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6,349,097 Source: U.S. Census Bureau GCT-PH1-R.
Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density (geographies ranked by total population): 2000
Data Set: Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data
Governor
Deval Patrick (D, to January 2011)
Entered the Union
Feb. 6, 1788
as the 6th state
Motto
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty)
Boston Celtics(Basketball); New England Patriots(Football); Boston Red Sox(Baseball); Boston Bruins(Hockey); New England Revolution (Soccer)
Origin of Name
From two Indian words meaning "Great Mountain Place"
Major Industries
Health Care, tourism, education, finance, insurance, farming, fishing
Historical Sites
Minute Man National Historical Park, Boston's National Historical Park, Old State House(Boston), Old South Meeting House(Boston), Bunker Hill Monument(Boston), Old North Churc h(Boston), Paul Revere's House(Boston), Charlestown Navy Yard
Points of Interest
Cape Cod, USS Constitution, and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
Bordering States
Massachusetts borders Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Massachusetts Commonwealth Museum http://www.state.ma.us/sec/mus/musidx.htm
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Museum.
Massachusetts Archives http://www.state.ma.us/sec/arc/arcidx.htm
Here is the homepage for the Massachusetts State Archives.
MassParks http://www.state.ma.us/dem/forparks.htm
Here is the homepage for Massachusetts State Parks.
Massvacation.com http://www.mass-vacation.com/
Here is the official state travel and tourism website for Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Kids' Zone http://www.state.ma.us/sec/cis/ciskid/kididx.htm
Here is the state's official page for kids with special information about history, government, and Massachusetts quick facts.
50states.com: Massachusetts http://www.50states.com/massachu.htm
The site provides a wealth of information about Massachusetts. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
Things To Do in Massachusetts http://www.thingstodo.com/states/MA/index.htm
ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about entertainment, recreation, and travel in Massachusetts and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
Roadside America: Massachusetts Attractions http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/ma.html
Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Tourist Information http://www.masstourist.com/
This online travel guide includes a sight seeing link detailing special attractions for the Boston area and the entire state. Check out the specific page for Cape Cod and Islands.
FedStats: MapStat: United States: Massachusetts http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/25000.html
Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts' state tree is the American elm, state bird is the Chickadee, state beverage is Cranberry juice, state insect is the Ladybu g, and state muffin is the corn muffin.
Massachusetts produces the nation's largest cranberry crop. Other products produced are dairy and poultry products, nursery and greenhouse produce, vegetables, and fruit.
Massachusetts is home to 65 public and private colleges and universities. Some of the well-known ones are Harvard, MIT, Holy Cross, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University, and the University of Massachusetts.
The first American public library was founded in Boston in 1653.
The African Meeting House on Joy Street in Boston was the first church built by free blacks, 1806.
The Internet Public Library is a public library for the world wide web.
Students from a consortium of colleges and universities with programs in information science develop and maintain the IPL!
Here are some of the partners in the IPL Consortium. A complete list is found on the IPL Consortium page.