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With Boston's vibrant and lengthy history, this page of Boston facts could go on indefinitely. We've tried to pick out our favorites as well as some of the most useful. And if there are any you think should be added, please let us know!

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Boston Facts - Geography & Demographics

• Boston is the largest city in New England. According to the US Census Bureau, it's 89.6 square miles. 54% of that is land and 46% is water.
• It has been called a "City of Neighborhoods" and is made up of 21 official neighborhoods.
• Boston is the capital of Massachusetts which is officially named the "Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
• The elevation is 19ft (5.8m) above sea-level.
• According to the 2008 census, the City of Boston has a population of 620, 535. This number was ammended from the original census number which was 609, 023. The Greater Boston area is estimated to have a population of 4.5 million people.
• The streets of Downtown Boston have no apparent order whatsoever, whereas the streets in Back Bay, the South End, East Boston and South Boston are all on a grid system.
• The hottest day in Boston's recorded history was on July 4th, 1911. The temperature reached 104 degrees Farenheit (40 degrees Celsius)
• The coldest day in Boston's recorded history was on February 9th, 1934. The temperature went down to -18 degrees Farenheit (-28 degrees Celsius)
• 13% of Bostonians walk to work. This is the highest percentage of any major city in the U.S.

Boston Facts - Historical, Political & Educational

• This was the location of many significant historical events including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• The city was first named Trimontaine. It was renamed after Boston, Lincolnshire, England.
• Our city is governed with a strong-mayor council government system.
• Boston has eight sister-cities. They are: Kyoto, Strasbourg, Barcelona, Hangzhou, Padua, Melbourne, Taipei and Sekondi-Takoradi.
• It is sometimes called "the Athens of America" because it has more than 100 colleges and universities in the Greater Boston area.