C h a n g e  o f  A d d r e s s USPS Online Address Change     C o u n t y Suffolk     A r e a   C o d e 617 - Boston & Immediate Vicinity 508, 781, and 978 - Outlying Boston Suburbs   G e o g r a p h y The Boston Metropolitan Area (Greater Boston) includes Suffolk County and parts of Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester Counties. Boston is the capital of Massachusetts. This area is located along the shores of Massachusetts Bay where the Charles and Mystic Rivers enter Boston Harbor on the eastern coast of Massachusetts. A natural harbor, dotted with 30 islands, Boston is one of the world's best ports. Elevation of the city averages 21 feet above sea level. The original city was located on a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow neck of land and contained 783 acres. Since then, the acreage has been increased four times by filling in bays, coves and inlets, and today the total area of Boston is slightly over 43 square miles. The city is composed of nine geographical subdivisions which were originally nine separate municipalities: Boston Proper (the original city), East Boston, South Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Brighton, West Roxbury, Charlestown and Hyde Park. Greater Boston (including Boston) encompasses more than a hundred cities and towns covering an area of over 1,000 square miles. The entire area consists of small, highly industrialized centers with surrounding suburban communities, but each city and town retains its link with early America through its excellent museums and by preserving historic buildings and places. The Boston suburban areas are divided into sections: North Shore, South Shore, North, South and West. The coastline of the North Shore area is rocky and the sea rather wild, while the South Shore has a more gentle coastline and the water is warmer. Terrain to the north and west of Boston is hillier than that to the south of the city.   C l i m a t e Boston's east coast location has a moderating effect on extreme temperatures. Average temperatures range from 4°F to 98°F. Average annual precipitation totals approximately 38 inches of rainfall and five inches of snowfall. Average relative humidity is 70% during the evening and morning hours and 55% to 60% during the afternoon.   P o p u l a t i o n City: 574,283 Metro Area: 2,870,500   G o v e r n m e n t City - Mayor/Council County Seat - Boston Information about city and county government policies and procedures can be obtained from: Boston City Hall - 1 City Hall Square, Boston 02108, 635-4000, www.ci.boston.ma.us/ Suffolk County Courthouse - Pemberton Square, Boston 02108, 725-8000   T a x e s Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. For information contact the City Assessing Department, phone 635-4287.   L i c e n s e s State auto and driver licenses may be obtained from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, phone 351-4500 (From 617 / 781 Area) or 800-858-3926 (From 413 / 508 / 978 Area). Branch Offices Galleria Mall License Express, 100 Cambridgeside Place, Cambridge 02141 8 Cummins Highway, Roslindale 02131 Pet All dogs must be licensed, have health certificates, and rabies and distemper shots. Boston and most of the suburbs have leash laws requiring dogs to be kept under control at all times. Information may be obtained by contacting the city or town hall of residence.   E c o n o m y   &   E m p l o y m e n t Boston is the principal marketplace of New England. The area has a diversified economy based on manufacturing, research, high technology, construction, transportation, printing and publishing, government and educational employment, real estate, finance, insurance, tourism and the wholesale, retail and service industries. For information about current employment opportunities in the area, contact: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Employment & Training Department, Government Center, 19 Staniford Street, Boston 02114, 727-6560   H o u s i n g Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspaper, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information.   U t i l i t i e s Water - Boston Water & Sewer Commission, 425 Summer Street, Boston 02210, 330-9400 (Several suburban communities operate their own water departments. For information, contact the city or town hall.) Gas - Boston Gas, 469-2300 Electric - Boston Edison Company, 800 Boylston Street, Boston 02199, 800-592-2000 Some of the Greater Boston municipalities have their own electric plants. Inquire at the local town hall. Phone - Bell Atlantic, 800-870-9999   E d u c a t i o n Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from the Boston School District, 26 Court Street, Boston 02108, 635-9000. Colleges/Universities There are approximately 50 colleges and universities in the greater Boston area, 27 within the Boston city limits. Public A few of the colleges and universities include: University of Massachusetts at Boston, Bunker Hill Community College, Massachusetts College of Art, Roxbury Community College and Middlesex Community College in Bedford. Private Among the schools located in Boston are the Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural Center, Boston University, Emerson College, Emmanuel College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Allied Health Sciences, New England Conservatory of Music, Northeastern University, Simmons College, Tufts University-Boston Campus and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are located in Cambridge. In addition to degree-granting colleges and universities, Greater Boston has numerous business, technical, professional and special interest schools.   B a n k s Financial services are offered by 20 commercial banks, 10 savings and loans, six trust companies and 29 credit unions. In order to transfer credit information, ask your present banker for assistance. New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores will not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards.   P l a c e s   o f   W o r s h i p Greater Boston has a number of synagogues and churches of every denomination, some of them dating from pre-Revolutionary days. Information concerning them may be obtained from the following: Archdiocese of Boston, Chancery Office, 2121 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton 02135, 783-5081 Massachusetts Council of Churches, 14 Beacon Street, Boston 02108, 523-2771 Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, 177 Tremont Street, Boston 02111, 426-2139   N e w s p a p e r s Most of the Greater Boston communities have their own weekly newspapers and a few of them have dailies. In addition to the daily newspapers, Boston has many weeklies, foreign language and special group publications. The Associated Press and United Press International have offices in Boston. Major Boston papers available daily in the entire metropolitan area include Boston Globe (mornings and Sunday), Boston Herald (mornings and Sunday) and Christian Science Monitor (mornings). For home delivery, contact: Boston Globe, 135 William T. Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester 02109, 929-2000 Boston Herald, One Herald Square, Boston 02106, 426-3000 Christian Science Monitor, 1 Norway Street, Boston 02115, 450-2000   L i b r a r y Boston Main Public Library, 666 Boylston Street, Boston 02116, 536-5400, www.bpl.org In addition to the main library, the metropolitan area has more than 27 branch libraries. There are many private libraries in the city, and the various colleges and universities in Greater Boston have library facilities.   M e d i c a l   C a r e Boston is one of the leading medical research centers in the U.S. The Boston Metropolitan Area has more than 100 general and specialty hospitals. A few of the hospitals located in Boston are Beth Israel Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Medical Center, New England Baptist Hospital, St. Elizabeth's Hospital and a Veterans Administration Hospital. The area also has numerous clinics, medical centers and nursing homes. For Medicare information, contact one of the Social Security Administration offices listed below; phone 800-772-1213 for information. Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Federal Building, 10 Causeway, Boston 02222 209 Harvard, Brookline 02146 240 Elm, Cambridge 02139 80 Everett Avenue, Chelsea 02150 540 Gallivan Boulevard, Dorchester 02124 4200 Washington Street, Roslindale 02131 2315 Washington Street, Roxbury 02119   O r g a n i z a t i o n s A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book, or your present chapter can usually refer you to the local organization in your new city.   C u l t u r e Greater Boston has numerous cultural opportunities. There are historic sites, museums, art festivals, opera guilds, symphony orchestras, music shells and bandstands, choral clubs, singing societies, concerts, Little Theater groups, a summer theater and art centers. Many of the college and university cultural events are open to the public.   R e c r e a t i o n Metropolitan Boston has several thousand acres devoted to parks and recreation, including Boston Common and the Boston Public Gardens. The Parks and Recreation departments sponsor supervised year-round programs of activities for young and old. In Boston phone 635-4505 for information. In the suburbs, contact the Recreation Department in the town of residence. There are excursion boats to Georges Island and Nantasket, sails among the historic harbor islands, deep sea fishing trips, motor tours of Boston and the suburbs, indoor and drive-in theaters, horseback riding, bowling, fine restaurants, night clubs, and a host of other activities. Organized sports include major league baseball (Boston Red Sox), basketball (Celtics), football (New England Patriots), ice hockey (Bruins), and athletic events of the colleges, public and private schools, and several athletic clubs and organizations. Among the many places of special interest in Greater Boston are Boston Common, Old North Church, State House, Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House and Granary Burying Ground.   S h o p p i n g Boston has numerous malls, shopping centers and neighborhood shopping areas. Among the major retail centers are Downtown Crossing, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Quincy Market, the Back Bay, Copley Place, Harvard Square in Cambridge and Chestnut Hill Mall in Newton. Major Retail Outlets Ames, Bloomingdale's, Ann & Hope, Bradlees, Brooks, Caldor's, CVS, Family Dollar, Filene's, Jordan Marsh, K-Mart, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Lord & Taylor, Neiman-Marcus, Osco, J.C. Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Woolworth. Chain Grocers Amigo's, Angelo's, Christy's, Convenient Food Mart, Cumberland Farms, Dairy Mart, DeMoulas, Li'l Peach, Purity, Shaw's, Star, Stop & Shop, Tedeschi Food Shops and White Hen Pantry.   T r a n s p o r t a t i o n The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides subways, trolleys, buses, commuter trains, commuter boats and vans for riders with special needs. Phone 222-3200 during business hours for routes, fares and schedules. Riders with special needs phone 222-5123. The MBTA also contracts with Amtrak to provide commuter rail service from the north and south stations. Taxicab and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is offered by numerous bus lines, Amtrak, commercial airlines and passenger steamships. Logan International Airport, across the harbor from Boston, is within a ten-minute (two-mile) drive of Boston's downtown section. There is direct rapid transit from the airport to downtown. The airport is served by both national and international airlines. The Port of Boston is the oldest major port in the U.S. and the principal seaport for the New England area.   C h a m b e r  o f  C o m m e r c e Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, One Beacon Street - 4th Floor, Boston 02108-3114, 227-4500, www.boston-chamber.com       A d d i t i o n a l  I n f o r m a t i o n SUBURBIA The Boston suburbs are divided into sections: North Shore, North and Northwest, West, South and Southwest, and South Shore. Each community stands independently. Each has its own school system; most have shopping centers, good roads and easy access to the area expressways, and many have commuter service to Boston. Many of the towns still have a country atmosphere and some still retain the village green which was so much a part of early colonial life. The Boston suburbs and their area codes are listed below. Due to recent area code changes, please check with www.555-1212.com to find the most current area code for your town. NORTH SHORE COMMUNITIES Beverly (978), Chelsea (617), Danvers (978), Essex (978), Gloucester (978), Hamilton (978), Ipswich (978), Lynn (781), Manchester (978), Marblehead (781), Peabody (978), Revere (781), Rockport (978), Salem (978), Saugus (781), Swampscott (781), Wenham (978), Winthrop (617) NORTH AND NORTHWEST Acton (978), Andover (978), Arlington (781), Ayer (978), Bedford (781), Billerica (978), Boxborough (978), Boxford (978), Burlington (781), Carlisle (978), Chelmsford 978), Concord (978), Everett (617), Harvard (978), Lawrence (978), Lexington (781), Lincoln (781), Littleton (978), Lowell (978), Lynnfield (781), Malden (781), Medford (781), Melrose (781), Middleton (978), North Andover (978), North Reading (978), Reading (781), Somerville (617), Stoneham (781), Tewksbury (978), Topsfield (978), Wakefield (781), Westford (978), Winchester (781), Woburn (781) WEST Ashland (508), Belmont (617), Brookline (617), Cambridge (617), Framingham (508), Hopkinton (508), Hudson (978), Marlborough (508), Maynard (978), Natick (508), Needham (781), Newton (617), Southborough (508), Stow (978), Sudbury (978), Waltham (781), Watertown (617), Wayland 508), Wellesley (781), Weston (781) SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST Avon (508), Abington (781), Brookline (617), Canton (781), Dedham (781), Dover (508), Holbrook (781), Holliston (508), Medfield (508), Millis (508), Milton (617), Norfolk (508), Norwood (781), Randolph (781), Sharon (781), Sherborn (508), Stoughton (781), Walpole (508), Westwood (781) SOUTH SHORE Braintree (781), Cohasset (781), Duxbury (781), Hanover (781), Hingham (781), Marshfield (781), Norwell (781), Pembroke (781), Quincy (617), Rockland (781), Scituate (781), Weymouth (781)