Boston, Massachusetts
Flag Seal
Nickname: "City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, America's Walking City"
Location in Massachusetts, USA
Counties	Suffolk County
Mayor	Thomas M. Menino(D)
Area
- City	232.1 km²  (89.6 sq mi)
- Land	125.4 km²  (48.4 sq mi)
- Water	106.7 km² (41.2 sq mi)
- Metro	11,684.7 km² (4,511.5 sq mi)
Elevation	43 m  (141 ft)
Population
- City (2005)	596,638
- Density	4,457/km² (11,543/sq mi)
- Urban	4,313,000
- Metro	5,804,816[1]
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
1 The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System
Website: www.cityofboston.gov

"Boston" redirects here. For other uses, see Boston (disambiguation).

Boston is the capital and the most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a state of the United States of America. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest and most culturally significant cities in the United States. Boston is recognized as a gamma global city. Its economy is based on higher education, research, health care, finance, and technology, principally biotechnology. Citizens of Boston are called Bostonians. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (6891x2000, 3290 KB) Summary Boston as viewed from Harvard Bridge on Massachusetts Avenue. ... Image File history File links Us-ma-bo. ... Image File history File links Boston_city_seal. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Bobby, Rab, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all short for Robert). ... For other uses, see Athens (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Boston_ma_highlight. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... United States of America, showing states, divided into counties. ... Suffolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... now. ... Thomas Menino Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts and the citys first Italian-American mayor as well as being the citys first non Irish-American mayor since 1884. ... The Democratic Party is one of two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... An urban area is a term used to define an area where there is an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... Metropolitan area in Western Tokyo as seen from Tokyo Tower A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | UTC | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7:30 | +8 | +8:30 | +8...  Areas that observe daylight saving time  Areas that once observed daylight saving time  Areas that have never observed daylight saving time A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is a conventional local time adopted by... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... for North America see also: Atlantic Standard Time Zone and Eastern Daylight Time Categories: Time zones ... Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. ... Major features of the Solar System (not to scale): The Sun, the eight planets, the asteroid belt containing the dwarf planet Ceres, outermost there is the dwarf planet Pluto (the dwarf planet Eris not shown), and a comet. ... Boston is a widely-used name. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has a second meaning based on an alternative sense of capital) is the principal city or town associated with a countrys government. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries â€¢ Politics Portal      A state of the United States is any one of the fifty subnational entities referred to... A global city or world city are a concept which postulates that globalisation can be broken down in terms of strategic geographic locales that see global processes being created, facilitated and enacted. ... Bostonian may refer to: a resident of Boston, Massachusetts a resident of Massachusetts a resident of the Boston area the passenger train Bostonian This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The city lies at the center of Greater Boston, which also includes the cities of Cambridge, Quincy, and Newton, the town of Brookline, and many suburban communities farther from Boston. The Greater Boston area encompasses parts of the states of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The city also lies at the center of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester Combined Statistical Area (CSA), the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States. Greater Boston is the area of Massachusetts closely surrounding Boston, Massachusetts. ...   Settled: 1630 â€“ Incorporated: 1636 Zip Code(s): 02138, 02139, 02140, 02141, 02142 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1625 â€“ Incorporated: 1792 Zip Code(s): 02169, 02170, 02171 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Location Location in Massachusetts Government County Norfolk County Form of Government Mayor-council city Mayor William J. Phelan Geography Area Total 26. ...   Nickname: The Garden City Settled: 1639 â€“ Incorporated: 1688 Zip Code(s): 02446, 02458, 02459, 02460, 02461, 02462, 02464, 02465, 02467, 02468, 02495 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1638 â€“ Incorporated: 1705 Zip Code(s): 02445 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  Ranked 50th  - Total 1,214* sq mi (3,144* km²)  - Width 37 miles (60 km)  - Length 48 miles (77 km)  - % water 32. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ...

History

The 18th century Old State House in Boston is surrounded by tall buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Main article: History of Boston, Massachusetts

In the political events which have affected the history of the entire country, and in shaping the thought of a people who have come to be a great nation, Boston has played a leading part.

-- Boston by Henry Cabot Lodge

Boston was founded on November 17, 1630, by Puritan colonists from England, on a peninsula called Shawmut by its original Native American inhabitants. The peninsula was connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, and surrounded by the waters of Massachusetts Bay and the Back Bay, an estuary of the Charles River. Boston's early European settlers first called the area Trimountaine. They later renamed the town for Boston, England, in Lincolnshire, from which several prominent "pilgrim" colonists emigrated. A majority of Boston's early citizens were Puritans. Massachusetts Bay Colony's original governor, John Winthrop, gave a famous sermon entitled "a City upon a Hill," which captured the idea that Boston had a special covenant with God. (Winthrop also led the signing of the Cambridge Agreement which is regarded as a key founding document of the city.) Puritan ethics molded an extremely stable and well-structured society in Boston. For example, shortly after Boston's settlement, Puritans founded America's first public school, Boston Latin School (1635), and America's first college, Harvard College (1636). Hard work, moral uprightness, and an emphasis on education remain part of Boston's culture. Until the 1760s, Boston was America's largest, wealthiest, and most influential city. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1704x2272, 2039 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boston, Massachusetts Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1704x2272, 2039 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boston, Massachusetts Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Old State House, circa July 2003. ... The history of Boston, Massachusetts intertwines with the history of the United States. ... Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... Henry Cabot Lodge Henry Cabot Lodge (May 12, 1850 – November 9, 1924), was an American statesman and Republican politician, and noted historian. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Events February 22 - Native American Quadequine introduces Popcorn to English colonists. ... This article describes a highly specialized aspect of its subject. ... Peninsula A peninsula (from Latin paene insula, almost island) is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body, surrounded by water on three sides. ... Shawmut is the name of the peninsula on which Boston was originally constructed. ... An Aani (Atsina) named Assiniboin Boy. ... The Isthmus of Panama connects North and South America. ... Massachusetts Bay is one of the large bays of the Atlantic Ocean that form the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits. ... The Charles River from the Boston side, facing Cambridge and the main campus of Harvard University. ... Statistics Population: 35,124 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TF329437 Administration District: Boston Borough Shire county: Lincolnshire Region: East Midlands Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Lincolnshire Historic county: Lincolnshire Services Police force: Lincolnshire Police Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: East Midlands Post office and telephone... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. ... Pilgrims is the name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony. ... The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ... A map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. ... John Winthrop was the name of several prominent figures in colonial New England. ... City upon a hill is the phrase often used to refer to John Winthrops famous sermon, A Model of Christian Charity,, of 1630, based on Matthew 5:14 (You are the light of the world. ... The Cambridge Agreement was an agreement made on August 29, 1629, between the shareholders of the Massachusetts Bay Company. ... Motto Sumus Primi Founded April 23, 1635 Head Master Dr. Cornelia A. Kelley School type Public high school Grades 7–12 Enrollment c. ... Harvard Yard Harvard College is the undergraduate section and oldest school of Harvard University, having been founded in 1636. ...

During the early 1770s, British attempts to exert control on the thirteen colonies, primarily via taxation, prompted Bostonians to initiate the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several early battles occurred in or near the city, including the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston. During this period, Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride. In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ... This article is the current Esperanza Collaboration of the Month. ... Engraving by Paul Revere The Boston Massacre is the name commonly given to the shooting of five civilians by British troops on March 5, 1770, which became a cause celebre among pro-independence groups and helped to eventually spark the American Revolutionary War. ... The Boston Tea Party was a direct action protest by the American colonists against Great Britain in which they destroyed many crates of tea bricks on ships in Boston Harbor. ... The Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War and was described as the shot heard round the world in Emersons Concord Hymn. ... Combatants Kingdom of Great Britain Province of Massachusetts Bay Commanders William Howe Robert Pigot Henry Clinton Israel Putnam William Prescott Joseph Warren† (Declined command) Strength 2,600 1,500 Casualties 226 dead 828 wounded 140 dead 271 wounded 30 captured (20 POWs Died) The Battle of Bunker Hill took place... The Siege of Boston (April 19, 1775 - March 17, 1776) was the opening phase of the active American Revolutionary War. ... Portrait of Paul Revere by John Singleton Copley, c. ...

After the Revolution, Boston quickly became one of the world's wealthiest international trading ports because it was the closest major American port to Europe — exports included rum, fish, salt, and tobacco. During this era, descendants of old Boston families became regarded, in the American popular mind, as the nation's social and cultural elites; they were later dubbed the Boston Brahmins. In 1822, Boston was chartered as a city. By the mid-1800s, the city's industrial manufacturing overtook international trade in economic importance. Until the early 1900s, Boston remained one of the nation's largest manufacturing centers, and was notable for its garment production, leather goods, and machinery industries. A network of small rivers bordering the city and connecting it to the surrounding region made for easy shipment of goods and allowed for a proliferation of mills and factories. Later, an even denser network of railroads facilitated the region's industry and commerce. From the mid-to-late-nineteenth century, Boston flourished culturally — it became renowned for its rarefied literary culture and lavish artistic patronage. It also became a center of the abolitionist movement. Boston Brahmins, or simply Brahmins—sometimes also called the First Families of Boston—are a blue-blooded class of New Englanders who claim hereditary or cultural descent from the Anglo-Saxon Protestants who founded the city of Boston, Massachusetts and originally settled New England. ... It has been suggested that folding clothes be merged into this article or section. ... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ... This French poster depicting the horrific conditions on slave ships was influential in mobilizing public opinion against slavery. ...

Downtown Boston.

In the 1820s, Boston's ethnic composition began to change dramatically with the first wave of European immigrants. Groups like the Irish and Italians moved into the city and brought with them Roman Catholicism. (This trend of immigration continued throughout the 1800s - most famously when the Potato Famine hit Ireland.) Currently, Catholics make up Boston's largest religious community and since the early 20th century the Irish have played a major role in Boston politics — prominent figures include the Kennedys, Tip O'Neill and John F. Fitzgerald. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2500x1894, 3102 KB) A view of downtown Boston, Massachusetts taken in August of 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2500x1894, 3102 KB) A view of downtown Boston, Massachusetts taken in August of 2006. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Potato famine may mean or refer to: The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849) The Highlands and Islands Potato Famine (1846 - 1857) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Irish Catholic political dynasty, John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy The Kennedy family is a prominent Irish-American family in American politics and government descending from the marriage of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. ... Thomas Phillip ONeill, Jr. ... For the American author John Fitzgerald, see John D. Fitzgerald. ...

Boston in 1772 and 1880. The original area of the Shawmut Peninsula was substantially expanded by landfill.

Between 1630 and 1890, the city tripled its physical size by land reclamation, specifically by filling in marshes, mud flats, and gaps between wharves along the waterfront,^[2] a process Walter Muir Whitehill called "cutting down the hills to fill the coves." The largest reclamation efforts took place during the 1800s. Beginning in 1807, the crown of Beacon Hill was used to fill in a 50-acre (20 ha) mill pond that later became Haymarket Square (just south of today's North Station area). The present-day State House sits atop this shortened Beacon Hill. Reclamation projects in the middle of the century created significant parts of the South End, West End, Financial District, and Chinatown. After The Great Boston Fire of 1872, workers used building rubble as landfill along the downtown waterfront. Boston's Back Bay land reclamation project proved dramatic. During the mid-to-late 19th century, workers filled almost 600 acres (2.4 km²) of brackish Charles River marshlands west of the Boston Common with soil brought by rail from the hills of Needham Heights. Boston also annexed the adjacent communities of East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, Brighton, Allston, Hyde Park, Roxbury, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Charlestown. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x1414, 298 KB) Summary Boston in 1772. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x1414, 298 KB) Summary Boston in 1772. ... Land reclamation is either of two distinct practices. ... Walter Muir Whitehill (b. ... An acre is an English unit of area, which is also frequently used in the United States and some Commonwealth countries. ... A hectare (symbol ha) is a unit of area, equal to 10,000 square metres, commonly used for measuring land area. ... The Massachusetts State House Full view of the south side The Massachusetts State House is the state capitol of Massachusetts. ... The South End is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. ... The West End of Boston, Massachusetts is a neighborhood bounded generally by Cambridge Street to the south, the Charles River to the west and northwest, Martha Road and Lomasney Way on the north and northeast, and Staniford Street on the west. ... The Beach Street gate into Bostons Chinatown. ... Ruins left by the fire The Great Boston Fire of 1872 was Bostons largest urban fire and still one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history. ... East Boston is a blue-collar neighborhood that is separated from the rest of the city of Boston by Boston Harbor and bordered by Winthrop, Revere, and the Chelsea Creek. ... Dorchester is the largest neighborhood within the City of Boston located within Suffolk County, Massachusetts. ... Mural in South Boston South Boston is a densely populated neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. ... Brighton is a section of the city of Boston, Massachusetts. ... Roxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts. ... Founded in 1630 (contemporaneously with Boston), West Roxbury, Massachusetts was originally part of the town of Roxbury and was mainly used as farmland. ... Jamaica Plain is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. ... Birdseye view of Boston, Charlestown, and Bunker Hill between 1890 and 1910. ...

Scollay Square, Boston, Boston, in the 1880s

By the early and mid-20th century, the city was in decline as factories became old and obsolete, and businesses moved out of the region for cheaper labor elsewhere. Boston responded by initiating various urban renewal projects, including the demolition of the old West End neighborhood and the construction of Government Center. In the 1970s, Boston boomed after thirty years of economic downturn, becoming a leader in the mutual fund industry. Boston already had a reputation for excellent healthcare services. Hospitals such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Brigham and Women's Hospital led the nation in medical innovation and patient care. Universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Boston University attracted many students to the Boston area. Nevertheless, the city experienced conflict starting in 1974 over desegregation busing, which resulted in unrest and violence around public schools throughout the mid-1970s. The unrest served to highlight racial tensions in the city. Scollay Square in the 1880s Location: Scollay Square, Boston Source: [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Scollay Square in the 1880s Location: Scollay Square, Boston Source: [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Government Center is a city square and plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and Sudbury Streets. ... Blight often stands side-by-side with new structures during urban renewal efforts. ... Government Center is a city square and plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and Sudbury Streets. ... A mutual fund is a form of collective investment that pools money from many investors and invests the money in stocks, bonds, short-term money market instruments, and/or other securities. ... Massachusetts General Hospital (often abbreviated to Mass General or just MGH) is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and biomedical research facility in Boston, Massachusetts. ... Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the three major teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School. ... Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH) is a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. ... The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. MIT is organized into five schools and one college, containing 32 academic departments and 53 interdisciplinary laboratories, centers and programs. ... For the unrelated Jesuit university in Chestnut Hill, see Boston College. ... Desegregation busing, referred to as forced busing by opponents to desegregated schools in some areas, is the practice of remedying past racial discrimination in American public schools by busing children to specific schools in an effort to counteract discriminatory school construction and district assignments. ...

Hyatt in Boston downtown

Housing prices sharply increased in the 1990s. In 2004, the Boston metropolitan area had the highest cost of living of any in the country, and Massachusetts was the only state to lose population.^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 763 KB) I am the author, creator and taker of this image. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 763 KB) I am the author, creator and taker of this image. ...

The City of Boston has a City Archaeologist on staff, and also a City Archaeology Program and an Archaeology Laboratory, Education and Curation Center which houses over 27 collections owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ^[4] Part of the job of the City Archaeologist is to oversee any lots of land to be developed for historical artifacts and significance, and to manage the archaeological remains located on public land in Boston.

Geography and climate

A simulated-color satellite image of the Boston area taken on NASA's Landsat 3.

Boston LANDSAT File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Boston LANDSAT File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... NASA Insignia Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Landsat 3 undergoing final launch preparations Landsat 3 is the third satellite of the Landsat program. ...

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 89.6  square miles (232.1 km²)— 48.4 square miles (125.4 km²) of it is land and 41.2 square miles (106.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 46.0% water. With an elevation of 19 feet (5.8 m) above sea level at Logan International Airport, Boston is bordered by the cities of Winthrop, Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Cambridge, Watertown, Newton, Brookline, Needham, Dedham, Canton, Milton, and Quincy—often known as, and considered a part of, Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A foot (plural: feet) is any of several old units of distance or length, measuring around a quarter to a third of a meter. ... Logan International Airport with aircraft taking off over harbor Bostons Logan International Airport from the airside lounge of Terminal E, illustrating how the airport is largely surrounded by water. ... Settled: 1635 â€“ Incorporated: 1852 Zip Code(s): 02152 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ... Revere is a city located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts and borders Winthrop, East Boston and Chelsea to the south, Everett and Malden to the west, Saugus and Lynn to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. ... Chelsea City Hall The City of Chelsea is located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts directly across the Mystic River from the City of Boston. ...   Everett is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts near Boston. ... Settled: 1630 â€“ Incorporated: 1842 Zip Code(s): 02143 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1630 â€“ Incorporated: 1636 Zip Code(s): 02138, 02139, 02140, 02141, 02142 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1630 â€“ Incorporated: 1630 Zip Code(s): 02472 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Nickname: The Garden City Settled: 1639 â€“ Incorporated: 1688 Zip Code(s): 02446, 02458, 02459, 02460, 02461, 02462, 02464, 02465, 02467, 02468, 02495 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1638 â€“ Incorporated: 1705 Zip Code(s): 02445 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Official website: http://www. ...   Settled: 1680 â€“ Incorporated: 1711 Zip Code(s): 02492 â€“ Area Code(s): 339 / 781 Official website: http://www. ...   Nickname: Contentment Settled: 1635 â€“ Incorporated: 1636 Zip Code(s): 02026-02027 â€“ Area Code(s): / 781 Official website: http://www. ...   Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. ...   Milton is a suburban town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. ...   Settled: 1625 â€“ Incorporated: 1792 Zip Code(s): 02169, 02170, 02171 â€“ Area Code(s): 617 / 857 Location Location in Massachusetts Government County Norfolk County Form of Government Mayor-council city Mayor William J. Phelan Geography Area Total 26. ... Greater Boston is the area of Massachusetts closely surrounding Boston, Massachusetts. ...

Much of the Back Bay and South End are built on reclaimed land—two and a half of Boston's three original hills were used as a source of material for landfill. Only Beacon Hill, the smallest of the three original hills, remains partially intact. The downtown area and immediate surroundings consist mostly of low-rise brick or stone buildings, with many older buildings in the Federal style. Several of these buildings mix in with modern high-rises, notably in the Financial District, Government Center, Back Bay, and the South Boston waterfront. To this day, the South End Historic District remains the nation's largest surviving contiguous Victorian-era neighborhood.^[5] Smaller commercial areas are interspersed amongst single-family homes and wooden/brick multifamily row houses. This article is about the neighborhood of Back Bay. ... The South End is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. ... Land reclamation is either of two distinct practices. ... 2nd Harrison Gray Otis House, 85 Mount Vernon Street. ... Central Pavilion, Tontine Crescent, 1793-1794, by Charles Bulfinch Federal style architecture occurred in the United States between 1780 and 1830, particularly from 1785 to 1815. ... Government Center is a city square and plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and Sudbury Streets. ... The South End is a neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. ...

The Charles River separates Boston proper from Cambridge, Watertown, and the neighborhood of Charlestown. To the east lies Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. The Neponset River forms the boundary between Boston's southern neighborhoods and the cities of Quincy and Milton. The Mystic River separates the neighborhoods of East Boston and Charlestown from Chelsea and Everett. The Charles River from the Boston side, facing Cambridge and the main campus of Harvard University. ... Categories: Stub | Massachusetts geography | Boston ... The Harbor Islands of Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, are a collection of 34 islands, many of which are open for public recreation and some of which are very small and best suited for wildlife. ... The Neponset River is a river in eastern Massachusetts. ... A quiet afternoon on the Mystic River, as seen from very close to Grandfathers House, Medford, Massachusetts. ...

Climate

Beacon Hill in the winter.

Boston experiences a continental climate that is very common in New England. The weather in Boston, like much of New England, changes rapidly. It is not uncommon for the city to experience temperature swings of 54 Fahrenheit degrees (30 Celsius degrees) or more over the course of a couple of days. Summers are typically warm and humid, while winters are cold, windy and snowy. It has been known to snow in October. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x621, 578 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boston, Massachusetts ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x621, 578 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Boston, Massachusetts ... A continental climate is the climate typical of the middle-latitude interiors of the large continents of the Northern Hemisphere in the zone of westerly winds; similar climates exist along the east coasts and southwest coasts of the same continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of... The states marked in red show New England. ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale. ...

The earliest recorded 90 °F temperature in a year was in late March 1998, while February in Boston has seen 70 degrees only once in recorded history, on February 24, 1985. Spring in Boston can be hot, with temperatures in the 90s, though it is just as possible for a day in late May to remain in the 40s. The hottest month is July, with an average high of 81.9 °F (27.7 °C) and a low of 65.1 °F (18.4 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average high of 35.8 °F (2.1 °C) and a low of 21.6 °F (-5.6 °C).^[6] Periods exceeding 90 °F in summer and below 10 °F in winter are not uncommon, but rarely prolonged. The record high temperature is 104 °F (40 °C), recorded July 4, 1911. The record low temperature is -18 °F (-28 °C), recorded on February 9, 1934.^[7] February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The city averages 42 in (1,080 mm) of rainfall a year. It also coincidentally averages 42 in (108 cm) of snowfall a year, although this increases dramatically as one goes inland away from the city. Massachusetts' geographic location's jutting out into the North Atlantic also make the city very prone to Nor'easter weather systems that can dump more than 20 in (50 cm) of snow on the region in one storm event. Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... cm redirects here, alternate uses: cm (disambiguation) A centimetre (symbol cm; American spelling: centimeter) is an SI unit of length. ... For other uses, see Atlantic (disambiguation) The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... Satellite image of the intense noreaster responsible for the North American blizzard of 2006. ...

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 589,141 people, 239,528 households, and 115,212 families residing in the city. The population density was 12,166 people per square mile (4,697/km²). There were 251,935 housing units at an average density of 5,203 per square mile (2,009/km²). According to the census, the racial makeup of the city was 54.47% White, 25.33% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 7.52% Asian American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 7.83% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. 14.44% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. (These figures became less reliable because of the large Brazilian population, estimated by some studies to approach 250,000 in Massachusetts. Census data may not have fully accounted for this significant segment of the community because Brazilians speak Portuguese and often do not consider themselves to belong to one specific racial category, such as white or black, or to the Hispanic/Latino ethnic category.) The U.S. Census is mandated by the United States Constitution. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The Hispanic world Hispanic (Spanish: Hispano) is a term denoting a derivation from Spain, its people and culture. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

People of Irish descent form the largest single ethnic group in the city, making up 15.8% of the population. Italians also form a significant segment of the city's population, accounting for 8.3% of the population. People of West Indian ancestry are another sizeable group (6.4%); about half of them are of Haitian ancestry. Some neighborhoods, such as Dorchester, have received an influx of Vietnamese residents in the past few years. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

Per capita income in the greater Boston area, by U.S. Census block group

There were 239,528 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.17. Image File history File links Map showing income per capita in the greater Boston area. ... Image File history File links Map showing income per capita in the greater Boston area. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 16.2% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,629, and the median income for a family was $44,151. Males had a median income of $37,435 versus $32,421 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,353. 19.5% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 25.6% of those under the age of 18 and 18.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. In probability theory and statistics, a median is a number dividing the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution from the lower half. ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

See also: Neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts

Houses on Louisburg Square, Beacon Hill. ...

Law and government

Massachusetts State House

Boston has a strong mayor system in which the mayor is vested with extensive executive powers. The mayor (currently Thomas Menino) is elected to a four-year term by plurality voting. The city council is elected every two years. There are nine district seats, each elected by the residents of that district through plurality voting, and four at-large seats. Each voter casts up to four votes for at-large councilors, no more than one vote per candidate. The candidates with the four highest vote totals are elected. The president of the city council, currently Michael F. Flaherty, is elected by the councilors from within themselves. The school committee is appointed by the mayor, as are city department heads. [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Massachusetts State House Full view of the south side The Massachusetts State House is the state capitol of Massachusetts. ... A mayor (from the Latin maīor, meaning larger,greater) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ... now. ... Thomas Menino Thomas Michael Menino (born December 27, 1942) is the current mayor of Boston, Massachusetts and the citys first Italian-American mayor as well as being the citys first non Irish-American mayor since 1884. ... The plurality electoral system (or first past the post electoral system), is a voting system for single-member districts. ... Michael F. Flaherty (b. ...

In addition to city government, numerous state authorities and commissions play a role in the life of Bostonians, including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). As the capital of Massachusetts, Boston plays a major role in state politics. Boston is also the United States federal government center for New England. Properties include the John F. Kennedy Federal Office Building and the Thomas P. O'Neill Federal Building. The city also serves as the home of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, as well as the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (the First District of the Federal Reserve). The city is in the Eighth and Ninth Congressional districts. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, is an independent agency of the state of Massachusetts. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the following United States District Courts: District of Maine District of Massachusetts District of New Hampshire District of Puerto Rico District of Rhode Island The court is based at the John Joseph... The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Massachusetts. ... The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is responsible for the First District of the Federal Reserve, which covers Connecticut (excluding Fairfield County), Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. ... The Federal Reserve System is headquartered in the Eccles Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC. The Federal Reserve System (also the Federal Reserve; informally The Fed) is the central banking system of the United States. ... Massachusetts Congressional District 8 is a congessional district in eastern Massachusetts. ... Massachusetts Congressional District 9 is a congessional district in eastern Massachusetts. ... U.S. Congressional districts are determined after each census. ...

Boston's low crime rate in the last years of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st has been credited to its police department's collaboration with neighborhood groups and church parishes to prevent youths from joining gangs, as well as involvement from the