Massachusetts
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| Abbreviation | MA Source: United States Postal Service – Abbreviations |
|---|---|
| Capital | Boston |
| Population | 6,547,629 Source: Resident Population Data – 2010 Census |
| Governor | Deval Patrick (Democrat, to January 2015) |
| Entered the Union | Feb. 6, 1788 as the 6th state |
| Motto | Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty) |
| Nickname | The Bay State, The Old Colony State |
| Flower | Mayflower |
| Bird | Chickadee |
| Song | All Hail to Massachusetts |
| Professional Sports Teams | Boston Celtics (Basketball); New England Patriots (Football); Boston Red Sox (Baseball); Boston Bruins (Hockey); New England Revolution (Soccer) (sports listing policy) |
| Origin of Name | From two Indian words meaning “Great Mountain Place” |
| Historical Sites | Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston’s National Historical Park, Old State House(Boston), Old South Meeting House(Boston), Bunker Hill Monument(Boston), Old North Churc h(Boston), Paul Revere’s House(Boston), Charlestown Navy Yard |
| Points of Interest | Cape Cod, USS Constitution, and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum |
| Bordering States | Massachusetts borders Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. |
| Flag |  |
Follow these links to read articles about Massachusetts from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:
Official State Links
- Mass.gov: the Official Web Site of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
http://www.mass.gov/
This is the official website for the State of Massachusetts. - Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
http://mblc.state.ma.us/index.php
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Library Agency. - The Massachusetts Historical Society
http://www.masshist.org/
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Historical Society. - Massachusetts Commonwealth Museum
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/museum/index.htm
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Museum. - Massachusetts Archives
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/arc/arcidx.htm
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Archives. - MassParks
http://www.state.ma.us/dem/forparks.htm
Here is the homepage for Massachusetts State Parks. - Massvacation.com
http://www.mass-vacation.com/
Here is the official state travel and tourism website for Massachusetts. - Massachusetts Kids’ Zone
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/cis/ciskid/kididx.htm
Here is the state’s official page for kids with special information about history, government, and Massachusetts quick facts.
Other State Links
- 50states.com: Massachusetts
http://www.50states.com/massachu.htm
The site provides a wealth of information about Massachusetts. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate. - Things To Do in Massachusetts
http://www.thingstodo.com/states/MA/index.htm
ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about entertainment, recreation, and travel in Massachusetts and includes the state’s interesting facts, famous people, and special events. - Roadside America: Massachusetts Attractions
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ma.html
Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of “weird sites along the highway” in Massachusetts. - Massachusetts Tourist Information
http://www.masstourist.com/
This online travel guide includes a sight seeing link detailing special attractions for the Boston area and the entire state. Check out the specific page for Cape Cod and Islands. - FedStats: MapStat: United States: Massachusetts
http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/25000.html
Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on “economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more” in Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts’ state tree is the American elm, state bird is the Chickadee, state beverage is Cranberry juice, state insect is the Ladybu g, and state muffin is the corn muffin.
- Massachusetts produces the nation’s largest cranberry crop. Other products produced are dairy and poultry products, nursery and greenhouse produce, vegetables, and fruit.
- Massachusetts is home to 65 public and private colleges and universities. Some of the well-known ones are Harvard, MIT, Holy Cross, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University, and the University of Massachusetts.
- The first American public library was founded in Boston in 1653.
- The African Meeting House on Joy Street in Boston was the first church built by free blacks, 1806.
Some Famous People from this State
- Presidents from Massachusetts with links to ipl’s POTUS (Presidents of the United States) page:
- John Adams(1735 – 1826), 2nd president of the United States.
- John Quincy Adams(1767 – 1848), 6th president of the United States.
- John F. Kennedy(1917-1963), 35th president of the United States.
- George H. W. Bush(1924- ), 41st president of the United States.
- Samuel Adams (1722 – 1803), American Revolutionary patriot and statesman, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and governor of Massachusetts.
- Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886), poet.
- Benjamin Franklin, (1706 – 1790), printer, author, philosopher, diplomat, scientist, and inventor.
- John Hancock (1737 – 1793), merchant, statesman, first signer of the Declaration of Independence, and first governor of the state of Massachusetts.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 – 1864), novelist.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 – 1882), poet.
- Paul Revere (1735 – 1818), silversmith and patriot.
- Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862), essayist, naturalist, and philosopher.