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Boston, MA

Boston, MA

Boston officially the City of Boston, is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of 48.4 sq mi (125 km²) and a population of 675,647 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-largest city in the Northeast after New York City and Philadelphia. The Greater Boston metropolitan statistical area, including and surrounding the city, is the largest in New England and the eleventh-largest in the country.

Boston was founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers. The city was named after Boston, Lincolnshire, England. During the American Revolution, Boston was home to several events that proved central to the revolution and subsequent Revolutionary War, including the Boston Massacre (1770), the Boston Tea Party (1773), Paul Revere's Midnight Ride (1775), the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775), and the Siege of Boston (1775–1776). Following American independence from Great Britain, the city continued to play an important role as a port, manufacturing hub, and center for education and culture.

The city expanded significantly beyond the original peninsula by filling in land and annexing neighboring towns. It now attracts many tourists, with Faneuil Hall alone drawing more than 20 million visitors per year. Boston's many firsts include the United States' first public park (Boston Common, 1634), the first public school (Boston Latin School, 1635), and the first subway system (Tremont Street subway, 1897).

Since the nation's founding, Boston has been a national leader in higher education and research. Boston University and Northeastern University are both located within the city, with Boston College located in nearby Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Two of the world's most prestigious and consistently highly ranked universities, Harvard University (the nation's oldest university) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are both located in neighboring Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Boston has emerged as the largest biotechnology hub in the world. The city is also a national leader in scientific research, law, medicine, engineering, and business. With nearly 5,000 startup companies, the city is considered a global pioneer in innovation and entrepreneurship, and more recently in artificial intelligence. Boston's economy also includes finance, professional and business services, information technology, and government activities. Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States. Furthermore, Boston's businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country overall for environmental sustainability and new investment.

Boston has an area of 89.63 sq mi (232.1 km²). Of this area, 48.4 sq mi (125.4 km²), or 54%, of it is land and 41.2 sq mi (106.7 km²), or 46%, of it is water. The city's official elevation, as measured at Logan International Airport, is 19 ft (5.8 m) above sea level. The highest point in Boston is Bellevue Hill at 330 ft (100 m) above sea level, and the lowest point is at sea level. Boston is situated next to Boston Harbor, an arm of Massachusetts Bay, itself an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.

The geographical center of Boston is in Roxbury. Due north of the center, we find the South End. This is not to be confused with South Boston which lies directly east from the South End. North of South Boston is East Boston and southwest of East Boston is the North End.

Boston is surrounded by the Greater Boston metropolitan region. It is bordered to the east by the town of Winthrop and the Boston Harbor Islands, to the northeast by the cities of Revere, Chelsea, and Everett, to the north by the cities of Somerville and Cambridge, to the northwest by Watertown, to the west by the city of Newton and town of Brookline, to the southwest by the town of Dedham and small portions of Needham and Canton, and the southeast by the town of Milton, and the city of Quincy.

The Charles River separates Boston's Allston-Brighton, Fenway-Kenmore, and Back Bay neighborhoods from Watertown and Cambridge, and most of Boston from its own Charlestown neighborhood. The Neponset River forms the boundary between Boston's southern neighborhoods and Quincy and Milton. The Mystic River separates Charlestown from Chelsea and Everett, and Chelsea Creek and Boston Harbor separate East Boston from Downtown, the North End, and the Seaport.

Many of Boston's medical facilities are associated with universities. The Longwood Medical and Academic Area, adjacent to the Fenway, district, is home to a large number of medical and research facilities, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Prominent medical facilities, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital are in the Beacon Hill area. Many of the facilities in Longwood and near Massachusetts General Hospital are affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Tufts Medical Center (formerly Tufts-New England Medical Center), in the southern portion of the Chinatown neighborhood, is affiliated with Tufts University School of Medicine. Boston Medical Center, in the South End neighborhood, is the region's largest safety-net hospital and trauma center. Formed by the merger of Boston City Hospital, the first municipal hospital in the United States, and Boston University Hospital, Boston Medical Center now serves as the primary teaching facility for the Boston University School of Medicine. St. Elizabeth's Medical Center is in Brighton Center of the city's Brighton neighborhood. New England Baptist Hospital is in Mission Hill. The city has Veterans Affairs medical centers in the Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury neighborhoods. The Boston Public Health Commission, an agency of the Massachusetts government, oversees health concerns for city residents. Boston EMS provides pre-hospital emergency medical services to residents and visitors.

Boston places a strong emphasis on health and wellness to its residents. Massachusetts General Hospital offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Republic Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. Engage in high-energy kickboxing classes to boost fitness levels and relieve stress in TITLE Boxing Club. Relax and rejuvenate with a variety of spa treatments, including massages and facials with Bella Santé Spas. Experience the healing benefits of therapeutic massages at Vitality Massage Therapy to alleviate muscle tension and promote relaxation. Practice yoga in a serene environment at Down Under School of Yoga to improve flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. 

Top sites in Boston, MA are Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Fenway Park, and New England Aquarium

Population: 653,833 (2023). ZIP code: 02108. Area codes: 617, 857. Elevation: 46 ft (14 m). Area: 89.63 square miles (232.1 km²).

FAQs:

Is Boston, MA expensive to live in?

With skyrocketing housing prices, Boston’s position as one of the most expensive cities in the United States is no surprise. But a new study says single Bostonians have to make upwards of $100,000 a year to live comfortably in the city. A single adult needs to make about $60 an hour or $124,966 a year, according to the study put out by SmartAsset. Two working adults with two children need to pull in $319,738 a year. These salaries are all pre-tax.

What part of Boston, MA is safest?

Fenway-Kenmore is home to Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox’s ballpark, and is known for its vibrant nightlife and cultural attractions. It is also among the safest areas to stay in Boston as it is safer than 76% of the cities in Massachusetts. According to Area Vibes, total crime rates in Fenway-Kenmore are 24% lower than the national average, while property crimes are 28% lower. Also, the chance of becoming a victim of crime in this neighborhood is 1 in 56.
 

Is Boston, MA worth visiting?

Boston is full of history, food, unique neighborhoods, and museums. Along with being on the waterfront and having all of the benefits of ocean activities. It has all of the concerts, events, sports, and activities you’d expect from a big city. Look at some of the best historical sites in the city of Boston that make Boston worth visiting. As one of the original colonies, it has a lot of really cool history. You can explore history ranging from the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Boston

Boston

June Homes

Our French Travels

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Fenway Park

New England Aquarium

Massachusetts General Hospital

Republic Fitness

TITLE Boxing Club

Bella Santé Spas

Vitality Massage Therapy

Down Under School of Yoga

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.