Editing New Boston, Illinois (section)

==Geography==
New Boston is located on the western edge of Mercer County and the state of Illinois at {{coord|41|10|10|N|90|59|48|W|type:city}} (41.169570, -90.996709).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It sits on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]], at the mouth of Boston Bay and its inflow, Eliza Creek. Across the river is the state of [[Iowa]] and the mouth of the [[Iowa River]],<ref>[http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=41.17031&lon=-90.99681&datum=nad83&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=100 Topozone]</ref> while {{convert|5|mi|0}} upstream on the Mississippi is [[Lock and Dam No. 17]].

[[Illinois Route 17]] has its western terminus in New Boston and leads east {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Aledo, Illinois|Aledo]], the Mercer [[county seat]]. The closest road crossing of the Mississippi is {{convert|19|mi}} to the north at [[Muscatine, Iowa]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], New Boston has a total area of {{convert|1.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.94|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 32.98%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

Much of the natural area surrounding New Boston is part of the [[Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge]]. The river valley at New Boston is surrounded on both sides by gently rolling bluffs interspersed with rich parcels of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat, especially for [[migratory birds]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/midwest/PortLouisa/louisa.html |title=Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge: Louisa Division |website=www.fws.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223021431/http://www.fws.gov/midwest/PortLouisa/louisa.html |archive-date=2005-02-23}}</ref>