Don't Draw A Line If You Don't Have To

Most Bostonians have no idea where neighborhood boundaries start or end, thanks to a multitude of neighborhood maps.

1 minute read

July 26, 2004, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"In Boston, neighborhood boundaries are especially fluid because no one wants to risk offending anyone by nailing them down.

Different agencies map Boston differently. There are maps for urban planning and maps for counting population. Boston also has neighborhood guidelines for distributing residential parking stickers, but a sticker alone won't determine whether you live in Allston or Brighton, the South End, or the Back Bay."

"Neighborhood map makers have a similar creed: 'Don't draw a line if you don't have to.' "

Thanks to Tom Smith

Sunday, July 25, 2004 in The Boston Globe

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