Massachusetts , most populous of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by New York (W), Vermont and New Hampshire (N), the Atlantic Ocean (E), and Rhode Island and Connecticut (S).

Massachusetts is one of the original 13 states (6th) of the Union (February 6, 1788). Boston, the capital of Massachusetts since its founding, dates from 1630. There are 351 cities/towns in the state of Massachusetts.

During the 19th century, Massachusetts was famous for the intellectual activity of its writers and educators and for its expanding commercial fishing, shipping, and manufacturing interests. Massachusetts pioneered the manufacture of textiles and shoes. Today, these industries have been replaced in importance by the electronics and communications equipment fields.

Massachusetts is traditionally industrial, and, with its predominantly urban population, is one of the most densely settled states in the nation.
Leading agricultural products include cranberries, greenhouse and nursery items, apples, and milk and other dairy goods
High-technology research and development, finance, and trade are all prominent in the commonwealth's economy. The service sector, in which tourism is primary, now employs over one third of Massachusetts workers

Massachusetts is historically the capital of American higher education.
As Harvard and MIT are located here as well as many other well known colleges.  The state is also renowned for its private secondary schools, and for research centers such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, at Falmouth.

As a recreation and vacation land, Massachusetts has great stretches of seashore in the east and many lakes and streams in the wooded Berkshire Hills in the west.

Official Name: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Nickname: Bay State
Capital: Boston

Geography 

Area: 8,257 square miles (land and water)
Largest body of water: Quabbin Reservoir (39 sq. miles)
Longest river: Charles River (80 miles)
Highest elevation: Mt. Greylock (3,491)
Lowest elevation: Atlantic Ocean (sea level)
Number of state parks: 107
Largest state park: October Mtn. State Forest, Lee (15,710 sq.acres)
Number of national historical parks, seashores and historic sites: 12
Largest national area: Cape Cod National Seashore (43,500 sq. acres)


Presidents from Massachusetts: 
John Adams (Quincy); John Q. Adams (Braintree); John F. Kennedy (Brookline); George Bush (Milton)

(Information from:  http://www.state.ma.us/sec/cis/cismaf/maprof.htm and infoplease.com)