Boston
Capital of Massachusetts, United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Boston (US: /ˈbɔːstən/[8]) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, and the cultural and financial center of New England in the Northeastern United States, with an area of 48.4 sq mi (125 km2)[9] and a population of 675,647 in 2020.[4] Greater Boston metropolitan statistical area is the eleventh-largest in the country.[10][11][12]
Boston | |
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.jpg) Downtown from Boston Harbor Acorn Street on Beacon Hill  Fenway Park during a Boston Red Sox game  Back Bay from the Charles River | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Nickname: | |
| Motto(s): Sicut patribus sit Deus nobis (Latin) 'As God was with our fathers, so may He be with us' | |
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 Interactive maps of Boston | |
| Coordinates: 42°21′37″N 71°3′28″W | |
| Country | United States |
| Region | New England |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Suffolk[1]
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| Historic countries | Kingdom of England Commonwealth of England Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Historic colonies | Massachusetts Bay Colony, Dominion of New England, Province of Massachusetts Bay |
| Settled | 1625 |
| Incorporated (town) | |
| Incorporated (city) | March 19, 1822 |
| Named for | Boston, Lincolnshire |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong mayor / Council |
| • Mayor | Michelle Wu (D) |
| • Council | Boston City Council |
| • Council President | Edward M. Flynn (D) |
| Area | |
| • State capital city | 89.61 sq mi (232.10 km2) |
| • Land | 48.34 sq mi (125.20 km2) |
| • Water | 41.27 sq mi (106.90 km2) |
| • Urban | 1,655.9 sq mi (4,288.7 km2) |
| • Metro | 4,500 sq mi (11,700 km2) |
| • CSA | 10,600 sq mi (27,600 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population | |
| • State capital city | 675,647 |
| • Estimate (2021)[4] | 654,776 |
| • Rank | 66th in North America 24th in the United States 1st in Massachusetts |
| • Density | 13,976.98/sq mi (5,396.51/km2) |
| • Urban | 4,382,009 (US: 10th) |
| • Urban density | 2,646.3/sq mi (1,021.8/km2) |
| • Metro | 4,941,632 (US: 10th) |
| Demonym | Bostonian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 53 ZIP Codes[7]
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| Area codes | 617 and 857 |
| FIPS code | 25-07000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 617565 |
| Website | Boston.gov |
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Boston is one of the nation's oldest municipalities, founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from the Boston, Lincolnshire.[13][14] During the American Revolution, Boston was the location of several key events, including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the hanging of Paul Revere's lantern signal in Old North Church, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the siege of Boston. 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.[15][16] The city has expanded beyond the original peninsula through land reclamation and municipal annexation. It now attracts many tourists, with Faneuil Hall alone drawing more than 20 million visitors per year.[17] Boston's many firsts include the United States' first public park (Boston Common, 1634), the first public school (Boston Latin School, 1635),[18] the first subway system (Tremont Street subway, 1897),[19] and the first large public library (Boston Public Library, 1848).
In the 21st century, Boston emerged as a global leader in higher education and academic research. Greater Boston's many colleges and universities include Harvard University and MIT, both located in suburban Cambridge and both routinely included among the world's most highly ranked universities.[20] 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.[21][22][23] Boston's economic base also includes finance,[24] professional and business services, biotechnology, information technology, and government activities.[25] Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States.[26] Boston businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and new investment.[27]