| |
Massachusetts
takes
its name from the Massachusett tribe of Native Americans,
who lived in the Great Blue Hill region, south of Boston. The
Indian term supposedly means "at or about the Great Hill.
| |
 |
|
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) |
|
