Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
1859

CAMBRIDGE, a town in the state of Massachusetts, U.S., 3 m. NW of Boston and 431 m. from Washington, in N lat. 42 23, W long. 71 08. It is composed of three portions: Old Cambridge, the seat of the university; Cambridge Port, about half=way between the university and the bridge to Boston; and E Cambridge, or Lechmere's Point, the seat of the court-house. It is one of the oldest towns in New England, having been incorporated by the name of Newton in 1630, but took its present name in 1639. It is connected with Boston by Cambridge and Canal bridges, and by the viaduct of the Lowell railway; with Charlestown, by Prison point bridge. It is a large, handsome, pleasant town, though not so elevated as some of the neighbouring places. It contains a jail, a state arsenal, 3 banks, 5 churches, and numerous manufacturies of various kinds. Cambridge was an important place in the early history of the country. At the commencement of the Revolution, 20,000 militia were collected here; and in 1885 Gen. Washington arrived here, and took the command of the American army. The first printing-press was established in this town in 1639; and the first work printed was 'the Freeman's Oath.' Pop. in 1845, 12,490...

A Gazetteer of the World: Or, Dictionary of Geographical Knowledge, Publisher A. Fullarton, 1859

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