State Abbreviation - MA
State Capital - Boston
Largest City - Boston
Area - 10,555 square miles [Massachusetts is the 44th biggest state in the USA]
Population - 6,349,097 (as of 2000) [Massachusetts is the 13th most populous state in the USA]
Name for Residents - Massachusettsans
Major Industries - textiles, electronics, publishing, education, tourism, fishing
Presidential Birthplaces
John Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy) on October 30, 1735 (he was the 2nd US President, serving from 1797 to 1801).
John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy) on July 11, 1767 (he was the 6th US President, serving from 1825 to 1829).
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline on May 29, 1917 (he was the 35th US President, serving from 1961 to 1963).
George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton on June 12, 1924 (he was the 41st US President, serving from 1989 to 1993).
Major Rivers - Charles River, Connecticut River, Merrimack River
Major Lake - Quabbin Reservoir
Highest Point - Mt. Greylock - 3,491 feet (1,064 m) above sea level
Bordering States - Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Bordering Body of Water - Atlantic Ocean
Origin of the Name Massachusetts - Massachusetts was named for an Algonquian Indian word that means "a big hill place." State Nickname - Bay State
State Motto - "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" - ( By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
State Song - All Hail to Massachusetts |