Which city is associated with the development of the first subway system?

• A. Boston, Massachusetts
• B. New York, New York
• C. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• D. Chicago, Illinois

Answer: (A)

Recognizing where the first subway system was developed helps you see how cities moved from street-level transit to underground networks. Boston is the correct city here because it opened the Tremont Street Subway in 1897, the first subway in the United States. This milestone proved that electric-powered trains could run safely through underground tunnels and carry many passengers, shaping how urban transit would evolve. New York later followed with its own subway starting in 1904, building a much larger system, while Philadelphia and Chicago developed underground or rapid-transit components after Boston. So, among these options, Boston stands out as the earliest example.