Massachusetts
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| State nickname: Bay State | |||||
Other U.S. States |
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| Capital | Boston | ||||
| Largest City | Boston | ||||
| Area - Total - Land - Water - % water |
Ranked 44th 27,360 km2 20,317 km2 7,043 km2 25.7% | ||||
| Population
- Total (2000) - Density |
Ranked 13th
6,349,097 232/km2 | ||||
| Admittance into Union
- Order - Date | 6th February 6, 1788 | ||||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | ||||
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Latitude Longitude |
41°10'N to 42°53'N 68°57'W to 73°30'W | ||||
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Width Length Elevation -Highest -Mean -Lowest |
80 km 305 km 1,063 meters 150 meters 0 meters | ||||
| ISO 3166-2: | US-MA | ||||
Massachusetts is a state of the United States of America, part of the New England region. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is MA. It is properly called the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, although there is no legal distinction between states and commonwealths.
Several ships have been named USS Massachusetts in honor of this state.
The colony was named after a local Indian tribe whose name means "a large hill place". The Pilgrims established their settlement at Plymouth in 1620, arriving on the Mayflower. They were soon followed by the Puritans, who established the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Massachusetts was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution.
On February 9, 1775 the British Parliament declared Massachusetts to be in rebellion and sent additional troops to restore order.
An African-American named Crispus Attucks was one of the first Americans killed during the American Revolutionary War, in Boston on March 5, 1770, at an event that has come to be called the Boston Massacre.
On February 6, 1788 Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Massachusetts contains many historic houses (See Historic houses in Massachusetts for more details).
See also: Patriot's Day
The capital of Massachusetts is Boston and the governor of the state is Mitt Romney. Its two U.S. senators are Edward M. Kennedy (Democrat) and John F. Kerry (Democrat).
Massachusetts is bordered on the north by New Hampshire and Vermont, on the west by New York, on the south by Connecticut and Rhode Island, and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket lie off the southeast coast. Boston is the largest city.
Massachusetts total gross state product for 1999 was $262 billion, placing it 11th in the nation. Its Per Capita Personal Income is $37,992 or second in the nation.
Its agricultural outputs are seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, cranberries, and vegetables. Its industrial outputs are machinery, electric equipment, scientific instruments, printing and publishing, and tourism. Other sectors vital to the Massachusetts economy include higher education, health care, and financial services.
Population: 6,349,097
History
Law and Government
See: Massachusetts Constitution
See: List of Massachusetts GovernorsGeography
See: List of Massachusetts countiesEconomy
Demographics
All numbers from the 2000 census
White: 84.5%
Black or African American: 5.4%
Asian: 3.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2%
Other Race: 3.8%
Two or more races: 3.7%Important Cities and Towns
Massachusetts cities and towns of historical or cultural importance include Boston, Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford, Lowell, Cambridge, Lynn, Salem, Concord, Amherst, Northampton, Pittsfield, Barnstable (the major city of Cape Cod), and Provincetown. Massachusetts law maintains a distinction between "cities" and "towns"; the largest town is Framingham. The principle difference between a city and a town is that a city is headed by a mayor and a town is headed by a board of selectmen.Small towns
Massachusetts cities and towns also include Alford, Aquinnah, Gosnold, Monroe, Mount Washington, and New Ashford, each of which had a population of less than 400 in the 2000 census.
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Two-year colleges
Famous Politicians and Public Figures from Massachusetts
Professional Sports Teams
Massachusetts recognizes three official state songs:
State songs
External links
