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Massachusetts State Profile
Official State Website URL- http://www.mass.gov| City of Boston | |||
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| Nickname: Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe), The Cradle of Liberty, City on a Hill, Athens of America | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Suffolk | ||
| Settled | 1630 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | 1822 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Thomas M. Menino (D) | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 89.6 sq mi (232.1 km²) | ||
| - Land | 48.4 sq mi (125.4 km²) | ||
| - Water | 41.2 sq mi (106.7 km²) | ||
| - Metro | 4,511.5 sq mi (11,684.7 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 141 ft (43 m) | ||
| Population (2006)[1][2] | |||
| - City | 590,763 | ||
| - Density | 12,327/sq mi (4,815/km²) | ||
| - Urban | 4,313,000 | ||
| - Metro | 4,455,217 | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| Area code(s) | 617 / 857 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-07000 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0617565 | ||
| 1 The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System | |||
| Website: www.cityofboston.gov | |||
Boston is the capital and largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.[3] The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the unofficial economic and cultural center of the entire New England region.[4] The city, which had an estimated population of 596,763 in 2006, lies at the center of the Boston–Cambridge–Quincy metropolitan area—the 11th-largest metropolitan area (5th largest CSA) in the U.S. with a population of 4.4 million. Residents of Boston are referred to as Bostonians.
In 1630, Puritan colonists from England founded the city on the Shawmut Peninsula.[5] During the late eighteenth century Boston was the location of several major events during the American Revolution including the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Several early battles of the American Revolution, such as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston, occurred within the city and surrounding areas. After American independence Boston became a major shipping port and manufacturing center, and its rich history now attracts 16.3 million visitors annually.[6][5] The city was the site of several firsts, including America's first public school, Boston Latin School (1635),[7] and first college, Harvard College (1636), in neighboring Cambridge. Boston is also home to the first subway system in the United States.[8]
Through land reclamation and municipal annexation, Boston has expanded beyond the peninsula. With many colleges and universities within the city and surrounding area, Boston is a center of higher education[9] and a center for health care. The city's economy is also based on research, finance, and technology — principally biotechnology. Boston has been experiencing gentrification and has one of the highest costs of living in the United States.[10]