Settlement Patterns

William Blaxton was the first settler of Boston and it was from him that the early Puritans were purchased the land known today as Boston. The city quickly became populated by early settlers and the First Church of Boston was created. Boston was believed to be a city with a special covenant with God, known as the “City upon a Hill.” The first school and college in America were formed in Boston, the Bostin Latin School and Harvard College, founded in 1635 and 1636. A road joining Boston and New York City was built that made easier the connectivity of the two cities and allowed for great expansion of Boston.

After the Revolutionary War, Boston became one of the wealthiest international traditing ports, exporting products such as rum, fish, salt and tobacco. As trade increased in Boston, so did the city population. In 1790, the city was comprised of 18,320 people. Fifty years later in 1840, the population was 93, 383. And by 1890, a marvelous 448, 477. Today the city of Boston is comprised of over half a million people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Boston,_Massachusetts