If you’ve heard of Harvard University, MIT, Harvard Square, Julia Childs, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck, you’ve probably heard of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cambridge is a geographically small place with big things happening. Here is some information about Cambridge:

Cambridge was founded in 1630 and incorporated as a city in 1846. In 1630 the settlement was named Newtowne, and the name was changed to Cambridge in 1638. A person from Cambridge is called a Cantabrian. The oldest house in Cambridge is the Cooper-Frost-Austin house on Linnaean Street, and the timber used to build it dates to 1682.

Cambridge is separated from Boston by two bridges, the Longfellow Bridge and the Harvard Bridge. Cambridge is about 6.4 square miles in size and has a population of about 106,000 people.

There are several squares in Cambridge: Harvard Square, Kendall Square, Central Square, Porter Square, Inman Square, and Union Square. Cambridge has been referred to as a “City of Squares”. Each of the squares has its own setting and outstanding restaurants and entertainment venues that make it unique. Most people prefer the square that best suits their personality.

There is varied architecture in Cambridge dating from the 1600s to the present day. You can see apartment buildings from every decade, old Victorian houses, modern condo complexes, and brick tower houses covered in ivy next to a modern house that was just finished yesterday, all within a block of each other. There are many lovely brick-paved side streets lined with the most luxuriant gardens, and then, when you walk five houses down, you are on bustling, modern, and very busy Massachusetts Avenue. Massachusetts Avenue is called Mass Ave. by the locals, beginning in the Dorchester section of Boston and stretching 16 miles through many cities and towns.

Getting around Cambridge is very easy using public transportation, which is called the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). The Red Line branch of the transit system has several stops in Cambridge: Kendall, Central, Harvard, Porter, and Alewife. There is also a stop for the Purple Line at Porter Square, and this is a commuter train that goes back to Boston or out to the western suburbs of Massachusetts. Numerous buses can take you anywhere and are also a good alternative if you prefer to stay above ground and avoid the metro. The area is very good for walking and cycling as well.

MIT and Harvard are the two biggest employers in Cambridge, as you can well imagine. Population also reflects their presence in the community. There is a large and diverse student population here, as well as a large population of faculty and other university staff who live throughout the city. This mix of people creates an intellectually stimulating and youthful environment where there is always something exciting going on.

Cultures of all kinds are alive and well and live in Cambridge. There are restaurants from almost any country you can think of. There are theaters, live music venues, street performers, art galleries, and many other types of artistic activities to suit all tastes.

Cambridge is a great place to add to your vacation list, especially if you’re planning a visit to Boston; it’s just a little over two miles away. Cambridge is also an interesting and very convenient place to live. Maybe one day I’ll find you in Cambridge, Massachusetts!