- United Airlines UA (737-800, 737-900, 737-700, A320, 757-200, A319…) · 17 routes: Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Dublin*, Frankfurt*, Halifax*, Houston, Los Angeles, Montreal*, Munich*, Newark, Ottawa*, Panama City, San Francisco, Toronto*, Washington, Zurich*
- US Airways US (A319, 737-800, CRJ, Embraer 190, A320, A321…) · 17 routes: Buffalo*, Cancun, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Harrisburg*, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh*, Richmond*, Rochester*, Syracuse*, Washington
- Cape Air 9K (CNA) · 11 routes: Albany, Augusta, Bar Harbor, Barnstable, Lebanon, Nantucket, Provincetown, Rockland, Rutland, Saranac Lake, Vineyard Haven MA
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-300, 73C, 717) · 11 routes: Akron*, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, Orlando, St. Louis
- Alaska Airlines AS (Saab 340, 737-800, 737-800, 757, 73J) · 7 routes: Islip, Los Angeles*, Plattsburgh*, Portland, Presque Isle, San Diego, Seattle
- AirTran Airways FL (717, 737-700) · 5 routes: Akron, Atlanta, Baltimore*, Chicago*, Orlando
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 5 routes: Atlantic City, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach
- Air Canada AC (CRJ, Dash 8-300, Dash 8-100, Embraer 190, Embraer 175) · 4 routes: Halifax*, Montreal*, Ottawa*, Toronto
- Air France AF (747-400, 757, 767-400, M90, MD-88) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, London*, Paris
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (330, 757, 767, M90, MD-88) · 3 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta*, London*
- Peninsula Airways KS (Saab 340) · 3 routes: Islip, Plattsburgh, Presque Isle
- Aer Lingus EI (330, A330-200, 757) · 2 routes: Dublin, Shannon
- AeroMéxico AM (757, A320, M90, MD-88) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Cancun*
- Alitalia AZ (330, A330-200, 747-400) · 2 routes: Paris*, Rome
- British Airways BA (A330-300, 747-400, 777) · 2 routes: London, Madrid*
- Finnair AY (A330-300, 747-400, 777) · 2 routes: London, Madrid
- Iberia Airlines IB (A330-300, 747-400, 777) · 2 routes: London*, Madrid
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (787-8, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: New Orleans*, Tokyo
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, A340-600, 747-400) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Munich
- SATA International S4 (313) · 2 routes: Lisbon, Ponta Delgada
- TAP Portugal TP (313) · 2 routes: Lisbon*, Ponta Delgada*
- Virgin America VX (A320, A319) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A319, A320, A330-300, 757, 767-400, M90…) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- Copa Airlines CM (737-700) · 1 route: Panama City
- Emirates EK (777-200LR) · 1 route: Dubai
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Porter Airlines PD (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Toronto
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Minneapolis
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A330-300) · 1 route: Zurich
- TACV VR (757-200) · 1 route: Praia, Santiago Island
- Transaero Airlines UN (A330-300) · 1 route: London*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD) 11 mi to the centre
Norwood, MA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM) 19 mi to the centre
Plymouth, MA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Mansfield Municipal Airport 11 mi to the centre
Mansfield, MA, US
Local transit
Bay State Cruise Company
Bus · Boston, Massachusetts · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Blue Apple Bus Company
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authori
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Amtrak
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Greyhound
Intercity coach
Jefferson Lines
Intercity coach
MegaBus
Intercity coach
Trailways
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Magellan Jets
Jet card, charter · Partner fleet · Jet cards and on-demand charter from Boston.
Sentient Jet
Jet card · Partner fleet, light to heavy · One of the first jet-card programmes; guaranteed availability on partner aircraft.
Aero
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Airshare
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
Blade
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Living Here
Getting about
- The MBTA's Fall River/New Bedford commuter rail line stops at Montello, Brockton and Campello, with direct trains to South Station in Boston.
- The Brockton Area Transit Authority runs local buses from its downtown terminal to the neighbourhoods and surrounding towns, and connects with the Red Line at Ashmont.
- Route 24 runs along the west side of the city, linking it to Interstate 93 towards Boston and south to Fall River; Boston Logan is roughly 45 minutes by road outside rush hour.
- Outside downtown a car is the practical way to get around, and winter brings snow and storm parking bans.
Health
- Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital and Boston Medical Center South both have emergency departments, and the VA Boston Healthcare System runs a large campus in the city; Boston's teaching hospitals are within an hour.
- Dial 911 for any emergency. Winters bring snow, ice and nor'easters, and summers can be hot and humid.
- American healthcare is expensive and visitors are billed in full. Travel insurance with good medical cover is essential, and an urgent-care clinic is cheaper than an emergency room for anything minor.
Work & study
- Healthcare, education, city and state government, retail and logistics are the main employers; many residents commute towards Boston by train or Route 24.
- Massasoit Community College has its main campus in the city, and Stonehill College and Bridgewater State University are in neighbouring towns.
- Non-citizens need a visa or immigration status that allows work. Massachusetts levies state income tax and sales tax, and housing costs have risen with Boston's.
Money & manners
- US dollars. Cards are taken almost everywhere. Tipping of around 18 to 20 per cent is expected in restaurants and bars.
- Brockton is plain-spoken, proud of its boxers and its high school, and many-tongued: Cape Verdean Kriolu, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Spanish are everyday languages.
- Crime is higher than in the surrounding suburbs. Use ordinary city sense, lock cars and keep valuables out of sight, as you would in any mid-sized New England city.
News
Situations Vacant
Classified
Property
Sport
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Sources
- Geoverts Local — Brocktonthe local directory, the people-and-company index, and who is hiring
- Better Mapping — Brocktonthe intelligence map — parcels, boundaries and what is actually where