Town Profile - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Distance from New York City and recreation areas
Cambridge sits directly across the Charles River from Boston and is approximately 212 miles from New York City. Cambridge is approximately an hour and a half drive from Cape Cod, and an hour and a half drive from central New Hampshire recreation areas.

Town Size
Land Area: 6.43 sq. miles
Total Area: 7.13 sq. miles

Population
Population: 101,355 (cy2000)
Density: 15,768 per square mile
Households: 42,615

Parks & Recreation
Cambridge Parks and Recreation web site

Private Clubs (closest)
Harvard Faculty Club
Cambridge Boat Club

Shopping
Harvard Square in Cambridge has long been a destination spot for shoppers. There is a wonderful range of specialty shops to be found in Harvard Square, as well as in Porter Square, Davis Square, Inman Square and Central Square. Boston's Newbury Street, Chestnut Hill Mall and Coolidge Corner are each a short drive from Cambridge.

School Information
MCAS scores - Click to view MCAS scores for Cambridge

Public school web site

Private Schools
Private schools located in Cambridge include Buckingham Browne and Nichols, Cambridge Friends School, and Shady Hill. View list of all private schools in MA.

Colleges close to Cambridge
Cambridge is the home of the oldest educational institution in America, Harvard University, as well as the equally well-known and respected Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Many other fine colleges and universities are located in Cambridge, including Cambridge College, Lesley University, and the Longy School of Music. For more info on nearby colleges and universities go here.

Cambridge History and Landmarks
Founded in 1631 by the 700 original Puritan colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the city of Cambridge was originally named Newe Towne (c. 1632), but was later renamed for the famous English university. The original settlement site is in the heart of today's Harvard Square. Portions of Cambridge eventually became independent towns, including Newton (Cambridge Village), Lexington (Cambridge Farms), Arlington (West Cambridge) and Brighton (Little Cambridge).

During the American Revolution farms and estates comprised most of the town. A small elite group of Anglican landowners lived in mansions along Brattle Street, still known as Tory Row. George Washington arrived from Virginia in 1775 to take command of fledgling volunteer American soldiers, who were camped on the Cambridge Common. The Common, which is today a beautiful, leafy park, is called the birthplace of the U.S. Army; the nearby Sheraton Commander Hotel takes it name from this same event. Most of the Tory estates on Brattle Street were confiscated after the Revolution, and one can still see many spectacular mansions along this famous street.

Cambridge is an especially beautiful city because of the wonderful vistas afforded by the winding Charles River. Elegant bridges span the river at several points and lively sailboat and crew boats dot the river almost year-round.

Official Cambridge, MA website

Landmarks
Cambridge Common
Harvard Square
Brattle Street/Tory Row
Longfellow House
Mt. Auburn Cemetery
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology