The City of Boston

There are many functions of an urban area including: retailing, wholesaling, manufacturing, business service, entertainment, religious service, political and official administration, military defensive needs, social service, public service, transportation and communication services, meeting place activity, visitor service, and place to live. Boston's coastal location on the north Atlantic makes it the economic and cultural center for the region. Although Boston is the fourth most densely populated city in the country. Boston is also surrounded by the "Greater Boston"and surrounded by cities such as Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, Cambridge, Canton, Milton and Quincy. These cities are considered hinterland as they are the area surrounding a city that directly serves and is served by a city.

Some random facts about Boston:
1. Before the advent of railroads in the middle of the 19th century, all major cities, such as Boston, were associated with waterways.
2. Newspapers reach over 5 percent of all households in Boston than papers from any other center.
3. Boston is one of 24 metropolitan migration fields, which influences the characteristics of the center's population.
4. Boston is one of 7 most diversified cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia and New York.
5. Boston is considered a conurbation, or urban cluster. The major urban cluster, and the one called the Megalopolis of America, is the continuous urban string that stretches from north of Boston to the many suburban towns of norther Virginia and includes Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
6. Boston is full of new skyscrapers and historic neighborhoods.

Modern Transportation and Communication Systems

According to the Boston Transportation Department, their mission is to promote public safety, manage the city's transportation network, and enhance the quality of life for the residents. Their mission is ensured through the use of planning coordinated engineering, education and enforcement. A recent change in Boston's transportation department is the installation of a new parking meter program which uses kiosks that accepts credit cards, dollars and coins. These kiosks will make it more convenient for residents of the city of Boston instead of the coin-only meters that existed before.
Parking in a major city always has its problems but the city of Boston has many convenient places for its residents and visitors to park. Right now, Boston has over 7300 electronic parking meters, 34 municipal parking lots, 134,000 private parking spaces, along with a multitude of on-street parking in front of houses and businesses.






The city of Boston is committed to providing bicyclist a convenient way to travel through town. Promoting bicycling is a priority for the city and has become the preferred method of travel for many residents as it is not only convenient but also offer many health advantages as well as a better quality of life. Beginning back in the 1870s, bicycling in Boston has always been a common sight. In fact, Colonel Albert Pope, a Civil War veteran, was the foremost proponent of bicycles and he established the Pope Manufacturing Company, which originated in Boston. He company began marketing bicycles in 1878 and the residents took the bicycle and rode with it! Today, Boston is committed to educating both bicyclists and motorists on safety training as well as increasing the public awareness of the laws that are needed to be followed for the safety of all.