The neighborhood has also formed community gardens and developed the first urban farm of the city in accordance to the adoption of article 89, Urban Agricultural Ordinance, which provides framework for creating community resources for fresh produce, to be sold at low cost, and also to be donated to programs who help feed those who are in shelters or other care facilities alike.

[6][5] An erroneous statement in Francis Drake's History of Roxbury, that no Native people ever lived in the area,[7] is refuted by Colonial documentation and archeological evidence found in several places, including the Arnold Arboretum and Jamaica Pond (formerly part of the town of Roxbury; today part of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood).

[8] Three miles south, the only land route to the capital led through Roxbury, which made the town important for both transportation and trade.

That particular stone exists only in the Boston basin; it is visible on stony outcroppings and used in buildings such as the Warren House, and it proved to be a valuable asset to the community that led to early prosperity.

[14] The Roxbury settlers, most prominently among them was Reverend John Eliot, played a role in Christianizing the native people and relocating them into Indian Praying Towns.

The Massachuset leader Cutshamekin first resisted John Eliot's initial efforts to convert his tribe, but eventually swore allegiance to King James I as a means of survival.

The First Church of Roxbury was the starting point for William Dawes' "Midnight Ride" of April 18, 1775 (in a different direction from that of Paul Revere) to warn Lexington and Concord of the British raids at the opening of the American Revolutionary War.

After the war, those able to afford it sought to live in free-standing, single-family houses away from their jobs in the city, and this led to Roxbury becoming one of the first American suburbs.

[9] Many homes were built in the Greek Revival style, symbolizing the republic of ancient Greece, a democracy that the young United States admired.

German immigrants also settled in the Mission Hill area (at that time part of Roxbury) and were instrumental in developing the many breweries that prospered along the Stony Brook until prohibition.

Designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Franklin Park is the final jewel of the Emerald Necklace, the seven-mile stretch of public parkland that begins at Boston Common.

[20] At the corner of Douglas Square and Tremont Street was one notable shop called People's Market; the first supermarket in Boston located in a black area.

[22] In 1988, a referendum was defeated that would have examined the feasibility of reincorporation because the organizers of the movement believed that the area would flourish if they could create their own government that would not discriminate against minorities.

[24] By the turn of the 20th century, the area was a bustling mix of department stores, hotels, silent movie theaters, banks—even a bowling alley—designed by prominent Boston architects in a rich mixture of revival styles.

In the early 20th century, Roxbury became home to recent immigrants; a thriving Jewish community developed around Grove Hall, along Blue Hill Avenue, Seaver Street and into Dorchester along Columbia Road.

The center of African American residential and social activities in Boston had formerly been on the north slope of Beacon Hill and the South End.

In particular, a riot in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. resulted in stores on Blue Hill Avenue being looted and eventually burned down, leaving a desolate and abandoned landscape which discouraged commerce and business development.

More recently, grassroots efforts by residents have been the force behind revitalizing historic areas and creating Roxbury Heritage State Park.

[29] The project was part of a larger goal to increase the number of services available to residents, but in 1986 Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn rejected the idea.

The Fort Hill section experienced significant gentrification when college students (many from Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology), artists, and young professionals moved into the area in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2014, a new tech-incubator called Smarter in the City launched its initiative to encourage growth in Roxbury by cultivating startups in then-Dudley Square.

"[38] "Today Roxbury is home to a diverse community which includes African American, Hispanic, and Asian families, along with young professionals".

Emergency Shelter Commission mission is to help prevent and end homelessness and hunger through proactive planning, policy analysis, program development and advocacy with our city, state, federal and community partner agencies.

Section 8 waiting list is a voucher program that opened in January 2003 in accordance with provisions contained in the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended.

[59] The Youth Build Boston program has a branch located at 27 Centre St, it has been a resource for the community of Roxbury for 25 years, starting in 1995.

The city is working with local organizations to maximize Boston 's participation in state incentive programs and innovative financing initiatives.

[64] The Roxbury YMCA was founded in 1851 in the Greater Boston which is a cause driven nonprofit organization committed to developing youth by informing them about healthy living and promoting social responsibility in the community.

[65] The John A. Shelburne community center is a non-profit recreational, educational, and cultural enrichment facility located in the heart of historic Roxbury.

In addition, they collect and composts residents' leaf and yard waste on designated recycling days from April to the first week of December.

Boston residents can also safely dispose of hazardous waste and shred unwanted documents for free on specific dates and events.