Massachusetts is known for:
- The landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims
- Stunning fall foliage
- Colonial landmarks
- Top educational institutions: Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- The nation's first library
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
MA |
| State Capital |
Boston |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 10,555 sq miles; Land Only: 7,840 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
14 |
| Time Zone |
Eastern Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Highest Point | Mount Greylock, 3,489 feet |
| Tallest Building | John Hancock Tower in Boston, 790 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, capacity 68,756 |
| National Parks | None |
| State Population (2020) | 7,029,917 |
| State Population Density | 896.7 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
339, 351, 413, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, 978 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Boston (691,531)
Worcester (184,570)
Springfield (152,646)
Cambridge (119,192)
Lowell (110,904)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Beverage | Cranberry juice |
| State Bird |
Chickadee |
| State Cat | Tabby cat |
| State Cookie | Chocolate chip cookie |
| State Dessert | Boston cream pie |
| State Dog | Boston terrier |
| State Fish | Cod |
| State Flower |
Mayflower |
| State Folk Hero | Johnny Appleseed |
| State Fossil | Dinosaur tracks |
| State Horse | Morgan horse |
| State Insect | Ladybug |
| State Mottos |
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty) |
| State Muffin | Corn muffin |
| State Nickname |
Bay State; Old Colony State
| | State Tree |
American elm |
Sports Teams
| Major Sports Teams |
MLB: Boston Red Sox
NFL: New England Patriots
NBA: Boston Celtics
NHL: Boston Bruins
MLS: New England Revolution
|
| NCAA Division I Schools |
Boston College (ACC)
Boston University (Patriot)
Harvard University (Ivy)
College of the Holy Cross (Patriot)
University of Massachusetts Amherst (Atlantic 10)
Northeastern University (Colonial Athletic Association)
|
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Boston Common: Park in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Faneuil Hall: Shopping mall in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Freedom Trail: 2.5-mile-long path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that passes by 16 locations of historical significance.
- Harvard Square: City center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Institute of Contemporary Art Boston: Art museum in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Museum of international art in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Jiminy Peak: Ski resort in Hancock, Massachusetts.
- Martha's Vineyard: Island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston: Art museum in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Museum of Science: Science museum in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Basketball hall of fame museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.
- New England Aquarium: Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Peabody Essex Museum: Art museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
- Six Flags New England: Amusement park in Agawam, Massachusetts.
- Tanglewood: Music center in Lenox, Massachusetts.
- USS Constitution: Historic battleship in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
- Wachusett Mountain: Ski resort in Princeton, Massachusetts.
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Massachusetts. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Popular Iconic Massachusetts Foods
Massachusetts is famous for the following foods:
- Clam Chowder
- Boston Baked Beans
- Boston Cream Pie
- Fried Clams
- Lobster Rolls
- Apple Cider Doughnuts
- Frappes
Famous People Born In Massachusetts
Nobel Prize Winners
- George R. Minot (Physiology or Medicine, 1934)
- James B. Sumner (Chemistry, 1946)
- Emily Greene Balch (Peace, 1946)
- Percy W. Bridgman (Physics, 1946)
- Robert B. Woodward (Chemistry, 1965)
- Robert S. Mulliken (Chemistry, 1966)
- Walter Gilbert (Chemistry, 1980)
- George D. Snell (Physiology or Medicine, 1980)
- Kenneth G. Wilson (Physics, 1982)
- Elias James Corey (Chemistry, 1990)
- Merton H. Miller (Economic Sciences, 1990)
- William F. Sharpe (Economic Sciences, 1990)
- Henry W. Kendall (Physics, 1990)
- Joseph E. Murray (Physiology or Medicine, 1990)
- Douglass C. North (Economic Sciences, 1993)
- William Knowles (Chemistry, 2001)
- Roderick MacKinnon (Chemistry, 2003)
- Roger B. Myerson (Economic Sciences, 2007)
- Richard F. Heck (Chemistry, 2010)
- Lloyd S. Shapley (Economic Sciences, 2012)
- Eugene F. Fama (Economic Sciences, 2013)
- James E. Rothman (Physiology or Medicine, 2013)
- Carolyn Bertozzi (Chemistry, 2022)
- Drew Weissman (Physiology or Medicine, 2023)
United States Presidents
- John Adams (2nd President)
- John Quincy Adams (6th President)
- John F. Kennedy (35th President)
- George Bush (41st President)
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Ed Healey (Tackle, Guard, End. Inducted in 1964)
- Wayne Millner (Offensive End. Inducted in 1968)
- Al Davis (Coach, General Manager, Team Owner, AFL Commissioner. Inducted in 1992)
- Howie Long (Defensive End. Inducted in 2000)
- Nick Buoniconti (Linebacker. Inducted in 2001)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Jack Chesbro (Pitcher. Inducted in 1946)
- Tommy McCarthy (Right Fielder. Inducted in 1946)
- Mickey Cochrane (Catcher. Inducted in 1947)
- Pie Traynor (Third Baseman. Inducted in 1948)
- Rabbit Maranville (Shortstop. Inducted in 1954)
- John Clarkson (Pitcher. Inducted in 1963)
- Tim Keefe (Pitcher. Inducted in 1964)
- Joe Kelley (Left Fielder. Inducted in 1971)
- Frank Grant (Second Baseman. Inducted in 2006)
- Tom Glavine (Pitcher. Inducted in 2014)
- Jeff Bagwell (First Baseman. Inducted in 2017)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Barbara Stevens (Coach. Inducted in 2020)
- David Hixon (Coach. Inducted in 2023)
Hockey Hall Of Fame Members
- Jerry York (Builder. Inducted in 2019)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Matt Damon
- Bette Davis
- Chris Evans
- Jack Lemmon
- Amy Poehler
- Mark Wahlberg
Famous Singers
- Paula Cole
- Donna Summer
- James Taylor
Massachusetts Fun Facts
- British colonist John Smith named Massachusetts for the Massachusett tribe. The name "Massachusetts" meant "near the great hill."
- The first lighthouse in the United States was built on Little Brewster Island in the Boston Harbor in 1716.
- Basketball was invented in December 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield.
- Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan in Holyoke. Volleyball was originally called "Mintonette."
- Boston Common, established in 1634, is the first public park in the United States.
- The Boston subway, which opened on September 1, 1897, is the first subway system in the United States.
- Boston Public Library is the second largest public library in the United States. Harvard University Library, also in Boston, is the third largest library in the United States.
- The first telephone call in history was made between inventor Alexander Graham Bell and his assistant, Thomas Watson, on March 10, 1876, in Boston. Bell spoke the words, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" and Watson heard it from the receiver in the next room.
- Boston Latin School, founded in 1635, is the first public school in the United States. It is also the oldest existing school in the United States.
- In 2003, Massachusetts became the first stage to legalize same-sex marriage.
- In Massachusetts, it is illegal to give alcoholic beverages to a hospital patient, unless directed by a physician.
- The first printed book in the United States was the Bay Psalm Book, first printed in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
This page was last updated on October 14, 2023.
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