Newswise — For Boston, 2010 was the hottest year since The Great Fire almost wiped this cradle of American liberty off the map in 1872.

According to statistics released today by the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University, the average temperature in Boston for 2010 was 53.8 degrees. That tops the previous mark of 53.6 reached in 1949, as well as the average temperatures of all other years since records began being kept 138 years ago.

And Boston was not alone in its record heat. Four other cities in New England ¬– Providence, R.I.; Hartford, Conn.; Concord, N.H. and Caribou, Maine – all sweltered through their all-time hottest year in 2010.

"The region averaged 49.2 degrees, which placed 2010 as the fifth warmest year since 1895," said Arthur T. DeGaetano, professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and director of the climate center. "New Hampshire and Rhode Island had their warmest year since record keeping began 116 years ago."

Farther south, the average temperature rose to its second-highest level at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City since records there began being kept a half-century ago. Temperatures at the boardwalk at Atlantic City, N.J., also hit their second-highest mark in more than 130 years of keeping track.

"Seven states were in the top 10 warmest on record," DeGaetano said.

In all, 23 of the 35 cities monitored by the Northeast Regional Climate Center saw the average temperature for 2010 rank among the 10 hottest years on record. The only cool spots, ranking mid-pack by historical standards, were along the Appalachian Mountains from Charleston, W.V. (60th warmest out of 106 years on record), to Pittsburgh, Pa. (68th out of 136 recorded years).

No city in the report set a record low average temperature in 2010.

To see the complete list, go to www.nrcc.cornell.edu.