- "Boston" redirects here. For other uses, see Boston (disambiguation).
Boston is the capital and the largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city is also the county seat of Suffolk County. It is the unofficial capital of the region known as New England as well as one of the oldest and wealthiest cities in the United States, with an economy based on education, health care, finance, and high technology.
The city has several nicknames. The City on A Hill came from John Winthrop's goal to create the biblical 'City on a Hill'. This nickname also refers to the three original hills of Boston. Beantown referred to the Bostonian merchants' habit for making distinctive baked beans with imported molasses. The Hub is shortened from Oliver Wendell Holmes's phrase The Hub of the Solar System, which is sometimes misquoted as Hub of the Universe (the nickname he applied to the Massachusetts State House). Boston has also been called The Athens of America, so christened by William Tudor for Boston's great cultural and intellectual influence, as well as to the city's role in instigating the American Revolution for which it is also called The Cradle of Liberty. Boston has also been called Puritan City due to the city's founders' being Puritan.
As of the 2000 census, its population was 589,141. The Greater Boston metropolitan area, including nearby cities and towns such as Cambridge, Brookline, and Quincy as well as many suburban communities further from the city, has a population of approximately 5.8 million residents. Greater Boston is one of the top-ten largest metropolitan areas in the United States, the fifteenth in the Americas, and one of the top-fifty largest in the world.
History
Main article: History of Boston
The 18th-century Old State House in Boston is surrounded by tall buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Boston's history spans nearly four centuries, and intertwines with the history of the United States.
Founded on September 17, 1630, on a narrow peninsula called Shawmut by Native Americans who lived there, Boston is named after Boston, England, a town in Lincolnshire from which several prominent colonists originated. Early colonists believed that Boston was a community with a special covenant with God. Winthrop's sermon, "a City upon a Hill," captured this idea. These values molded an extremely stable and well-structured society in Boston. Indeed, Puritan values of hard work, moral uprightness, and education remain a part of Boston's culture.
Boston was birthplace of the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several early battles of the Revolution, (such as the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston) occurred in or near the city. During this period, Paul Revere made his celebrated midnight ride.
Following the Revolution, Boston became one of the world's wealthiest international trading ports, exporting products such as rum, fish, salt and tobacco. It was chartered as a city in 1822, and by the mid-1800s it was one of the largest manufacturing centers in the nation, noted for its garment production, leather goods, and machinery industries.
Scollay Square, Boston, in the 1880s
Boston has been the site of several notable 'firsts'. The Boston Latin School (1635), was the first school in America; Harvard College (1636) in Cambridge, just across the Charles River, was the first institution of higher learning. On November 1, 1848, the first medical school for women, the Boston Female Medical School, (which later merged with the Boston University School of Medicine), opened. On September 1, 1897, Boston debuted the first underground streetcar subway in North America; today, it is called "The T" and run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Recently, Boston has experienced a loss of regional institutions and traditions, which once gave it a very distinct social character, as it has become part of the more homogenized BosWash megalopolis. Despite these losses, Boston's ambiance has improved in recent years — city streets bustle with a vitality not seen since the 1920s, crime and poverty remain low for an American city, and once again Boston has become a hub of intellectual, technological, and political ideas. Currently, the city is struggling with high living costs, especially housing. According to Money Magazine, Boston is one of the world's 100 most expensive cities [1].
Related articles: American Revolution, American Revolutionary War, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Battle of Lexington and Concord, Siege of Boston
Geography and climate
A simulated-color satellite image of the Boston area taken on NASA's Landsat 3.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 232.1 km² (89.6 mi²). 125.4 km² (48.4 mi²) of it is land and 106.7 km² (41.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 46.0% water. Boston is bordered by the cities of Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Cambridge, Watertown, Newton, and Quincy, and the towns of Winthrop, Brookline, Needham, Dedham, Canton, and Milton.
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 the landfill. Only Beacon Hill, the smallest of the three original hills, remains partially intact.
The Charles River separates Boston from Cambridge, and Charlestown. To the east lies Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands, many of which are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area that is run by the National Park Service. The Neponset River forms the boundary between the city and its southeast neighbors, Quincy and Milton.
The weather in Boston, like much of New England, changes rapidly. It is not uncommon for the city to experience temperature swings of 54°F (30 °C) or more over the course of several days. The summers are usually warm and humid, while the winters are cold and windy. It has been known to snow in October and get quite warm in February. The hottest month is August, with an average high of 80 °F (27 °C) and a low of 64 °F (18 °C). The coldest month is January with an average high of 36 °F (2.2 °C) and a low of 22 °F (−5.6 °C).[2] The city averages 42 in (1,100 mm) of rainfall a year. It also coincidentally averages 42 in (110 cm) of snowfall a year, though this increases dramatically as one goes inland away from the city.
Demographics
Per capita income in the greater Boston area, by US Census block group (from www.radicalcartography.net)
City of Boston
Population by year [3] |
|
1790 - 18,320
1800 - 24,937
1810 - 33,787
1820 - 43,298
1830 - 61,392
1840 - 93,383
1850 - 136,881
1860 - 177,840
1870 - 250,526
1880 - 362,839
1890 - 448,477
1900 - 560,892
1910 - 670,585
1920 - 748,060
1930 - 781,188
1940 - 770,816
1950 - 801,444
1960 - 697,197
1970 - 641,071
1980 - 562,994
1990 - 574,283
2000 - 589,141
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As of the census2 of 2000, there are 589,141 people, 239,528 households, and 115,212 families residing in the city. The population density is 4,697/km² (12,166/mi²). There are 251,935 housing units at an average density of 2,009/km² (5,203/mi²). The Irish are the largest ethnic group in the city of Boston. Boston is the capital of "Irish America". The racial makeup of the city is 54.48% 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race. These figures become less reliable due to the large, partly undocumented Brazilian population, estimated by some studies to approach 250,000 in Massachusetts. Census data does not account for this significant segment of the community because of confusing terminology, as Brazilians speak Portuguese and often do not consider themselves specifically Hispanic, Latino, White or African American.
There are 239,528 households out of which 22.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% are married couples living together, 16.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.9% are non-families. 37.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 3.17.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.2 males.
Beacon Hill and the Longfellow Bridge seen from Cambridge.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,629, and the median income for a family is $44,151. Males have a median income of $37,435 versus $32,421 for females. The per capita income for the city is $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 are living below the poverty line.
The city, notable for having one of the most attractive and livable urban cores in the country, is divided into many neighborhoods. Allston/Brighton is populated mostly by students from nearby Boston University and recent graduates. The Back Bay, west of the Public Garden, is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States—it includes the shops and restaurants on Newbury Street and the two tallest skyscrapers in Boston. Dorchester is probably the most diverse Boston neighborhood being populated with every ethnic group. South Boston, next to Dorchester, is primarily comprised of Irish-Americans. The South End, south of the Back Bay, is populated largely by GLBTs, artists, yuppies, African Americans, and Hispanics—it is noted for its restaurant scene and bohemian atmosphere. Roxbury and Mattapan, located south of downtown, are populated largely by African Americans and Hispanics, as well as middle-class families priced out of more expensive neighborhoods. Other neighborhoods include: Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Fenway/Kenmore, the North End, Hyde Park, Roslindale, and West Roxbury.[4]
Law and government
See also: List of Mayors of Boston, Massachusetts
Boston has a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor is vested with extensive executive powers. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by plurality voting . The City Council is elected every two years. There are nine wards or neighborhood seats, each elected by plurality voting by the residents of that ward. There are four at-large seats. Each voter casts up to four votes for at-large councilors, no more than one vote per candidate, and the candidates with the four highest vote totals are elected. The President of the City Council is elected by the Councilors from within themselves. The School Committee is appointed by the mayor, as are city department heads.
The Massachusetts State House
In addition to city government, numerous state authorities and commissions play a role in the life of Bostonians, including the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority runs the city's public transit system while the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Logan International Airport. Since the city is also 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'Neil Federal Building. The National Archives has a regional center in nearby Waltham. The city also serves as the home of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit as well as the headquarters of the 1st District of the Federal Reserve.
Economy
Boston's colleges and universities have drawn high-tech industries to the city, including computer hardware and software companies like EMC Corporation (headquartered in Hopkinton) and Akamai (headquartered in nearby Cambridge), as well as biotechnology companies like Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Biogen Idec. Other important industries include financial services, especially mutual funds and insurance. Boston headquartered Fidelity Investments helped popularize the mutual fund in the 1980s, and has made Boston one of the top financial cities in the United States.
Shoe and athletic apparel maker Reebok is headquartered in nearby Canton (Adidas recently announced that it will acquire Reebok). Raytheon has its global headquarters in nearby Waltham while Novell also has its corporate headquarters there. Boston Scientific is located in Natick, and Gillette, owned by Proctor & Gamble is headquartered in Boston. Teradyne, one of the world's leading manufacturer of semiconductors and other electronic equipment, has its corporate headquarters located in Boston.
The Port of Boston is the largest and busiest seaport in Massachusetts. It is also a major seaport along the United States east coast as well as a major fishing port.
Education
See also: List of colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
Befitting its nickname as the Athens of America, Boston is well known for its colleges and universities, with the greater Boston area's being the home to over 100 colleges. Boston College, the first institution of higher education established in the city, was originally located in the South End before moving outside the city limits to Chestnut Hill. Its historic campus, dubbed "Oxford of America," has subsequently expanded such that almost half of it is now within the city of Boston. Also founded in the city, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology first opened in what is now Boston's financial district and later established its campus in Back Bay near Copley Square before moving across the Charles River to Cambridge. Conversely, Boston University, now the city's second largest employer and among the largest private universities in the country, was originally established in Vermont and only moved to its present campus in 20th century. Meanwhile Harvard University, the nation's oldest, and many would argue the most prestigious, university maintains its main campus in Cambridge. However, most of its current land holdings, including the Arnold Arboretum and its business and medical schools, are in Boston. Harvard has also announced plans to expand its main campus across the Charles River into Boston's Allston neighborhood.
Culture
See also: List of television shows set in Boston, List of film, opera, and plays set in Boston, Boston in fiction, Fictional people from Boston, Boston English, Boston slang
Boston shares many cultural roots with greater New England, including a dialect of the Eastern New England accent popularly known as Boston English. Along with the rest of Massachusetts, the city has its own slang, which has existed for many years. The city also has one of the most clearly defined and unique cultures in the United States. Unlike the rest of New England, however, Boston has a very large Irish influence, making the city, and consequently the rest of Massachusetts, mainly Catholic.
Cuisine in Boston is similar to the rest of New England cuisine, in that it has a large emphasis on seafood and dairy products. Its most well-known dishes are New England clam chowder, fish and chips (usually with cod or schrod), baked beans, and fried clams.
Many consider Boston a highly cultured city, perhaps as a result of its intellectual reputation. Mark Twain once wrote of it, In New York they ask "how much money does he have?" In Philadelphia, they ask, "who were his parents?" In Boston they ask, "how much does he know?" Much of Boston's culture originates at its universities.
Arts and entertainment
The Theater District, south of Boston Common, contains a number of ornate theatres, including the Cutler Majestic Theatre and The Wang Center for the Performing Arts. Avant garde theatres are scattered throughout the city, especially near Huntington Avenue. The Boston Ballet is a world-renowned classical dance company. Street performers can be found in and around Quincy Market near Faneuil Hall.
Boston is also home to a wide array of musical talent - from bands like Boston and Aerosmith - to the world-renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra, the famed Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the Boston Philharmonic, the Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Haydn Society (the oldest choral company in the U.S.). There are also countless lesser known local musicians, thanks to a thriving underground music scene.
Events
Several major events occur annually in Boston. One of the most well known is First Night, which occurs during New Year's Eve. It is a major arts and activity festival which attracts over 1.5 million people. Started in 1976, it has since been emulated in other cities worldwide.
The Boston Globe Jazz and Blues Festival takes place each June; the Boston Early Music Festival takes place every odd-numbered year. During the summer, there are musical performances at the Bank of America Pavilion on the South Boston waterfront. Also during the summer is Harborfest, a week-long festival celebrating the Fourth of July. Another major event occurring during the July 4th holiday is Fourth of July on the Esplanade. The event is celebrated with fireworks and music by the Boston Pops.
The Boston Film Festival is held annually in early September. Also, the weekend following Labor Day, the boutiques on Newbury Street close as over thirty art galleries spill out onto the street, providing access to their contents during Art Newbury Street. Other events include the Saint Patrick's Day Parade and the Boston LBGT Pride parade and festival.
Media
See also: Media in Boston.
The Boston Globe, owned by the New York Times Company, and The Boston Herald are Boston's two major daily newspapers. The city is also served by a number of smaller publications such as The Boston Phoenix and The Improper Bostonian.
Boston has the largest broadcasting market in New England, with the Boston radio market being the ninth largest in the United States [5]. Several major AM stations include talk radio WRKO 680 AM, sports/talk station WEEI 850 AM, and news radio WBZ 1030 AM. A variety of FM radio formats serve the area as well as NPR stations WBUR and WGBH. University radio stations include WZBC (Boston College), WERS (Emerson), WHRB (Harvard), WMBR (MIT), and WUMB (UMass Boston).
The Boston television DMA, which also includes Manchester, New Hampshire, is the fifth largest in the United States [6]. The city is served by stations representing every major American network including CBS (WBZ), ABC (WCVB), NBC (WHDH), FOX (WFXT), UPN (WSBK), and WB (WLVI). Boston is also home to PBS station WGBH, which also operates WGBX. WGBH is a major producer of PBS programs. There are several Spanish-language television stations including those of Univision (WUNI), TeleFutura (WUTF), and Telemundo (WNEU and simulcast on WTMU-LP). Most Boston television stations have their transmitters in nearby Needham and Newton.
Sites of interest
See also: Sites of interest in Boston
Due to the city's prominent role in the American Revolution, several historic sites relating to that period are preserved as part of the Boston National Historical Park. Many are found along the Freedom Trail, which is marked by a red line or bricks embedded in the ground.
Also along the Freedom Trail is Boston Common, with the Boston Public Garden being adjacent. Boston Common is part of the Emerald Necklace, a string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. In the winter, the Frog Pond at Boston Common doubles as a popular ice-skating rink. Another major park is the Esplanade located along the banks of the Charles River. A major recreation site for many Bostonians, it is also the site of the Hatch Shell. Other parks are scattered throughout the city, with the major parks located near Castle Island, Charlestown, the Dorcester shoreline, and East Boston.
Once a shallow lagoon, the Back Bay district now includes many prominent landmarks and sites of interests such as the Christian Science Center, Boston Public Library, Copley Square, and Newbury Street. Back Bay is also the home of two of New England's tallest buildings: the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center[7]. Near the John Hancock Tower is the old John Hancock Building with its prominent weather forecast beacon. Other notable districts/neighborhoods include Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, North End, and South Boston.
Boston is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Science. Other notable museums are located at Harvard University and MIT. The University of Massachusetts campus at Columbia Point houses the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library. The New England Aquarium as well as the Franklin Park Zoo are located within the city.
There are also two self-guided walking tours: Harbor Walk, which is designed to allow people the walk the entire shore of Boston Harbor, and the Black Heritage Trail. A popular guided tour is the Boston Duck Tours, which uses World War II-era duck boats. The outer suburbs of Boston, which tend to be forested, have vibrantly colored foliage every autumn that attracts many tourists.
Sports
See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports
The TD Banknorth Garden near North Station is the home of two major league teams: the Boston Bruins ice hockey team, which is a member of the National Hockey League, and the Boston Celtics basketball team (a member of the National Basketball Association). The Celtics have the distinction of having more World Championships than any other NBA team with 16 championships from 1957 to 1986.
The baseball team Boston Red Sox is a member of the American League of Major League Baseball. They play at Fenway Park, located near Kenmore Square and is the oldest ballpark in active use in the United States. After eighty-six years, the Red Sox became the World Series Winners (World Champions) in 2004. Boston was once the home of the National League baseball team Boston Braves as well as the site of the first World Series in 1903. The game was played between the Boston Americans (currently the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates [8].
Nearby Foxboro is the home of the New England Patriots (National Football League), Super Bowl Winners in the 2001, 2003, and 2004 seasons; and the New England Revolution (Major League Soccer). Both teams play at Gillette Stadium. Another major league team is the lacrosse team Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse. The team plays at Boston University's Nickerson Field.
Boston's many colleges and universities field sports teams. The most well-known include Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Harvard University. The hockey teams of these four universities meet every year in an immensely popular four team tournament known as the "Beanpot". The city is also the site of two other major annual sporting events: the Boston Marathon, the world-famous 26-mile run, and the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Infrastructure
Health and medicine
As the home to some of the world's most respected research hospitals, Boston enjoys an international reputation in the medical field. One such hospital is the Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General), which is affiliated with the Harvard Medical School. Rated as one of the best in the world, Mass General is the third oldest general hospital in the U.S., and the oldest and largest in New England. Another hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Other medical institutions include Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Lahey Clinic, and Children's Hospital Boston. The New England Medical Center is affiliated with Tufts University while the Boston Medical Center is the primary teaching facility for the Boston University School of Medicine.
Transportation
Main article: Boston transportation
Logan International Airport, located in the East Boston neighborhood of the city, is the major airport serving Boston. Another airport serving the city and surrounding areas is Hanscom Field in Lexington and Bedford. Two airports outside Massachusetts serve as secondary facilities. They include T. F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island, and Manchester Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Boston's streets appear as though they were not planned—a common fiction is that they evolved from old cowpaths. Except for the Back Bay and part of South Boston, the city has no street grid. Roads change names and lose and add lanes seemingly at random. The city also has a number of rotaries, which have confused many drivers.
Boston is the eastern terminus of I-90, also known as the Mass Pike. I-95, which surrounds the city, is also known as Route 128. US 1 and I-93 runs north to south through the city. The most infamous portion, the Central Artery, runs through downtown Boston. The old elevated highway was constantly prone to heavy traffic. Through the Big Dig, the elevated highway was replaced with a tunnel.
Intercity trains operate from two stations. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Chicago lines originate at South Station and stop at Back Bay. Fast Northeast Corridor trains, which service New York City, Washington, D.C., and points in between, also stop at Route 128 Station in the southwestern suburbs of Boston. Meanwhile, Amtrak's Downeaster service to Maine originates at North Station. Public transportation, branded as the "T", is operated by the MBTA. The MBTA operates subway lines, BRT, commuter rail, bus lines, and water shuttles.
Utilities
Water supply and sewage-disposal services are provided by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Established as a public authority in 1984, the MWRA pipes water from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs in Western and Central Massachusetts for several communities within Greater Boston. The agency operates several facilities for sewage treatment, notably the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant [9].
NSTAR distributes electric power[10] to the city. Gas is provided by KeySpan (which purchased Boston Gas) [11]. Verizon, successor to New England Telephone, NYNEX, and Bell Atlantic, is the primary telephone service provider for the area. Cable television and cable braodband internet are provided by Comcast
Notable Bostonians
Main article: Notable Bostonians
A resident of Boston is referred to as a Bostonian, several of whom were instrumental during the American Revolution and the early days of the United States. They include Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. John Adams and John Quincy Adams were early U.S. Presidents.
Prominent Boston area politicians include members of the Kennedy family, such as John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for President in 2004, maintains a home in Boston.
The Boston area has also produced several actors including James Spader, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jack Lemmon, Leonard Nimoy, Mark Wahlberg, Uma Thurman, and Geena Davis. Boston area musicians include the Dropkick Murphys, Godsmack, Aerosmith, the Pixies, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Cars, Powerman 5000 and the rock band Boston. Other notable Bostonians include writers, architects, artists, inventors, and businesspeople such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Bulfinch, Asher Benjamin, Alexander Parris, Frank Weston Benson, Edmund Charles Tarbell, Samuel F. B. Morse, Alexander Graham Bell, and Sumner Redstone.
Sister cities
Boston has eight sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI): Barcelona (Spain), Hangzhou (People's Republic of China), Kyoto (Japan), Melbourne (Australia), Padua (Italy), Strasbourg (France), Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana), and Taipei (Taiwan).
Notes
- ^ "World's most expensive cities." Money Magazine. Accessed June 30, 2005.
- ^ Records and Averages - Boston (2005). Yahoo! Weather. Accessed September 13, 2005.
- ^ Boston - A City of Neighborhoods. CityOfBoston.gov.
- ^ Arbitron - Market Ranks and Schedule (1-50).
- ^ Nielsen Media - DMA Listing.
- ^ Boston Skyscrapers. Skyscrapers.com. Accessed May 15, 2005.
- ^ 1903 World Series - Major League Baseball: World Series History. MLB.com.
- ^ Information from: MWRA.
- ^ Information from: NSTAR
- ^ Information from: KeySpan
External links
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