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Boston Testing Guide

The city of Boston is the capital and also the largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is seated in the northeastern part of United States in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Also being the largest city in New England, Boston is the region’s economic and cultural center with an estimated population of more than 500,000 in 2007. The city’s center located in the Cambridge-Boston-Quincy area is the 10th largest metropolitan area in the country with a population of about 4.5 million.

Colleges and universities in Boston contribute much to the city and the region’s economic standing. In 2003, it has been reported that these universities and colleges have added almost $4 billion in the city’s revenue. These institutions not only play as key employers but also attract many high technology industries to Boston and the surrounding areas. Several companies located in Boston include EMC Corp. and Analog Devices, VistaPrint and CSN Stores. Boston is also home to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Genzyme, Millipore and Biogen Idec.

Boston is at times referred to as the ‘city of neighborhoods’ due to its abundance of diverse districts. However, there are various overlapping areas considered as neighborhoods by Boston’s locals, parking districts or neighborhood associations. Often, different agencies would make different designations of Boston neighborhoods.

Boston neighborhoods are present in small and larger scales. The areas of Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester Hyde Park, South Boston, Roxbury and West Roxbury used to exist as independent municipalities separate from downtown Boston. Several neighborhood associations are usually formed around smaller communities and commercial areas, and identified as ‘squares’. The naming of certain Boston neighborhoods was also influenced by leveling and city expansion through landfills, which include Back Bay, Fort Point and South Cove.

Boston Neighborhoods

• Downtown Boston is where the city’s financial district, the Government Center and Chinatown are located. Affluent neighborhoods can be found in this area such as the Back Bay area, which is among the country’s wealthiest districts, and the Beacon Hill, the site of the Massachusetts State House. Both neighborhoods are home to famous personalities, politicians and business leaders.

• The South End area of Boston, located south of Back Bay used to be inhabited by middle class merchants and seamen. Currently, it is densely populated by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group because of gentrification. Artists and young professionals also dominate the area, with a majority of White American, Black American, Hispanic and Asian populations respectively. The area is also known for its lively restaurant scene.

• Boston’s North End is famous for its Italian restaurants, though original settlers and owners no longer run the businesses. This vicinity is host to many local religious and cultural festivals.

• East Boston is known for its thriving Hispanic and Brazilian populace with a few older Italian inhabitants. Charlestown, on the north bank of the Charles River is mainly inhabited by Irish societies. Mission Hill, which includes Parker Hill and the northern slope area and lies close to the Longwood Medical district, is home to several reputable medical institutions.

• The Allston or Brighton area is heavily populated by students from the Northeastern University, the Boston University and Boston College.

• South Boston, which is located next to Dorchester, is home to many Irish-Americans. A large population of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Haitians, and Cape Verdeans also live in the area.

• Other neighborhoods in Boston include the Bay Village, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Fenway and Kenmore, Rosindale and West Roxbury.

The information available here was written to serve only as a guide to its readers. It is recommended to do further research on other online resources and reviews on institutions, organizations and topics mentioned. For other inquiries and additional information, visit Boston’s official website, www.cityofboston.gov. For Boston’s public health updates and services, these are following contact information:

• Boston Public Health Commission
1010 Massachusetts Ave, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 534-5395
Fax: (617) 534-5358
(617) 534-9799 TTY

• The City Mayor’s Office
1 City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201-2013
Phone: (617) 635-4500
Fax: (617) 635-2851
E-mail: mayor@cityofboston

• Boston Emergency Medical Services
767 Albany St Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 343-BEMS (2367)
E-mail: BEMSinfo@bostonems.org