BOSTON, the capital of the commonwealth of
Massachusetts and of Suffolk county, the chief
city of New England, and the seventh of the
United States in point of population, situated
in lat. 42° 21' 24" N., lon. 71° 3' 58" W., at the
western extremity of Massachusetts bay. The
city embraces Boston proper, East Boston, South Boston, Roxbury, and Dorchester. Boston proper, or old Boston, occupies a peninsula, joined to the mainland on the south by a narrow strip of land known as the Neck, which was once overflowed by the tide, but has been raised and widened. The surface is very uneven, and originally presented three hills, Beacon, Copp's, and Fort (whence the early name of the peninsula, Trimountain), the first of which is about 130 ft. above the sea. Fort hill has recently been levelled, while the elevation of Copp's hill has been much reduced. East Boston occupies the W. portion of the island formerly known as Noddle's island, but more commonly bearing the name of Maverick, from Samuel Maverick, who lived there in 1630. It is equidistant from old Boston and Charlestown, and has a hilly surface. South Boston extends about 2 m. along the S. side of the harbor, an arm of which separates it from Boston proper. Near the centre are Dorchester heights, which attain an elevation of about 130 ft. above the ocean, and afford a fine view of the city, bay, and surrounding country. The surface of Roxbury and Dorchester in many places is rugged and hilly. The original limits of Boston embraced but 690 acres; 1,700 acres were acquired by the addition of South and East Boston, and by filling the surrounding flats; 2,100 by the annexation of Roxbury; 4,800 by the annexation of Dorchester; and 880 by filling flats in other places; making the present area 10,170 acres. The city is connected with Charlestown by the Charles river bridge, 1,603 ft. long, and the Warren bridge,