And the Corcoran Park housing project renovation, completed last year, has brought in a diverse array of new residents, including many transplanted Haitians.

John J. Conlon, a co-owner of Canina's Deli and Catering, says people of "all races" live in the neighborhood, including Italian, Irish and Cuban Americans.

"Even though it's diverse, it's still tight-knit," Conlon says.

How It Was

Strawberry Hill traces its roots back to the 1840s, when expanded transportation service opened up the area to suburban residents, according to the Cambridge Historical Commission's 1977 Survey of Architectural History in Cambridge.

In 1845, regular omnibus service was established from Harvard Square to Mount Auburn Cemetery. The opening of a Watertown Branch Railroad depot at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Belmont Streets the next year further spurred development.

"Strawberry Hill was the name of the first subdivision plan of the area, which was drawn in 1857," writes Charles M. Sullivan, executive director of the Historical Commission, in an e-mail message. "Some residents have told me that wild strawberries have been found in the area until recent times, so this may have been the traditional name of the area."

And Chamberlain, who says strawberries were grown here in the 1800s, also says the community still feels separated from the city.