Outline of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the sixth smallest state of the United States, but it stands among the leaders in many fields. Only New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island have smaller areas. Massachusetts ranks third among the most densely populated states, behind New Jersey and Rhode Island. Boston, the state's capital and largest city, is a major U.S. seaport and air terminal. It is New England's major center of finance and trade. Universities in and around Boston help make the area one of the world's great cultural, educational, medical, and research centers. Historic landmarks make Massachusetts one of America's main tourist spots.
The land in Massachusetts is a series of hills and valleys. From sea level near the Atlantic Ocean, the state reaches a height of about 3,500 feet (1,100 meters) near its western border. The best farmland lies in the river valleys and near the coastline. Massachusetts produces more cranberries than any other state. Boston, Gloucester, and New Bedford are important fishing ports and centers for the canning and processing of fish.
The Norse explorer Leif Ericson may have visited the Massachusetts region about the year 1000. He was one of the first Europeans to sail to North America. In 1620, the Pilgrims settled at what is now Plymouth. The Puritans came in 1630. Both these groups left England in search of better economic opportunities and freedom to pursue their religious beliefs. The first newspaper, printing press, and library in the British colonies were established in Massachusetts. The first college, Harvard, was founded at Cambridge in 1636. Boston Latin School, the first secondary school in the colonies, opened in 1635. The first public high school in the United States, Boston English High School, opened in 1821.
Many of the events that led up to the Revolutionary War took place in Massachusetts. These included the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous ride to warn his fellow patriots that British troops were coming. On April 19, 1775, minutemen at Lexington and then at Concord fought the first battles of the Revolutionary War. On Feb. 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the sixth state to join the Union.
Four U.S. presidents were born in Massachusetts. John Adams, the second president, and his son, John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, were both born in Braintree (now Quincy). John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, was born in Brookline. George H. W. Bush, the 41st president, was born in Milton.
One of the outstanding yearly events in Massachusetts is the Tanglewood Music Festival, held in the Tanglewood Music Shed near Lenox. This 210-acre (85-hectare) estate in the Berkshires is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Skiing brings many visitors to the Berkshire Hills and to other parts of Massachusetts. The Atlantic Ocean and many lakes and rivers attract swimmers, fishing enthusiasts, and boaters. But Massachusetts offers perhaps its greatest rewards to the student of American history. Historic sites date back to the Pilgrims, to colonial witchcraft trials, and to the Revolutionary War in America.
Massachusetts gets its name from the Massachusett Indian tribe, which lived in the region when the Pilgrims arrived. The name probably means near the great hill, or the place of the great hill. Historians believe it refers to the Great Blue Hill south of Boston. Massachusetts is often called the Bay State because the Puritans founded their colony on Massachusetts Bay. Massachusetts is one of four states officially called commonwealths. The others are Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
