Southie vs. South End: What’s the difference?

While their names might confuse newcomers, longtime Bostonians know the South End and South Boston could not be more different.

But historian Anthony Sammarco, who has authored over 75 books about the history of Greater Boston, thinks the two have more in common than many might realize. The neighborhoods were designed around the same time and both had similar trajectories in terms of an influx of immigration in the 1800s and 1900s, with soaring prices and gentrification going into the 2000s. And, of course, both are relatively south of Downtown Boston.

How South Boston (Southie) and the South End got their names

Geographically, South Boston — or Southie — is located southeast of Downtown Boston , while the South End lies more directly south. South Boston was established first,