Suffolk County

Suffolk County is an administrative territory in eastern Massachusetts that includes the cities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and the town of Winthrop along Massachusetts Bay. The area stretches across land and water and reaches from the coast to the riverbanks of the Charles River and the Mystic River.

The administrative unit was created in May 1643 as one of the first three counties of Massachusetts and originally included Roxbury, Dorchester, Dedham, Braintree, Weymouth, and Hingham. Since 1999 there has been no independent county government and state agencies take over the formerly local duties.

The county takes its name from Suffolk in England and reflects the colonial roots of the region. Today people from around the world live in its neighborhoods and shape daily life with their different traditions and languages.

The individual municipalities within the territory govern themselves and each has its own rules for public facilities and services. Travelers find different offerings in the various cities and should check locally for opening times and access options.

More than half of the area consists of water and this includes parts of Boston Harbor and sections of two major rivers. These waterways shape not only the landscape but also the way people live and move around here.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1643

Capital city: Boston

Shares border with: Essex County, Norfolk County, Middlesex County

GPS coordinates: 42.33495,-71.07349

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:01