Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a state in the United States of America. Its official name is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 
 
Anthem: All Hail to Massachusetts
Map of the United States with Massachusetts highlighted
Map of the United States with Massachusetts highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodProvince of Massachusetts Bay
Admitted to the UnionFebruary 6, 1788 (6th)
Capital
(and largest city)
Boston
Largest metroGreater Boston
Government
 • GovernorCharlie Baker (R)
 • Lieutenant GovernorKaryn Polito (R)
LegislatureGeneral Court
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Representatives
U.S. senatorsElizabeth Warren (D)
Ed Markey (D)
U.S. House delegation9 Democrats (list)
Area
 • Total10,565[2] sq mi (27,337 km2)
 • Land7,840 sq mi (20,306 km2)
 • Water2,715 sq mi (7,032 km2)  26.1%
 • Rank44th
Elevation
500 ft (150 m)
Highest elevation3,489 ft (1,063.4 m)
Lowest elevation
(Atlantic Ocean)
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total6,892,503
 • Rank15th
 • Density840/sq mi (324/km2)
  • Rank3rd
 • Median household income
$77,385[5]
 • Income rank
5th
Language
 • Official languageEnglish[12]
 • Spoken language
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation
MA
ISO 3166 codeUS-MA
Trad. abbreviationMass.
Latitude41° 14′ N to 42° 53′ N
Longitude69° 56′ W to 73° 30′ W
Websitewww.mass.gov
Massachusetts state symbols
Flag of Massachusetts.svg
Seal of Massachusetts.svg
Living insignia
BirdBlack-capped chickadee,[14] wild turkey[15][16]
FishCod[16][17]
FlowerMayflower[16][18]
InsectLadybug[16][19]
MammalRight whale,[20] Morgan horse,[21] Tabby cat,[22] Boston Terrier[23]
ReptileGarter snake[16][24]
TreeAmerican elm[16][25]
Inanimate insignia
BeverageCranberry juice[16][26]
ColorsBlue, green, cranberry[16][27]
DanceSquare dance[16][28]
FoodCranberry,[29] corn muffin,[16][30] navy bean,[31] Boston cream pie,[32] chocolate chip cookie,[33] Boston cream doughnut[34]
FossilDinosaur Tracks[35]
GemstoneRhodonite[16][36]
MineralBabingtonite[16][37]
PoemBlue Hills of Massachusetts[16][38]
RockRoxbury Puddingstone[16][39]
ShellNew England Neptune, Neptunea lyrata decemcostata[16][42]
ShipSchooner Ernestina [16]
SloganMake It Yours,
The Spirit of America[40]
SoilPaxton[16]
SportBasketball[41]
State route marker
Massachusetts state route marker
State quarter
Massachusetts quarter dollar coin
Released in 2000[43]
Lists of United States state symbols

Its capital and largest city is Boston. It is on the east coast of the United States. It is next to the Atlantic Ocean and the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The word Massachusetts comes from Native American language. It means "place with hills."

Massachusetts was one of the first places that European people lived when they came to America. It was one of the first American colonies. The Pilgrims from Plymouth, England came to America for religious freedom in 1620.

Massachusetts is home to some of the United States more prestigious universities, such as Harvard University. Massachusetts is also one of the richest states in the United States. Its major cities are Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, Springfield, Massachusetts and Plymouth, Massachusetts

Massachusetts is also home to the 6 time Super Bowl winning New England Patriots.

Related pages

References

  1. Herman, Jennifer (2008). Massachusetts Encyclopedia. State History Publications, LLC. p. 7. Various nicknames have been given to describe Massachusetts, including the Bay State, the Old Bay State, the Pilgrim State, the Puritan State, the Old Colony State and, less often, the Baked Bean State
  2. "Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  3. Error: no id specified when using {{cite ngs}}
  4. Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988.
  5. "Median Annual Household Income". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  6. "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 2, Section 35: Designation of citizens of commonwealth". The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  7. "Collections". Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society. 1877. p. 435. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  8. Jones, Thomas (1879). DeLancey, Edward Floyd (ed.). History of New York During the Revolutionary War. New York: New-York Historical Society. p. 465. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  9. U.S. Government Publishing Office Style Manual. 2016. §5.23.
  10. Nagy, Naomi; Irwin, Patricia (July 2010). "Boston (r): Neighbo(r)s nea(r) and fa(r)". Language Variation and Change. 22 (2): 270.
  11. "'Masshole' among newest words added to Oxford English Dictionary". masslive.com. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  12. Schwarz, Hunter (August 12, 2014). "States where English is the official language". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/12/states-where-english-is-the-official-language/. Retrieved December 29, 2014. 
  13. "Language spoken at home by ability to speak English for the population 5 years and over—2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates". American FactFinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  14. "Black-Capped Chickadee:Massachusetts State Bird". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  15. "Wild Turkey:Massachusetts State Game Bird". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  16. 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 "Massachusetts Facts". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  17. "Cod: Massachusetts State Fish". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  18. "Mayflower: Massachusetts State Flower". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  19. "Ladybug: Massachusetts State Insect". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  20. "Right Whale: Massachusetts State Marine Mammal". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  21. "Morgan Horse: Massachusetts State Horse". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  22. "Tabby Cat: Massachusetts State Cat". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  23. "Boston Terrier: Massachusetts State Dog". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  24. "Garter Snake: Massachusetts State Reptile". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  25. "American Elm: Massachusetts State Tree". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  26. "Cranberry Juice: Massachusetts State Beverage". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  27. "Blue—Green—Cranberry: Massachusetts State Colors". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  28. "Square Dance: Massachusetts State Folk Dance". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  29. "Cranberry: Massachusetts State Berry". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  30. "Corn Muffin: Massachusetts State Muffin". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  31. "Baked Navy Bean: Massachusetts State Bean". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  32. "Boston Creme Pie: Massachusetts State Dessert". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  33. "Chocolate Chip Cookie: Massachusetts State Cookie". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  34. "Boston Cream Donut: Massachusetts State Donut". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  35. "Dinosaur Tracks: Massachusetts State Fossil". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  36. "Rhodonite: Massachusetts State Gem". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  37. "Babingtonite: Massachusetts State Mineral". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  38. "Blue Hills of Massachusetts: Massachusetts State Poem". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  39. "Official State Rock of Massachusetts". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  40. "State Slogans". Ereferencedesk.com. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  41. Levenson, Michael (August 9, 2006). "Can you guess the state sport of Massachusetts?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  42. "New England Neptune: Massachusetts State Shell". StateSymbolsUSA.org. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  43. "The Official Massachusetts State Quarter". theus50.com. Retrieved April 21, 2015.