Massachusetts, 6th State
“Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem ”
(By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
- Name (Massachusetts Indian tribe): “Massachusetts”; “a large hill place”.
- Governor: Charlie Baker (Republican Party)
- Capital: Boston
- Population: 6,976,600 (2020), (15th most populous).
- Location: It is located in the New England region of the north-Eastern United States.
- North: New Hampshire and Vermont,
- East: Atlantic Ocean,
- South: Connecticut and Rhode Island,
- West: New York.
- Area: 27,337km2/10,555 mi2, 44th by rank
- Postal abbreviation: MA
- Admitted to Union: February 6, 1788
- official language: English
1. State’s Symbols
- State tree: American Elm
- State flower: Mayflower
- State food:
- State Berry: Cranberry
- State Bean: Baked Navy Bean
- State Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
- State Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie
- State Donut: Boston Cream Donut
- State Beverage: Cranberry Juice
- State Muffin: Corn Muffin
- State Insect: Ladybug
- State Fish: Cod
- State Shell: New England Neptune
- State Marine Mammal: Right Whale
- State Amphibian: none
- State Dinosaur: none
- State Reptile: Garter Snake
- State Bird: Black-Capped Chickadee
- State Game Bird: Wild Turkey
- State Groundhog: Ms. G
- State Horse: Morgan Horse
- State Dog: Boston Terrier
- State Cat: Tabby Cat
- State Fossil: Dinosaur Tracks
- State Rock: Roxbury Puddingstone
- State Gemstone: Rhodonite
- State mineral: Babingtonite
- State Explorer Rock: Dighton Rock
- State Glacial Rock: Rolling Rock
- State Historical Rock: Plymouth Rock
- State Building Stone: Granite
- State Sports: Basketball
- State Recreational & Team Sport: Volleyball
- State Songs:
- State Song: All Hail to Massachusetts
- State Poem: The Blue Hills of Massachusetts
- State Patriotic Song: Massachusetts (Because of You our Land is Free)
- State Polka Song: Say Hello to Someone from Massachusetts
- State Folk Song: Massachusetts
- State Glee Club Song: The Great State of Massachusetts
- State Tartan: N/A
- State Poet Laureate: none
- State Inventor: Ben Franklin
- State Heroine: Deborah Samson Gannett
- State Folk Hero: Johnny Appleseed
- State Folk Dance: Square Dance
- State Firearm: none
- State Vessel: Ernestina
- State Children’s Book: Make Way for Ducklings
- State Children’s Author & Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
- State Artist: Norman Rockwell
- State Ceremonial March: The Road to Boston
- State Soil: Paxton Soil Series
2. Geography Facts
- Land: 20,300 km2 (7,838 mi2), 45th
- Water: 7,037 km2 (2,717 mi2), 17th
- Coastline: 309 km, (192 mi), 10th
- Shoreline: 2,445 km, (1,519 mi), 15th
- State Forests: 34
- National Forests: none
- State Parks: 48
- Public Beaches: 65
- National Parks: 20
- Water: 26.1 %
- Largest city (by area): Boston (232.1 km²)
- Largest city (by population): Boston (710,195 people)
- Lowest point: Massachusetts; sea level, tied for 3rd lowest
- Highest point: Greylock; 3,491 feet, (1,064 m.) 31st tallest
3. Facts about Massachusetts
- Chocolate chip cookies were invented here.
- Massachusetts was a focal point of the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the abolitionist movement, and the development of American arts and media.
- Massachusetts is the birthplace of two popular sports, Basketball and Volleyball.
- Some of the famous colleges like Harvard College are here. Also, it is one of the biggest college destinations in the U.S. for domestic and international students.
- Massachusetts was the first state to write and adopt a constitution (1780), which was a model for the country’s Constitution. This Constitution is the oldest still in use in the world.
- The first lighthouse in America was built in Boston Harbor in 1716.
- Boston houses the oldest public park in the U.S.
- The first chocolate factory of U.S. was in Boston.
- The first U.S. subway was build here in 1897, the Tremont Street Subway.
- Boston’s Ted Williams Tunnel is the deepest in North America, about 90 feet underneath the earth’s surface.
- Once Christmas was banned in Massachusetts.
- Nickname/s: Bay State, Old Bay State, Pilgrim State, Puritan State, Old Colony State, Baked Bean State
- Key Cities: Boston, Springfield, Salem, Cambridge, Plymouth, Worcester.
- Major industries: Life sciences, textile mills, finance, information technology, manufacturing, renewable energy.
- Famous for: Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Island, Boston Symphony, Berklee College of Music, Harvard University.
- Area codes: 339, 351, 413, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, 978
4. Natural Resources
-
Agriculture:
- Hay
- Cranberries
- sweet corn
- Apples
- Corn
- Fruit, tree nuts and berries
- Melons
-
Gemstones and Minerals:
- Sand
- Gravel
- Granite
- Marble
- Lime
- Rhodonite
- Pyrite
- Rhodochrosite
- Spessartine garnets
- Almandine garnets
- Tephroite
-
Fossil fuel:
- Peat
5. Mountains
Mountains: 78
Best Hikes:
- Moore State Park
- Mount Watatic
- Rock House Reservation
- Lookout Rock
- Green Hill Park
- Wachusett Mountain Reservation
6. Divisions
- 14 Counties
- 57 Cities
- 294 Towns