How Would YOU Define the Distinct Areas of Massachusetts? (Boston: home, university)

[Japanfan1986]

I read a post on here in the East vs. West thread about how the poster would define it as being 4 areas: Cape Code, Eastern MA (Metro Boston), Central MA, and Western MA. Then I realized the post was 10+ years old so there was no point in replying to it. So I made a thread instead

As for me I’d say at least with Eastern MA, Metro Boston is really it’s own distinct area. You might want to include towns like Newton, Brookline, and Cambridge in it. But to group all of Eastern MA into Metro Boston seems ridiculous. I grew up in Medford and always eye roll when I see people I grew up with claiming to be from Boston. It makes sense for the sake of brevity if you’re meeting someone from a different part of the country who would have no idea where Medford is, but generally it seems to be claimed as a point of pride since Boston is THE city in MA. I don’t even have any particular hometown pride. I’m just a stickler for accuracy

[LTU2]

MA has 16 tourism regions. No. (13) is Hampshire County, which includes Amherst, home of Emily Dickinson. Spent a lot of time there. Also at Harvard University (1) which has an Emily Dickinson room, quite impressive.

https://www.massvacation.com/navigat...rism-councils/

[Boston Shudra]

The Islands, the Cape, the South Coast, the South Shore, the North Shore, MetroWest, Boston, the Merrimack Valley, North County, Worcester, South Central, Pioneer Valley, the Berkshires.

Per wiki: there area also North Quabbin, South Quabbin, and Quaboag regions in the west. I don’t know enough people from the west to know if those names are used.

I also don’t know if there’s an official name for the areas south and southwest of Boston (like everything between and around Millis to Bridgewater).

[yellowstatus]

For ME, there's Cambridge which is the center of MA. Boston city which I rarely visit except to entertain visitors. Then, everywhere else where I don't visit

[in_newengland]

No one's going to agree because a lot of it is based upon where you live and what your own perception is.

I know I'm wrong about this, but having lived in WMass most of my life, I see anything east of the Worcester area as Eastern MA. That's because I'm not very familiar with that part of the state. But I guess there's the Boston area, the south shore, the north shore (don't know what to do about the Cape), then there's central MA, Western MA, and The Berkshires.

[brightdoglover]

Remember the old area code splits? 413 west, 617 east. I was working in Lowell when 508 was added and it messed up all the business cards, etc. I also remember Belmont pushing to stay 617 for the prestige feature. Or something.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Merrimack Valley
Greater Worcester(‘North/South County’)
North Shore
Metro Boston
South Shore
Southeastern
South Coast
Cape and Islands
Pioneer Valley
Berkshires
Five Colleges Area

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Remember the old area code splits? 413 west, 617 east. I was working in Lowell when 508 was added and it messed up all the business cards, etc. I also remember Belmont pushing to stay 617 for the prestige feature. Or something.

I don't recall that happening, but what did happen is Belmont fought the change in zip codes. It is 02478. It was 02178. No idea why that change was made, but people didn't want to replace stationary, haha. Times have changed.

[masssachoicetts]

Boston
North Shore
South Shore
MetroWest
South Coast
Cape and Islands
Merrimack Valley
Worcester Area
College Belt (Springfield-Amherst-Northampton)
Berkshires

However, "Boston" can also be said for anywhere within 20 miles of Boston

[Toxic Waltz]

There's Worcester, then there's the rest of ya.