Decline and urban renewal. Conflict over schools. Building boom

Decline and urban renewal. During the 1940's and 1950's, a new system of highways and expressways was built in and around Boston. But the business district and some neighborhoods in the city declined. Thousands of families and businesses moved to the suburbs. Boston's population dropped from more than 800,000 in 1950 to about 563,000 in 1980.

A large-scale urban renewal program began in the early 1960's. The city, state, and federal governments spent about $ 465 million to improve more than 2,500 acres (1,010 hectares) of land. The program included the construction of Government Center and Prudential Center and the remodeling of run-down housing in many neighborhoods. A major building and restoration program began in the residential section just south of the downtown area in the mid-1970's.

Conflict over schools. In June 1974, a federal court ruled that the Boston School Committee had deliberately maintained racial segregation in the city's public school system. The court ordered the immediate desegregation of Boston's public schools.

But in the fall, more than 10 percent of the city's public school students did not register for classes. Many who registered stayed away after fights broke out between blacks and whites in school and on nearby streets. A total integration program begun in September 1975 required the busing of over a fourth of Boston's public school students. Some white parents protested violently and enrolled their children in private schools.

In the 1990's, state and city officials pressed school reform efforts, and public school enrollment began to grow again. In 1999, the Boston School Committee voted to end race-based school busing.

Building boom. In the early 1980's, Boston's downtown area experienced a construction boom. A number of office and residential buildings went up. The new construction, combined with the high cost of commuting and Boston's lowered property taxes, made city living attractive. The decline in Boston's population stopped. By 1990, the population had reached 574,283.

Work began in the early 1990's on an enormous and costly public works project that was called the "Big Dig." The goal of the project was to replace the elevated 6-lane Central Artery, the section of Interstate 93 that cut through downtown, with an underground highway of 8 to 10 lanes. Plans called for the development of park areas on the land where the Central Artery stood.

One phase of the project was completed in 1995 when the Ted Williams Tunnel under Boston Harbor opened. The tunnel, named for the famous Boston Red Sox ballplayer, connected the Massachusetts Turnpike with Logan International Airport.

Developments in the early 2000's. By 2000, Boston's population had increased to 589,141. The groundbreaking for a massive new convention center in South Boston took place in 2000. Work also began on a residential and office development along Boston Harbor between the convention center and downtown Boston. These major construction projects, the Big Dig, and thriving businesses provided many jobs for Boston workers.