20090627_boston

The Atlantic Ocean has played an important role throughout Boston's history. Situated on one of the world's finest natural harbors, Boston was once the maritime capital of the colonial United States. Known variously as the birthplace of the American Revolution, the site of New England's largest fleet of clipper ships, meeting place of America's literati, and home of many venerable educational and cultural institutions, Boston remains the largest city in the six New England states. During the 1980s, Boston gained fame as a high technology and defense research center, as well as a good place in which to conduct business. This was in part attributable to the vast network of research facilities connected with schools in the region. Since the economic downturn that occurred in 1988 through 1992, the city has been enjoying an economic recovery, with several large ongoing projects that will improve its infrastructure, including the famous (or to some, infamous) Big Dig. The city remains one of the country's premier tourist attractions. In recent years, various sources have ranked Boston among the best large cities in which to live in the United States.

 

近400年前的17世纪初，英格兰的清教徒们为了逃避欧洲的宗教迫害而来到新英格兰地区时，这片土地上已经有北美的原住民居住。在18世纪，新英格兰是最早表现出从英国统治下独立意志的英属北美殖民地之一——尽管新英格兰地区在后来的英美之间的1812年战争时持反战态度。19世纪，新英格兰在美国的废奴运动中扮演了重要的角色、成为了美国文学和哲学的发源地、最早组织起免费公共教育的地区。同时，它也是北美最早体现出工业革命成果的地区。^[2]

来自新英格兰地区的人常被称为New Englander。新英格兰地区和中大西洋地区合称东北地区。新英格兰地区也是大美国—加拿大东北大西洋区域的一部分。  　　新英格兰，当地华人常称之为“纽英仑”，是位于美国大陆东北角、濒临大西洋、毗邻加拿大的区域。新英格兰地区包括美国的六个州，由北至南分别为：缅因州、新罕布什尔州、佛蒙特州、马萨诸塞州、罗德岛州、康涅狄格州。麻省首府波士顿是该地区的最大城市以及经济与文化中心。