City of Boston
Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the most historic cities in the United States. Today, this vibrant, dynamic metropolis is one of the most exciting destinations in the country. A peerless setting for advanced study and cultural enrichment, Boston offers an exciting mix of educational, cultural, financial, and high-tech scientific activity that attracts thousands of students and scholars each year from all over the world.
Conveniently located in Boston’s Back Bay, the Boston University campus is close to all of the cultural and recreational attractions that the city has to offer. A compact city, Boston is perfect for those who like to walk or bicycle. From the BU campus, you can easily follow the Charles River Esplanade to the Hatch Shell for a free concert, or walk along tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue Mall to the Boston Common. If you enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of historic neighborhoods, Beacon Hill is only blocks away from campus. Boston’s North End is a longer journey, but you will find street festivals and delicious Italian cuisine and pastries when you get there.
Whether you walk, bike, or ride the “T”—part of Boston’s comprehensive public transportation system—you’ll find it easy to find your way around town during the summer.
Quick Facts:
City of Boston Population (per 2010 census): 617,594- Greater Boston population: 4.6 million
- Student population: over 250,000 in Boston and Cambridge alone
- Over 50 colleges and universities in the Boston area
- In 2002, the City of Boston reported that Boston-based jobs, primarily within the finance, health care, educational, and service areas, numbered nearly 660,000
- In 2009, Boston and its metropolitan area ranked as the fourth-largest cybercity in the United States with 219,800 high-tech jobs, according to Cybercities 2010: The Definitive Analysis of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation’s Top 60 Cities
- A 2008 study by Investopedia® ranked Boston among the top ten cities in the world for a career in finance.
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey, 14.9 percent of Boston’s population commutes by foot
