Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/123

View of Boston from the Harbor.

son's, Great Brewster (16 acres), Galloupe's (16 acres), and Apple islands (9^ acres) belong to the city.

The growth of Boston for two centuries was not rapid. There are no exact figures for her population during the first four generations of her existence. It is supposed to have been 7,000 at the close of the 17th cen- tury. In 1742 it was placed at 18,000, pro- bably an exaggeration. In 1764-'5, during the administration of Gov. Bernard, the first colonial census was taken, and under it the population of Boston was returned at 15,520. Mr. Bancroft says the population was " about 16,000 of European origin" at the close of 1768; and Mr. Frothingham puts it at about 17,000 in 1774. If the returns under the census of 1764-'5 were correctly made, Boston was 40 years in doubling her population after that date. The revolution, and the troubles which followed it, retarded her growth. Down to 1790 Boston did not increase so fast in num- bers as the colony, province, or state of which she was or is the capital. The population from that date is shown by the federal censuses as follows: 1790, 18,038; 1800, 24,937; 1810, 33,250; 1820, 43,298; 1830, 61,392; 1840, 93,383; 1850, 136,881; I860, 177,840; 1870, 250,526. The increase during the last decade is largely due to the annexation of Roxbury in 1867, which now constitutes the 13th, 14th, and loth wards, containing 34,772 inhabitants, and of Dorchester in 1869, now forming the 16th ward, with 12,259 inhabitants. The character of the population has much changed during the last 30 years. Formerly it contain- ed but few foreigners. In 1870 there were 162,540 native, 87,986 foreign, 247,013 white, and 3,496 colored. Of the native population, 127,617 were born in Massachusetts; of the foreign, 56,900 were natives of Ireland, 13,818 of British America, 5,978 of England, 5,606 of Germany, 1,795 of Scotland, and 615 of France. Of the total population, 17,487 over 10 years of age were unable to read and 23,420 over 10 years of age were unable to write; of the latter, 21,993 were foreign and 1,427 native- born.

The legal division of the city is into 16 wards, but usage has divided it into certain districts. North Boston, or " the North End," is the oldest part of the place, and still retains much of the irregular appearance that charac- terized it in colonial times. Many old build- ings yet stand there, but change is steadily going on. The North End comprises the larger portion of the Boston which makes so grand a figure in our revolutionary history. West Boston is mostly new, and contains the " fash- ionable quarter " of the town. It lies between Canal street and the Common, and west of Tre- mont and Hanover streets. It contains many public edifices, among which are the state house, the city hall, and the building of the Boston Athensum. Most of the houses are of brick or stone, and many are costly and ele- fant. It contains many historical sites. " The outh End " included before the annexation all that part of Boston which lies to the south of Winter and Summer streets, and running to Roxbury, now known as Boston Highlands. South Boston was originally the N. E. part of the town of Dorchester, and was annexed to Boston in 1804, except Washington Village, which was annexed in 1855. It has increased rapidly, and its appearance is strikingly differ' ent from that of old Boston, being open, airy, and cheerful. It forms ward 12, and contains 19,880 inhabitants. East Boston dates from 1832. Together with the islands in the bar-