So, You Want to Measure Boston with a Really Big Ruler? How Many Square Feet of History Are We Talking?
Let's face it, Boston is a walkable city, but strapping on a pedometer to measure its entire footprint? No thanks. We need a more precise (and way less tiring) way to figure out just how much space this historic hub occupies.
The Land vs. The Sea: The Boston Area Breakdown
Boston isn't afraid to get a little wet. The city itself is a mix of land and water, with 48.4 square miles (125.4 square kilometers) dedicated to dry ground and a cool 41.2 square miles (106.7 square kilometers) being the domain of Boston Harbor and its surrounding waters.
That means if you're planning on building a giant inflatable bouncy castle over the entire city (hey, no judgement here), you'd need a whopper of a pump.
But Wait, There's More! The Greater Boston sprawl
Hold your horses, map enthusiasts! Boston isn't just an island (quite literally, in this case). The greater metropolitan area stretches its tendrils outwards, encompassing cities and towns like Cambridge and Somerville. This whole buzzing metropolis comes in at a whopping 89.63 square miles (232.1 square kilometers).
Fun Fact: That's roughly the size of 143,250 football fields. Although, fitting that many football games into Boston might lead to some serious traffic jams.
So, How Many Square Feet is Boston REALLY?
Here's the thing: since Boston has a healthy dose of water mixed in, measuring the whole city in square feet gets a little tricky. There's a reason we use square miles!
But if you just want a ballpark number (pun intended) for the land area, we can do some quick converting. There are 5,280 square feet in a square mile, so:
- Land area of Boston in square feet: 48.4 square miles * 5280 square feet/square mile = 256,992,000 square feet (approximately)
Phew! That's a Lot of Freedom Trail
There you have it! Now you can impress your friends with your knowledge of Boston's square footage, or maybe use it to settle a friendly wager. Just remember, this doesn't include the personal space bubbles of all those tourists on Newbury Street.
How-To FAQ on Boston and Square Footage:
- How do I measure the water area of Boston? Grab a kayak and a very waterproof measuring tape. (Not recommended)
- How big is the greater Boston metropolitan area? That would be 89.63 square miles, my friend.
- How many square feet is my house in Boston? That one's on you to measure, buddy.
- Can I walk across the entire land area of Boston? Sure, if you've got some serious walking shoes and a couple of days to spare.
- Is there a giant inflatable bouncy castle over Boston? Sadly, no. But that's a fantastic idea for a future city-wide celebration.
