Mayor Thomas M. Menino has again made history, extending his streak as the city’s longest serving mayor by winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive term, deflecting scathing campaign trail criticism and decisively rolling over challenger Michael Flaherty.

“To my campaign leadership, all the staff, hundreds of volunteers, thank you for spreading our positive message and for turning Beantown into greentown,” Menino said last night, referring to his green campaign signs.

Menino, 66, was the first to win four terms and has now won a record fifth four-year term that will keep him in office until 2013.

A former city councilor who began his political career as a driver for former state Sen. Joe Timilty, Menino downplayed the historic nature of his victory, saying, “We haven’t made history with this election, but we will with what we create of it.”

Menino garnered roughly 57 percent of the 109,000 votes to Flaherty’s 42 percent, according to unofficial numbers posted by the city last night.

Flaherty called the mayor and conceded defeat at 9:15 p.m. At Venezia restaurant in Dorchester, Flaherty, 40, hinted at a rematch, saying he told the mayor during his concession call, “Let’s do this again in four years.”

At the Fairmont Copley hotel, smiling Menino supporters slipped on long-sleeved white shirts that read “Mayor Menino ’09” on the back and “History Made” on the front in green lettering with the word “Five” down the sleeve, in honor of his fifth term.

“I wanted to deliver one for you so badly today,” Flaherty told disappointed backers. He added, “This is not the end. What we’ve learned tonight is that change takes time.”

The loss leaves Flaherty, a South Boston lawyer and former prosecutor, out of Boston politics for the first time in a decade. Flaherty had been groomed for a mayoral run for years and defeated upstart Councilor Sam Yoon, a favorite among progressives, in the preliminary. In a bid to bolster his campaign and court the progressive vote, Flaherty cut a deal with Yoon to join his team in exchange for being deputy mayor in a Flaherty administration.

Former councilor and Menino challenger Peggy Davis-Mullen said, “Clearly the people of this city are very comfortable with the mayor. As long as he’s been in there he’s made people feel secure.”

Menino has evaded major scandal throughout his 16-year reign, including sidestepping a campaign trail flap over e-mails illegally deleted from his top aide’s City Hall computer, some of which may be tied to the bribery probe of ex-state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.

Menino said the race with Flaherty has “energized” him, but he wouldn’t speculate on seeking a sixth term. He also dismissed opponents’ calls for mayoral term limits, noting that legislation to cap the mayor’s service has lingered on City Hall desks for months.

With the economy still sputtering, Menino pledged to keep property taxes down and search for new revenue. He touted new hotel and meals taxes he implemented, saying the new funds have shifted some of the city’s financial burden off homeowners and onto visitors.

“It’s important to have an administration that knows how to handle these difficult times,” he said. “People thought 2009 was difficult, but I think 2010 will be difficult, too, if not more difficult.”

Sunny, mild weather, combined with a heated mayoral race and a strong field of eight at-large council candidates, contributed to the highest Hub turnout since 1993.

Flaherty waged a fierce street battle against the entrenched incumbent, hammering Menino on schools, the Fire Department’s aging fleet of trucks, heavy-handed city planning and development and crime.