Massachusetts

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

The word _Massachusetts_ comes from Native American language. It means "place with hills."

## History

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

Massachusetts was the place of many events which caused the American Revolution, such as the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It was also a center of the anti-slavery movement.

Maine used to be part of Massachusetts, but split off in 1820.

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

## Location

Massachusetts is on the East Coast of the United States. It is a part of New England located next to the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital and largest city is Boston.

Massachusetts borders five different states:

- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Vermont

Major cities in Massachusetts include Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Plymouth.

## Massachusetts today

Massachusetts is home to some of the United States' most prestigious universities, such as Harvard University and MIT.

Massachusetts is one of the richest states in the United States. It is a center for medical research and technology, and is home to several major hospitals.

The state is also home to the New England Patriots, who have won the Super Bowl six times in the National Football League (NFL). Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox play, is a historic baseball stadium in Boston.

## Related pages

- Governor of Massachusetts
- List of counties in Massachusetts
- List of cities and towns in Massachusetts

## Infobox (u.s. state)

- **name**: Massachusetts
- **official name**: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- **image flag**: Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg
- **flag link**: Flag of Massachusetts
- **image seal**: Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg
- **image map**: Massachusetts in United States (zoom).svg
- **nickname**: The Bay State
The Pilgrim State; The Puritan State
The Old Colony State
 The Baked Bean State
- **motto**: _Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem_ (Latin)
<small>By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty</small>
- **mottoenglish**: By the sword she seeks peace under liberty
- **anthem**: All Hail to Massachusetts
- **population demonym**: Bay Stater (official) Massachusite (traditional)
Massachusettsan (recommended by the U.S. GPO)
Masshole (derogatory or affectionate)
- **seat**: Boston
- **largestcity**: capital
- **largestmetro**: Greater Boston
- **governor**: Maura Healey (Democratic Party (United States), D)
- **lieutenant governor**: Kim Driscoll (D)
- **legislature**: Massachusetts General Court, General Court
- **upperhouse**: Massachusetts Senate, Senate
- **lowerhouse**: Massachusetts House of Representatives, House of Representatives
- **senators**:

- **representative**: 9 Democratic Party (United States), Democrats
- **postal code**: MA
- **tradabbreviation**: Mass.
- **officiallang**: English language, English
- **languages**: * English language, English 77.7%
* Spanish language, Spanish 8.6%
* Portuguese language, Portuguese 2.8%.
* Chinese language, Chinese 2.1%
- **area rank**: 44th
- **area total sq mi**: 10,565
- **area total km2**: 27,337
- **area land sq mi**: 7,840
- **area land km2**: 20,306
- **area water sq mi**: 2,715
- **area water km2**: 7,032
- **area water percent**: 26.1
- **population as of**: 2020
- **population rank**: 15th
- **2010pop**: 7,029,917
- **2000densityus**: 840
- **2000density**: 324
- **population density rank**: 3rd
- **medianhouseholdincome**: $77,385
- **incomerank**: 5th
- **former**: Province of Massachusetts Bay
- **admittanceorder**: 6th
- **admittancedate**: February 6, 1788
- **timezone1**: Eastern Time Zone, Eastern
- **utc offset1**: −05:00
- **timezone1 dst**: Eastern Daylight Time, EDT
- **utc offset1 dst**: −04:00
- **latitude**: 41° 14′ N to 42° 53′ N
- **longitude**: 69° 56′ W to 73° 30′ W
- **length mi**: 190
- **length km**: 296
- **width mi**: 115
- **width km**: 184
- **elevation max point**: Mount Greylock
- **elevation max ft**: 3,489
- **elevation max m**: 1063.4
- **elevation ft**: 500
- **elevation m**: 150
- **elevation min point**: Atlantic Ocean
- **elevation min ft**: 0
- **elevation min m**: 0
- **iso code**: US-MA
- **website**: http://www.mass.gov/


## Infobox (u.s. state symbols)

- **name**: Massachusetts
- **flag**: Flag_of_Massachusetts.svg
- **seal**: Seal_of_Massachusetts.svg
- **bird**: Black-capped chickadee, wild turkey
- **fish**: Atlantic cod, Cod
- **flower**: Epigaea repens, Mayflower
- **insect**: Coccinella septempunctata, Ladybug
- **mammal**: Right whale, Morgan horse, Tabby cat, Boston Terrier
- **reptile**: Garter snake
- **tree**: American elm
- **beverage**: Cranberry juice
- **colors**: Blue, green, cranberry
- **dance**: Square dance
- **food**: Cranberry, corn muffin, navy bean, Boston cream pie, chocolate chip cookie, Boston cream doughnut
- **fossil**: Dinosaur Footprints, Dinosaur Tracks
- **gemstone**: Rhodonite
- **mineral**: Babingtonite
- **poem**: Blue Hills of Massachusetts
- **rock**: Roxbury Puddingstone
- **shell**: New England Neptune, _Neptunea lyrata decemcostata_
- **ships**: _Schooner Ernestina_
- **slogan**: _Make It Yours_,
_The Spirit of America_
- **soil**: Paxton (soil), Paxton
- **sport**: Basketball
- **route marker**: MA Route 28.svg
- **quarter**: 2000 MA Proof.png
- **quarterreleasedate**: 2000