What major towns were built around in New England?

The correct answer is the commons, which refers to a public space designed for the community's use and often found at the center of many towns in New England. These areas served as gathering places for socialization, markets, and community events, effectively fostering a sense of community among settlers. Towns would often develop around these commons, as they provided essential space for agricultural fairs, religious gatherings, and town meetings, reflecting the communal lifestyle of many New England settlers.

In contrast, while waterways and trade routes played significant roles in the development of some New England towns, they were not the central feature around which towns were specifically built. Similarly, mountains influenced settlement patterns, particularly in terms of resources and geography, but they did not serve as the focal point for town development in the same way that commons did.