Geography Chelsea, Massachusetts

downtown chelsea



city hall in bellingham square

located on small peninsula in boston harbor covering mere 2.21 square miles (6 km), chelsea smallest city area in massachusetts. chelsea bordered on 3 sides water, giving city unique character. mystic river borders chelsea on southwest, chelsea creek , mill creek , island end river on west.

the topography of chelsea consists of coastal lowlands, punctuated 4 drumlins formed during last ice age. these drumlins located in southwest (admirals hill), southeast (mount bellingham), northeast (powderhorn hill) , northwest (mount washington). smaller drumlin (mill hill) located on east side of chelsea, adjacent mill creek. sloped , hilly landscape helps divide city discernible neighborhoods, each own character, thereby giving city manageable sense of scale , orientation.

neighborhoods , districts

despite small size, there several distinct neighborhoods in chelsea:

admirals hill - admirals hill sits atop point of land between mystic river , island end river. containing naval hospital historic district, area residential development enjoying expansive views. on south slope of hill site of historic chelsea naval hospital, several brick , granite structures have been converted other uses. between naval hospital , shoreline mary o malley park, largest public park in chelsea.

admiral s hill naval hospital

addison-orange adjacent north side of downtown, addison-orange neighborhood residential, flat , densely populated. washington avenue runs through neighborhood.

bellingham square - historic district became center of commerce , government after 1908 fire. cohesiveness of design result of community planning after great fire of 1908. district includes city hall, modeled after old independence hall in philadelphia, public library , bunker hill community college s chelsea campus.

box district - on block city hall, once blighted neighborhood gets name various box manufacturing companies operated in area 1903, when russell box company began operations @ foot of gerrish avenue. abandoned in 1960s, area fell disrepair until rezoned residential use in 2000s. fastest growing part of chelsea , has enjoyed building boom since 2005, town homes , multifamily housing complexes proliferating in area. chelsea family dental located here, , kayem food headquarters off marginal street.

carter park- wyndham area - neighborhood around carter park small enclave of single-family queen anne style homes surrounded heavy commercial , highly trafficked areas. route 1 looms above southeastern edge of tree-lined neighborhood, , revere beach parkway winds along northern edge. chelsea high school in area, market basket, dockside, home goods, t.j. maxx , floramo s. also, historic chelsea clock used in area.

chelsea square - historic district located in downtown area contains finest , intact grouping of mid 19th , 20th century commercial architecture in city. area includes waterfront district (south broadway neighborhood) brick row houses dating mid late 19th century. third street in area, , becomes industrial everett avenue. chelsea police department located here.

chelsea commons - formerly known parkway plaza, chelsea commons sits on low flat area near end of mill creek. plaza consists of big-box retail, fast-food restaurants, , large apartment building. bordered strip of wetlands on both sides. new chelsea commons park completed adjacent site. webster avenue in area.

mill hill - largely residential area consists of two- , three-story wood frame detached buildings. covering smallest of city s drumlins, mill hill neighborhood sits on small neck of land bounded chelsea creek , mill creek. neighborhood on revere line. eastern avenue goes through neighborhood.

prattville - northwestern section of city. borders revere, , everett west. pizza lovers, newbridge cafe , orange leaf frozen yogurt located in area. garfield , washington avenues in prattville. route 1 on east side of prattville, , route 16 on south side.

soldiers home - soldiers home neighborhood covers steep slopes , peak of powderhorn hill. residential area contains examples of queen anne style architecture. soldiers home 1 of least dense neighborhoods in city. @ peak sits soldiers home, large structure dominates of area. however, there smaller associated brick structures in area well.

waterfront district - first time, chelsea breaking through heavy industry piled along chelsea creek, , reconnecting waterfront. established promote water-oriented industrial uses @ forbes industrial park , lower chelsea creek waterfront, use remains industrial. of waterfront tobin bridge mouth of mill creek designated port area (dpa), , chelsea has in last decade embraced it. city encouraging industry move in, if finance new park on waterfront.