Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, founded in 1630 by settlers from England. Today, Boston is a thriving port city.  The Boston area's many colleges and universities make it an international center of higher education, including law, medicine, engineering, and business, and the city is considered to be a world leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, with nearly 2,000 startups. Boston's economic base also includes finance, professional and business services, biotechnology, information technology, and government activities. Households in the city claim the highest average rate of philanthropy in the United States; businesses and institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and investment. The city has one of the highest costs of living in the United States as it has undergone gentrification, though it remains high on world livability rankings. Upon gaining independence from Great Britain, Boston continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a center for education and culture. Its rich history attracts many tourists, with Faneuil Hall alone drawing more than 20 million visitors per year. Boston's many firsts include the United States' first public park (Boston Common, 1634), first public or state school (Boston Latin School, 1635) and first subway system (Tremont Street Subway, 1897). Boston is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. It also the most populous city in New England.  Greater Boston is home to 4.8 million people.  The wider commuting region is home to some 8.2 million people, making it the sixth most populous in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston