Massachusetts - The Bay State
Capital: Boston | Abbreviation: MA | Region: New England | Population: 7.0 million
Quick Facts
| Population | 7,029,917 |
| Area | 10,554 sq mi (27,336 km²) |
| Population Rank | 15th |
| Area Rank | 44th (7th smallest) |
| Capital | Boston |
| Largest City | Boston (675K) |
| Statehood | February 6, 1788 (6th state) |
| Time Zone | Eastern (UTC-5 / UTC-4) |
| Nickname | The Bay State |
Interactive Map
🔴 Boston (Capital)
About Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a New England state with a population of 7 million, making it the fifteenth-most populous state despite being the seventh smallest by area. The state capital and largest city is Boston, with 675,000 residents and a metropolitan area of 4.9 million. Massachusetts was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and the sixth state to ratify the US Constitution on February 6, 1788. The state's name comes from the Massachusett Native American tribe.
Massachusetts played an absolutely pivotal role in American history. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620, establishing Plymouth Colony. Boston became a center of revolutionary fervor with events like the Boston Tea Party (1773), Boston Massacre (1770), and the battles of Lexington and Concord (1775) that began the Revolutionary War. Massachusetts is the birthplace of American independence and home to the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile path connecting 16 historic sites in Boston.
Today, Massachusetts has one of the most educated populations and highest median household incomes in the nation. The state is a global leader in higher education with over 100 colleges and universities, including Harvard (oldest in the US, founded 1636) and MIT. Massachusetts excels in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, finance, technology, and healthcare. Route 128 corridor and Cambridge are major technology and innovation hubs. The state also has a rich cultural heritage with world-class museums, symphony orchestras, and the beloved Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots sports teams.
Geography & Climate
Massachusetts features diverse geography from Atlantic coast to Berkshire Mountains:
- Coastal Plain: Eastern region with beaches, Cape Cod, islands (Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket)
- Boston Harbor: Major seaport, historic harbor with 34 islands
- Central Upland: Worcester region with hills, forests, agriculture
- Connecticut River Valley: Fertile agricultural region in western part
- Berkshire Mountains: Western region with peaks, forests, cultural attractions
- Climate: Humid continental with four distinct seasons, cold winters, warm summers
Major Cities
Boston
Population: 675,647
Metro: 4.9M
Known For: State capital, Freedom Trail, universities, hospitals, finance, sports teams
Worcester
Population: 206,518
Known For: Second-largest city, manufacturing heritage, colleges, central location
Springfield
Population: 155,929
Known For: Basketball Hall of Fame, Connecticut River, manufacturing, diverse population
Cambridge
Population: 118,403
Known For: Harvard University, MIT, tech hub, innovation, biotech
Lowell
Population: 115,554
Known For: Industrial Revolution heritage, textile mills, National Historical Park
New Bedford
Population: 101,079
Known For: Whaling history, fishing port, Moby-Dick setting, Portuguese heritage
Revolutionary War History
Massachusetts was the epicenter of the American Revolution:
- Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775): "Shot heard 'round the world" began Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775
- Boston Tea Party (1773): Colonists dumped British tea into harbor to protest taxation without representation
- Boston Massacre (1770): British soldiers killed five colonists, inflaming revolutionary sentiment
- Bunker Hill (1775): Early Revolutionary War battle, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes"
- Paul Revere's Ride (1775): Warned colonists "The British are coming!" before Lexington and Concord
- Samuel Adams & John Adams: Founding Fathers from Massachusetts, key revolutionary leaders
- Freedom Trail: 2.5-mile trail connecting 16 historic sites in Boston
Education & Innovation
Massachusetts is America's education capital with unparalleled academic excellence:
World-Class Universities
- Harvard University: Oldest US university (1636), world's most prestigious
- MIT: Leading technology and science university, innovation powerhouse
- Boston University, Tufts, Northeastern: Top research universities
- Williams, Amherst: Elite liberal arts colleges
- 100+ Colleges: Over 250,000 college students in Greater Boston
Innovation & Research
- Kendall Square: "Most innovative square mile on planet"
- Biotechnology hub with hundreds of biotech companies
- Route 128 technology corridor
- Highest percentage of residents with graduate degrees
- Nobel Prize winners, research breakthroughs
Economy & Industry
Massachusetts has a highly educated, innovation-driven economy:
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals: World leader in biotech, drug development, medical devices - Moderna, Biogen, Takeda
- Healthcare: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's, medical research, health insurance
- Technology: Software, robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity - major tech companies and startups
- Finance & Insurance: Fidelity Investments, State Street, mutual funds, asset management
- Higher Education: Universities employ tens of thousands, major economic driver
- Tourism: Freedom Trail, Cape Cod, Plymouth Rock, fall foliage, historic sites
- Fishing & Maritime: Commercial fishing, seafood (lobster, cod, scallops), boat building
Cultural Heritage & Attractions
Massachusetts offers rich cultural experiences and historic attractions:
- Freedom Trail: 2.5-mile path connecting 16 Revolutionary War sites
- Plymouth Rock: Landing site of Pilgrims in 1620
- Cape Cod: Popular beach destination with charming towns, National Seashore
- Museum of Fine Arts: One of largest art museums in America
- Boston Symphony Orchestra: World-renowned orchestra, founded 1881
- Fenway Park: Oldest MLB stadium (1912), home of Red Sox
- Salem: Witch trial history, maritime heritage, Halloween destination
- Berkshires: Cultural destination with Tanglewood, theater, art museums
- Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket: Exclusive island destinations
- Basketball Hall of Fame: In Springfield where basketball invented
- Boston Marathon: World's oldest annual marathon (since 1897)
- Walden Pond: Thoreau's inspiration for transcendentalism
Interesting Facts
- First subway system in America opened in Boston (1897)
- Basketball invented in Springfield by James Naismith (1891)
- Volleyball invented in Holyoke (1895)
- Fig Newtons named after Newton, Massachusetts
- First public school (Boston Latin School, 1635) and first college (Harvard, 1636) in America
- Boston Common is oldest public park in US (1634)
- Mayflower Compact signed by Pilgrims (1620) was first governing document
- Telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell in Boston (1876)
- Cape Cod produces 25% of nation's cranberries
- State has highest percentage of Irish ancestry in US
- Boston Tea Party destroyed 342 chests of British tea (1773)
- Four US presidents born in Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, JFK, George H.W. Bush
- Universal healthcare first achieved in Massachusetts (2006)
- Salem witch trials occurred in 1692-1693
Neighboring States
Also borders: Atlantic Ocean (East)
Compare Massachusetts
See how Massachusetts compares to other states in population, economy, and more.
Compare Massachusetts