Boston Overview

For a long time, Boston was the United States. In the 17th and 18th centuries—America’s formative years—the city played a starring role in the country’s fight for independence. In the 19th century, some of America’s most influential doers and thinkers called Boston home, justifiably dubbing it the “Hub of the Universe.” In the 20th century, Beantown experienced—writ large—the same growing pains sweeping the rest of the nation, including immigration booms, civil-rights battles, and problems with urban expansion and renewal.

On this side of the millennium, Boston at times seems to trump up its illustrious past too aggressively. It’s true that the well-trampled Freedom Trail does revisit some of the most important moments in US history, but this most American of American cities didn’t earn the title of “America’s Walking City” for one measly 2½ mi. stroll. Boston is a restless stew of compact neighborhoods, dramatically distinct communities, winning cultural attractions, and acres of urban parks—all of which are best sampled on foot. While the Freedom Trail is a nice place to start, wandering around Boston’s many different districts, its jumble of streets, and its (rarely square) squares will give you a glimpse of a still-evolving metropolis where tired history is less important (and less fascinating) than the lives of those who live in the city today.

Age: 380 years old in 2010.
City Population: 599,351 (23rd biggest in the US).
Metro Population: 4,482,857 (10th biggest in the US).
Streets Named “Charles St.”: 4.
Languages Spoken: Over 140.
Number Of College Students: 300,000.
Penguins At The Aquarium: Over 60.
Capacity Of Fenway Park: 36,108.
Number Of Dunkin’ Donuts Stores Within 2½ Mi. Of Downtown Crossing: 50.

When To Go

Boston has a different personality for each calendar month. Temperate autumn begins with the attack of the minivans—when college students flood the city for another year of papers and parties. The Head ...more

Neighborhood Overviews

Boston is the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England—but it’s the small parts of it that matter. The city’s well-defined, proud, and independent neighborhoods ...more

Colleges And Universities

The Boston area has the highest concentration of colleges in the nation. The main campus lies at the end of the Green Line’s B route. From there, you can catch a shuttle to spots around campus. More ...more