Definition of boarding house

The phrase "boarding house" can be traced back to the early 19th century, when the concept of providing lodging and food to travelers or workers became popular in urban areas. The term "boarding" refers to the provision of meals, while the word "house" denotes a private residence where these accommodations were offered. In the past, inns and taverns served as primary nightly stops for travelers, as they were typically located near major roads and transportation hubs. However, as industrialization and urbanization spread, the demand for accommodations closer to places of employment increased. Boarding houses responded to this need, as they offered more affordable and convenient alternatives to pricey hotels and crowded lodging houses. The concept of boarding houses gained wider popularity in the mid-19th century, as Morely's Cholera Handbook, a public health manual, recommended that families suffering from infectious diseases should live in separate isolated houses to avoid spreading the disease. Since boarding houses offered affordable and separate living quarters, they were ideal places for such families to recover. Today, while boarding houses still exist, the term has evolved to include a variety of accommodations, including student housing, workforce housing, and senior living communities, in addition to temporary lodging for travelers. However, the original definition of a private residence that provides meals and lodging to people remains at its core.