Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and—something relatively rare in the U.S.—also the state’s largest city. Located on America’s Atlantic coast, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the country and consistently ranks among those with the highest levels of resident prosperity.
Boston’s population within city limits is relatively modest at about 640,000 people. However, when combined with its surrounding suburbs, the Greater Boston metropolitan area reaches nearly 6 million residents, placing it among the largest urban regions in the United States.
Boston has long been known as the educational capital of America—and, without exaggeration, one of the world’s great centers of learning. The city and its immediate surroundings are home to globally renowned universities that regularly top international rankings, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Founded in 1630, Boston quickly became a hub of education and culture. Just six years after its founding, the city established its first college—what is today the legendary Harvard University. Today, Boston boasts more than 100 colleges and universities, giving it one of the highest concentrations of students in the world.
Until the mid-18th century, Boston was the largest city in the United States before yielding that title to New York. It is widely believed that key events leading to the American Revolution took place here, most famously the Boston Tea Party, which helped ignite the War of Independence and ultimately led to the United States gaining independence from the British Empire in 1776.
Thanks to careful urban planning and preservation efforts, Boston has retained much of America’s earliest architecture. Colonial-era buildings and mansions dating back to the early 17th century remain remarkably well preserved. Combined with its historic streets, waterfront, and cultural institutions, this makes Boston one of the major tourist destinations on the U.S. East Coast. In 2015 alone, the city welcomed over 14 million visitors.
Over time, Boston also developed into one of the country’s most important international ports. This maritime success contributed to the city’s long-standing wealth and helped shape generations of educated, affluent families whose descendants became part of the nation’s economic and intellectual elite.