Boston, Massachusetts
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| City nickname: "Beantown," "The Hub," "Athens of America" | |
Location in the state of Massachusetts |
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| Founded | September 17, 1630 |
| County | Suffolk County |
| Mayor | Thomas Menino (Dem) |
| Area - Total - Water |
232.1 km² (89.6 mi²) 106.7 km² (41.2 mi²) 45.98% |
| Population - City (2000) - Density - Metropolitan |
589,141 4,696.9/km² 5.8 million |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC –5) |
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
42.3604° N 71.0573° W (http://kvaleberg.com/extensions/mapsources/index.php?params=42.3604_N_71.0573_W_region:US_type:city) |
| www.cityofboston.gov | |
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. Its nicknames include "Beantown", "The Hub" (shortened from Oliver Wendell Holmes' phrase The Hub of the Universe), "The City of Higher Learning" (due to the plethora of universities and colleges in the Boston area) and The Athens of America, due to its great influence on cultural, intellectual, and political matters.
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 the one of the top-fifty largest in the world.
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 has an illustrious history that spans nearly four centuries. Its history is inherently intertwined with the history of the United States.
Founded on September 17, 1630, on a peninsula called Shawmut by the 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 played a key role in sparking both the American Revolution and the ensuing American Revolutionary War. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several of the 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 famous midnight ride.
After the revolutionary war, the city 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 1880sThe city has several notable "firsts." Both the first school in America, Boston Latin School (1635), and the first college in America, Harvard College (1636), were founded in the early days of Boston. During the 1800s, the first medical school for women, The Boston Female Medical School (which later merged with the Boston University School of Medicine), opened in Boston on November 1, 1848. Also, on September 1, 1897, the Tremont Street Subway opened as the first underground streetcar subway in North America. Today it is known as "The T" and is run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
On August 23, 1927, Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were sent to the electric chair after a seven-year trial in Boston. Their execution sparked riots in London, Paris and Germany, and helped to reinforce the image of Boston as a hotbed of intolerance.
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.
Related articles
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 45.98% water.
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.
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.
The Charles River separates Boston from Cambridge, and Charlestown. To the east lies Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands, many of which are open to the public. 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. 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 35.6 °F (2 °C) and a low of 21.5 °F (−6 °C). The city averages 42 in. (1,100 mm) of rainfall a year. It also coincidentally averages 42 in. (1,100 mm) of snowfall a year, though this increases dramatically as one goes inland away from the city.
Mark Twain is quoted as saying If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes. Boston is no exception to this rule. The outer suburbs of Boston, which tend to be forested, have vibrantly-colored foliage every autumn that attracts many tourtists. In the winter, the Frog Pond at Boston Common doubles as a popular ice-skating rink.
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 4,696.9/km² (12,165.8/mi²). There are 251,935 housing units at an average density of 2,008.5/km² (5,202.5/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 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 Hispanic or Latino.
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.
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 is divided into many neighborhoods (http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/), including: Allston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Fenway/Kenmore, the North End, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, the South End, Chinatown, Bay Village and West Roxbury. Each of the neighborhoods has a distinct character. Allston/Brighton, for example, 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. The South End, south of the Back Bay, is populated by gays, 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. Dorchester is probably the most diverse Boston neighborhood being populated with every ethnic group. Boston is notable for having one of the most attractive and livable urban cores in the country; rents and housing prices are correspondingly high.
Boston has a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor, Thomas Menino, is is vested with extensive executive powers. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by plurality voting (see List of Mayors of Boston, Massachusetts). 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. The top four vote-getters 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.
In addition to city government, numerous state authorities and commissions play a role in the life of Bostonians, including the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (water and sewer) and the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation, formerly known as the Metropolitan District Commission (some parks and most beaches). The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority runs the "T", Boston's public transport system. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston's Logan International Airport.
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 Bank.
See also: List of colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
The Boston area is well-known for its colleges and universities.
Boston College was the first institution of higher education to be founded in Boston. However, it moved from the city's South End to then-rural Chestnut Hill to escape Boston's rapid urbanization in the late nineteenth century.
Harvard University, the nation's oldest university, was founded in Cambridge, where it maintains its main campus, though the bulk of its current land holdings lie in Boston. Cambridge is also the home of the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The greater Boston area is home to over 100 colleges. Other schools in Boston proper include Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, the Boston Architectural Center, Boston University, Emerson College, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, the Massachusetts College of Art, the New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern University, Simmons College, and Suffolk University. Surrounding cities host Babson College, Bentley College, Brandeis University, Hellenic College, Lesley University, the Longy School of Music, Merrimack College, Pine Manor College, Regis College, Tufts University and Wellesley College, among others.
Boston is considered to be a highly intellectual city. 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?" It is also considered one of the most culturally impressive cities in the world. 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 along Huntington Avenue. The Boston Ballet is a world-renowned classical dance company. The Boston Globe Jazz and Blues Festival takes place each June; the Boston Early Music Festival takes place every odd-numbered year. The Boston Film Festival is held annually in early September. The weekend following Labor Day, the boutiques on Newbury Street close as over thirty art galleries spill out onto the street, providing unlimited access to their contents during Art Newbury Street.
Boston is also home to a wide array of musical talent from bands like Boston, Godsmack, and Aerosmith, to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the Boston Philharmonic, the Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Hayden Society (the oldest choral company in the U.S.) among many others.
See also: List of television shows set in Boston
See also: An annotated bibliography of fiction set in Boston (http://www.cas.suffolk.edu/richman/Boston/bosbib.htm) (external weblink)
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. Raytheon has its global headquarters in nearby Waltham while Novell also has its corporate headquarters there. Boston Scientific is located in Natick, and Gillette 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 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. 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.
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. A local edition of The Metro, a free paper, is also available. The Boston Phoenix, The Improper Bostonian, and the Weekly Dig are weekly newspapers. As of October 2004, the Weekly Dig is owned by Boston Magazine. Spare Change is a bi-weekly paper. The Boston Independent Media Center (http://boston.indymedia.org/) provides alternative views. Just Rentals and Just Property are exclusive to Real Estate and are bi-weekly. The Improper Bostonian (http://www.improper.com/) is a biweekly "what's happening" guide to the Boston area.
Boston has the largest broadcasting market in New England, with the Boston radio market being the ninth largest in the United States. 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.
The Boston television DMA, which also includes Manchester, New Hampshire, is the fifth largest in the United States [1] (http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html). The city is served by stations representing every major American network including:
The city is also served by several Spanish-language television stations including those of Univision (WUNI channel 27, licensed to Worcester), TeleFutura (WUTF channel 66), and Telemundo (WNEU channel 60, licensed to Merrimack, New Hampshire, and simulcast on WTMU-LP channel 32). Most Boston television stations have their transmitters in nearby Needham and Newton.
Other television stations broadcasting in the Boston market are:
See also: Sites of interest in Boston
Image of the North End, Boston neighborhood. The Old North Church is at center, a Big Dig vent building is near the bottom, and the green Tobin Bridge over the Mystic River is at the top.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. Such sites include:
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, Newbury Street, and Trinity Church. Back Bay is also the home of two of New England's tallest buildings: the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center. Other notable districts/neighborhoods include Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, North End, and South Boston.
The Charles River, with long stretches of parks along its banks, is a major recreation site for many Bostonians. It is also the site of the Esplanade where the Boston Pops Orchestra play their annual Fourth of July concerts to large crowds.
Boston is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Science. 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.
Other sites of interest include Castle Island and Kenmore Square. There are also two self-guided walking tours: Harbor Walk (http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/), which is designed to allow people the walk the entire shore of Boston Harbor, and the Black Heritage Trail. Many of the Boston Harbor Islands are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area that is run by the National Park Service.
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 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, 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 Pilgrims (currently the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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 city is also the site of two major annual sporting events: the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Main article: Boston transportation
Logan International Airport, located in the East Boston neighborhood of the city, is the major airport serving Boston. Other airports serving the city and surrounding areas include:
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.
The MBTA operates bus lines, commuter rail, subways, and water shuttles within the city and surrounding region.
Main article: Notable Bostonians
Several people who were instrumental during the American Revolution and the early days of the United States hail from the Boston area. 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 Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Leonard Nimoy, and Mark Wahlberg. Boston area musicians include Aerosmith and the rock band Boston. Other notable Bostonians include writers, inventors, and businesspeople such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel F. B. Morse, Alexander Graham Bell, and Sumner Redstone.
Boston is a sister city (that is, a twinned town) of these municipalities:
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Boston is a sister city (that is, a twinned town) of these
municipalities:. Boston area musicians include Aerosmith and the rock band Boston. The 2004 season was disappointing for the Titans, who suffered an unusual number of injuries to key players. The Boston area has also produced several actors including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Leonard Nimoy, and Mark Wahlberg. The Titans made the 2003 playoffs, winning their first-round game over the Baltimore Ravens and losing in the AFC semifinals to the New England Patriots. John Kerry, the Democratic candidate for President in 2004, maintains a home in Boston. In 2003, quarterback Steve McNair won the MVP award, sharing it with Peyton Manning. Kennedy, Sr. Louis Rams when Kevin Dyson was tackled one yard short of the endzone as regulation time expired. Prominent Boston area politicians include members of the Kennedy family, such as John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Joseph P. The Titans' Cinderella season led to a trip to Super Bowl XXXIV, where they lost a heartbreaker to the St. Presidents. This game qualifies as one of the greatest games in NFL history and became known as the "Music City Miracle". John Adams and John Quincy Adams were early U.S. The 1999 first round win was due to a lateral from tight end Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson on a late 4th quarter kickoff return; Dyson returned the pass 75 yards for a touchdown to win the game. They include Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. The Titans made the playoffs in their inaugural year in the "Music City", which was capped off by their unbelievable first round playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills and a third win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Several people who were instrumental during the American Revolution and the early days of the United States hail from the Boston area. In 1999, Adelphia Coliseum, now known simply as The Coliseum, was completed and the newly christened Tennessee Titans were well received by their new fans in Tennessee's state capital. Main article: Notable Bostonians. The team relented and played the 1998 home schedule at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville. The MBTA operates bus lines, commuter rail, subways, and water shuttles within the city and surrounding region. The 1997 season is often recalled as having consisted of 16 road games. Meanwhile, Amtrak's Downeaster service to Maine originates at North Station. Weary of babysitting Nashville's team, Memphis largely ignored the Oilers, who played before crowds ranging from sparse and indifferent to outright hostile (as in the case of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers). 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. The Oilers rejected Vanderbilt Stadium and played their home games at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium while waiting for their new stadium to be finished in their permanent home city, Nashville. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Chicago lines originate at South Station and stop at Back Bay. The soon-to-be Tennessee Titans spent 1997 in Memphis as the short-lived Tennessee Oilers. Intercity trains operate from two stations. Even before the Oilers relocated, they established the future cornerstone of their offense by drafting Steve McNair in 1995. Through the Big Dig, the elevated highway was replaced with a tunnel. Unlike his support of an old-line NFL city (Cleveland) in holding on to its tradition, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue did not intervene when Adams declared that no other Houston football team could ever use the name "Oilers". The old elevated highway was constantly prone to heavy traffic. Although the city of Cleveland kept the franchise's name "Browns", and the team's history when it left, Houston's status as the home of the first two American Football League championships did not save the city's AFL heritage. The most infamous portion, the Central Artery, runs through downtown Boston. The mid-1990s signaled the decline of the Houston Oilers and the ill-fated "run and shoot" offense and by 1997, owner Bud Adams moved the team out of Houston. US 1 and I-93 runs north to south through the city. From 1987 through 1993, the Oilers were one of the most successful teams in the AFC, making the playoffs each year but failing to reach the Super Bowl. I-95, which surrounds the city, is also known as Route 128. In 1984, the Oilers won a bidding war for CFL legend Warren Moon but didn't return to the playoffs until 1987, where the Oilers nearly went to the Super Bowl. Boston is the eastern terminus of I-90, also known as the Mass Pike. From 1978 through 1980, the "Luv Ya Blue" Oilers would make the playoffs each year but three postseason losses prompted owner Bud Adams to fire head coach Bum Phillips and signaled the decline of the Oilers for a few years (the 1981 Oilers won their first two games, both on the road - but then the team lost 23 consecutive away games, an all-time NFL record which remained intact until the Detroit Lions lost their 24th straight road game on December 21, 2003). The city also has a number of rotaries, which have confused many drivers. In 1978, the Oilers' fortunes changed when they drafted University of Texas football star Earl Campbell, who was both Rookie of the Year and MVP that year and led the Oilers to their first NFL playoff appearance. Roads change names and lose and add lanes seemingly at random. They then fell from the AFL elite, and the years immediately following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger proved to not be much brighter. Except for the Back Bay and part of South Boston, the city has no street grid. The Oilers won the AFL Eastern Division title again in 1967, then became the first professional football team to play in a domed stadium, when they moved into Houston's Astrodome for the 1968 season. Boston's streets appear as though they were not planned—a common fiction is that they evolved from old cowpaths. Dewveall that year caught the longest pass reception for a touchdown in professional football history, 99 yards, from Jacky Lee, against the San Diego Chargers. Other airports serving the city and surrounding areas include:. In 1962, the Oilers were the first AFL team to sign an active NFL player away from the other league, when wide receiver Willard Dewveall left the Bears to join the champion Oilers. Logan International Airport, located in the East Boston neighborhood of the city, is the major airport serving Boston. They lost to the Dallas Texans in the classic 1962 double-overtime AFL championship game, at the time the longest, and still one of the best professional football championship games ever played. Main article: Boston transportation. After winning the first-ever AFL championship over the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960, they repeated over the same team (then in San Diego) in 1961. The city is also the site of two major annual sporting events: the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles Regatta. Cannon joined other Oiler offensive stars such as quarterback George Blanda, flanker Charlie Hennigan, running back Charlie Tolar, and guard Bob Talamini. The most well-known include Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Harvard University. They scored an important victory over the NFL when they signed LSU's Heisman Trophy winner, All-America running back Billy Cannon. Boston's many colleges and universities field sports teams. The Oilers appeared in the first three AFL championships. The team plays at Boston University's Nickerson Field. The Tennessee Titans began in 1960 as the Houston Oilers, charter members of the American Football League. Another major league team is the lacrosse team Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse. The Tennessee Titans are a National Football League team based in Nashville, Tennessee. Both teams play at Gillette Stadium. Frank Wycheck. 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). George Webster. The game was played between the Boston Pilgrims (currently the Boston Red Sox) and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Webster Slaughter. 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. Charlie Tolar (1937-2003 ("the human bowling ball")). After eighty-six years, the Red Sox became the World Series Winners (World Champions) in 2004. Bob Talamini (born 1939, won two AFL titles with the Oilers, AFL and World Championship with the Jets). They play at Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in active use in the United States. Mike Rozier. The baseball team Boston Red Sox is a member of the American League of Major League Baseball. Samari Rolle. The Celtics have the distinction of having more World Championships than any other NBA team with 16 championships from 1957 to 1986. Allen Pinkett. The TD Banknorth Garden near North Station is the home of two major league teams:. Warren Moon. cities with teams from four major sports. Ron McDole. See also: U.S. Wahoo McDaniel. Many of the Boston Harbor Islands are part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area that is run by the National Park Service. Bruce Matthews. There are also two self-guided walking tours: Harbor Walk (http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/), which is designed to allow people the walk the entire shore of Boston Harbor, and the Black Heritage Trail. Derrick Mason. Other sites of interest include Castle Island and Kenmore Square. Jacky Lee. The New England Aquarium as well as the Franklin Park Zoo are located within the city. Ernie Ladd. The University of Massachusetts campus at Columbia Point houses the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library. Jevon Kearse. Boston is home to several world-renowned museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Science. Sean Jones. It is also the site of the Esplanade where the Boston Pops Orchestra play their annual Fourth of July concerts to large crowds. Charlie Joiner. The Charles River, with long stretches of parks along its banks, is a major recreation site for many Bostonians. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. Other notable districts/neighborhoods include Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, North End, and South Boston. Haywood Jeffries. Back Bay is also the home of two of New England's tallest buildings: the John Hancock Tower and the Prudential Center. Bobby Jancik. 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, Newbury Street, and Trinity Church. Drew Hill. Such sites include:. Charlie Hennigan (born 1935, first professional football player to catch more than 100 passes in a season (Oilers, 1964)). Many are found along the Freedom Trail, which is marked by a red line or bricks embedded in the ground. Eddie George. 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. Miller Farr. See also: Sites of interest in Boston. Ray Childress. Other television stations broadcasting in the Boston market are:. Kevin Carter. Most Boston television stations have their transmitters in nearby Needham and Newton. Billy Cannon (born 1937, made All-League as a halfback in 1961 and as a tight end in 1969). The city is also served by several Spanish-language television stations including those of Univision (WUNI channel 27, licensed to Worcester), TeleFutura (WUTF channel 66), and Telemundo (WNEU channel 60, licensed to Merrimack, New Hampshire, and simulcast on WTMU-LP channel 32). 74 Bruce Matthews. The city is served by stations representing every major American network including:. 65 Elvin Bethea. The Boston television DMA, which also includes Manchester, New Hampshire, is the fifth largest in the United States [1] (http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html). 63 Mike Munchak. A variety of FM radio formats serve the area as well as NPR stations WBUR and WGBH. 43 Jim Norton (born 1938, all-time American Football League interception leader). Several major AM stations include talk radio WRKO 680 AM, sports/talk station WEEI 850 AM, and news radio WBZ 1030 AM. 34 Earl Campbell. Boston has the largest broadcasting market in New England, with the Boston radio market being the ninth largest in the United States. Steve McNair. The Improper Bostonian (http://www.improper.com/) is a biweekly "what's happening" guide to the Boston area. Brad Hopkins. Just Rentals and Just Property are exclusive to Real Estate and are bi-weekly. Andre Dyson. The Boston Independent Media Center (http://boston.indymedia.org/) provides alternative views. Keith Bulluck. Spare Change is a bi-weekly paper. Chris Brown. As of October 2004, the Weekly Dig is owned by Boston Magazine. Drew Bennett. The Boston Phoenix, The Improper Bostonian, and the Weekly Dig are weekly newspapers. Gary Anderson. A local edition of The Metro, a free paper, is also available. Mike Munchak. The Boston Globe, owned by the New York Times Company, and The Boston Herald are Boston's two major daily newspapers. Ken Houston. See also: Media in Boston.. Earl Campbell. 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. George Blanda (born 1927, first player to pass for 36 touchdowns (Oilers, 1961)). Other medical institutions include Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Lahey Clinic, and Children's Hospital. Elvin Bethea. Another hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical is Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 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. One such hospital is the Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General), which is affiliated with the Harvard Medical School. As the home to some of the world's most respected research hospitals, Boston enjoys an international reputation in the medical field. It is also a major seaport along the United States east coast. The Port of Boston is the largest and busiest seaport in Massachusetts. Teradyne, one of the world's leading manufacturer of semiconductors and other electronic equipment, has its corporate headquarters located in Boston. Boston Scientific is located in Natick, and Gillette is headquartered in Boston. Raytheon has its global headquarters in nearby Waltham while Novell also has its corporate headquarters there. Shoe and athletic apparel maker Reebok is headquartered in nearby Canton. 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. Other important industries include financial services, especially mutual funds and insurance. 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. See also: An annotated bibliography of fiction set in Boston (http://www.cas.suffolk.edu/richman/Boston/bosbib.htm) (external weblink). See also: List of television shows set in Boston. Boston is also home to a wide array of musical talent from bands like Boston, Godsmack, and Aerosmith, to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, the Boston Philharmonic, the Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Hayden Society (the oldest choral company in the U.S.) among many others. The weekend following Labor Day, the boutiques on Newbury Street close as over thirty art galleries spill out onto the street, providing unlimited access to their contents during Art Newbury Street. The Boston Film Festival is held annually in early September. The Boston Globe Jazz and Blues Festival takes place each June; the Boston Early Music Festival takes place every odd-numbered year. The Boston Ballet is a world-renowned classical dance company. Avant garde theatres are scattered throughout the city, especially along Huntington Avenue. 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. 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?" It is also considered one of the most culturally impressive cities in the world. Boston is considered to be a highly intellectual city. Surrounding cities host Babson College, Bentley College, Brandeis University, Hellenic College, Lesley University, the Longy School of Music, Merrimack College, Pine Manor College, Regis College, Tufts University and Wellesley College, among others. Other schools in Boston proper include Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, the Boston Architectural Center, Boston University, Emerson College, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, the Massachusetts College of Art, the New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern University, Simmons College, and Suffolk University. The greater Boston area is home to over 100 colleges. Cambridge is also the home of the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard University, the nation's oldest university, was founded in Cambridge, where it maintains its main campus, though the bulk of its current land holdings lie in Boston. However, it moved from the city's South End to then-rural Chestnut Hill to escape Boston's rapid urbanization in the late nineteenth century. Boston College was the first institution of higher education to be founded in Boston. The Boston area is well-known for its colleges and universities. See also: List of colleges and universities in Massachusetts.. 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 Bank. The National Archives has a regional center in nearby Waltham. O'Neil Federal Building. Kennedy Federal Office Building and the Thomas P. Properties include the John F. Boston is also the United States federal government center for New England. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston's Logan International Airport. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority runs the "T", Boston's public transport system. In addition to city government, numerous state authorities and commissions play a role in the life of Bostonians, including the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (water and sewer) and the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation, formerly known as the Metropolitan District Commission (some parks and most beaches). The School Committee is appointed by the mayor, as are city department heads. The President of the City Council is elected by the Councilors from within themselves. The top four vote-getters are elected. Each voter casts up to four votes for at-large councilors; no more than one vote per candidate. There are four at-large seats. There are nine wards or neighborhood seats, each elected by plurality voting by the residents of that ward. The City Council is elected every two years. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by plurality voting (see List of Mayors of Boston, Massachusetts). Boston has a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor, Thomas Menino, is is vested with extensive executive powers. Boston is notable for having one of the most attractive and livable urban cores in the country; rents and housing prices are correspondingly high. Dorchester is probably the most diverse Boston neighborhood being populated with every ethnic group. 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. The South End, south of the Back Bay, is populated by gays, artists, yuppies, African Americans, and Hispanics—it is noted for its restaurant scene and bohemian atmosphere. 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. Allston/Brighton, for example, is populated mostly by students from nearby Boston University and recent graduates. Each of the neighborhoods has a distinct character. The city is divided into many neighborhoods (http://www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods/), including: Allston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Fenway/Kenmore, the North End, Hyde Park, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, the South End, Chinatown, Bay Village and West Roxbury. 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. 19.5% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. The per capita income for the city is $23,353. Males have a median income of $37,435 versus $32,421 for females. The median income for a household in the city is $39,629, and the median income for a family is $44,151. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.2 males. For every 100 females there are 92.8 males. The median age is 31 years. 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 average household size is 2.31 and the average family size is 3.17. 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. 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. 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 Hispanic or Latino. These figures become less reliable due to the large undocumented Brazilian population, estimated by some studies to approach 250,000 in Massachusetts. 14.44% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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. Boston is the capital of "Irish America". There are 251,935 housing units at an average density of 2,008.5/km² (5,202.5/mi²). The Irish are the largest ethnic group in the city of Boston. The population density is 4,696.9/km² (12,165.8/mi²). As of the census2 of 2000, there are 589,141 people, 239,528 households, and 115,212 families residing in the city. In the winter, the Frog Pond at Boston Common doubles as a popular ice-skating rink. The outer suburbs of Boston, which tend to be forested, have vibrantly-colored foliage every autumn that attracts many tourtists. Mark Twain is quoted as saying If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes. Boston is no exception to this rule. (1,100 mm) of snowfall a year, though this increases dramatically as one goes inland away from the city. It also coincidentally averages 42 in. (1,100 mm) of rainfall a year. The city averages 42 in. The coldest month is January with an average high of 35.6 °F (2 °C) and a low of 21.5 °F (−6 °C). The hottest month is August, with an average high of 80 °F (27 °C) and a low of 64 °F (18 °C). It has been known to snow in October and get quite warm in February. The summers are usually warm and humid, while the winters are cold and windy. The weather in Boston, like much of New England, changes rapidly. The Neponset River forms the boundary between the city and its southeast neighbors, Quincy and Milton. To the east lies Boston Harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands, many of which are open to the public. The Charles River separates Boston from Cambridge, and Charlestown. 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. Only Beacon Hill, the smallest of the three original hills, remains partially intact. 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. The total area is 45.98% water. 125.4 km² (48.4 mi²) of it is land and 106.7 km² (41.2 mi²) of it is water. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 232.1 km² (89.6 mi²). Related articles. 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. 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. Their execution sparked riots in London, Paris and Germany, and helped to reinforce the image of Boston as a hotbed of intolerance. On August 23, 1927, Italian anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were sent to the electric chair after a seven-year trial in Boston. Today it is known as "The T" and is run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Also, on September 1, 1897, the Tremont Street Subway opened as the first underground streetcar subway in North America. During the 1800s, the first medical school for women, The Boston Female Medical School (which later merged with the Boston University School of Medicine), opened in Boston on November 1, 1848. The city has several notable "firsts." Both the first school in America, Boston Latin School (1635), and the first college in America, Harvard College (1636), were founded in the early days of Boston. 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. After the revolutionary war, the city became one of the world's wealthiest international trading ports, exporting products such as rum, fish, salt and tobacco. During this period, Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride. The Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and several of the 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. Boston played a key role in sparking both the American Revolution and the ensuing American Revolutionary War. Indeed, Puritan values of hard work, moral uprightness, and education remain a part of Boston's culture. These values molded an extremely stable and well-structured society in Boston. Winthrop's sermon, "a City upon a Hill," captured this idea. Early colonists believed that Boston was a community with a special covenant with God. Founded on September 17, 1630, on a peninsula called Shawmut by the Native Americans who lived there, Boston is named after Boston, England, a town in Lincolnshire from which several prominent colonists originated. Its history is inherently intertwined with the history of the United States. Boston has an illustrious history that spans nearly four centuries. Main article: History of Boston. Greater Boston is one of the top-ten largest metropolitan areas in the United States, the fifteenth in the Americas, and the one of the top-fifty largest in the world. 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. As of the 2000 census, its population was 589,141. Its nicknames include "Beantown", "The Hub" (shortened from Oliver Wendell Holmes' phrase The Hub of the Universe), "The City of Higher Learning" (due to the plethora of universities and colleges in the Boston area) and The Athens of America, due to its great influence on cultural, intellectual, and political matters. 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 is also the county seat of Suffolk County. Boston is the capital and the largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. MLB.com (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1903). Accessed June 1, 2005. 1903 World Series - Major League Baseball: World Series History. Accessed May 15, 2005. Skyscrapers.com (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=101045). Boston Skyscrapers. Portland, Oregon. Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. Taipei, Republic of China. Padua, Italy. Haifa, Israel. Melbourne, Australia. Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. Barcelona, Spain. Strasbourg, France. Kyoto, Japan. Faith from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, specifically South Boston. Sharon McKendrick and her mother Maggie from the 1961 version of the Parent Trap. The characters from the TV sitcom Cheers. Trapper John McIntyre and Major Charles Emerson Winchester III from M*A*S*H. Manchester Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. F. T. Hanscom Field in Lexington and Bedford. Boston Celtics (Basketball - National Basketball Association). Boston Bruins (Ice hockey - National Hockey League). USS Constitution. Paul Revere's House. Old North Church. Old State House. Massachusetts State House. Granary Burying Ground. Faneuil Hall. Bunker Hill Monument. Boston Common, with the Boston Public Garden being adjacent. Channel 68 - WBPX (PAX). Channel 62 - WMFP (Shop At Home). Channel 56 - WLVI (WB). Channel 48 - WYDN (DayStar). Channel 46 - WWDP (ShopNBC). Channel 38 - WSBK (UPN). PBS - WGBH Channel 2, which also operates WGBX channel 44, is a major producer of PBS programs. FOX - WFXT Channel 25. NBC - WHDH Channel 7. ABC - WCVB Channel 5. CBS - WBZ Channel 4. Specifically, "12 Prospero Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.". Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events movie takes place in Boston, as seen on the envelope at the end of the movie. Zodiac, by Neal Stephenson; an eco-thriller focusing on industrial pollution in the Boston Harbor. The Sound and the Fury, by William Faulkner; part of the story finds its setting in Boston. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood; post-nuclear Cambridge and Boston are the setting of this dystopian novel. Looking Backward, utopian novel written in 1887 and set in Boston in 2000. The Bostonians, by Henry James; life in aristocratic Boston during the late nineteenth century. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown; Boston is the home of protagonist Robert Langdon. Parker. The Spenser detective novels, by Robert B. Curley. The Last Hurrah, by Edwin O'Connor; O'Connor's 1956 account of big-city politics, inspired by the career of longtime Boston Mayor James M. Walk East on Beacon!. What's the Worst That Could Happen?. Vig (Money Kings). The Verdict. Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Thomas Crown Affair. Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie. Elsewhere. St. Southie. A Small Circle of Friends. The Paper Chase. Night School. Next Stop Wonderland. Mystic River. Monument Ave.. Love Story. Legally Blonde. Harvard Man. Good Will Hunting. The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Fever Pitch. Coma. The Brink's Job. The Boondock Saints. Blue Hill Avenue. Blown Away. Blow. Boston LBGT Pride parade and festival (http://www.bostonpride.org/). Boston Marathon, the world-famous 26-mile run. Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Fourth of July on the Esplanade (fireworks and music on a massive scale). First Night (http://www.firstnight.org/) Boston's major New Year's Eve arts and activity festival, attracting over 1.5m people. Siege of Boston. Battle of Lexington and Concord. Boston Tea Party. Boston Massacre. American Revolutionary War. American Revolution. |