Massachusetts Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: Northeast
• Size: 10555 sq.mi., 44th rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: February 6, 1788
• Population: 6,593,587;15th rank overall.
• Capital: Boston
• Other Major City: Worcester
• Abbreviation: MA

Fun Facts

• Nickname: Bay State
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Chickadee (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Mayflower (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• The eastern part of the state is a low coastal plain characterized by marshes, low hills, small lakes, and shallow rivers.
• The Eastern New England Upland is a 40-60 mile wide region that extends westward from the coastal area rising to 1,000 feet above sea level before sloping down to meet the Connecticut Valley Lowland.
• The Connecticut Valley Lowland is approximately a 20-mile wide valley with rich farmland.
• Berkshire Hills region makes contains Massachusetts highest peaks. Mount Greylock is 3,491 feet above sea level.
• The 10-mile wide Berkshire Valley borders the state to the west.

Map: Relief Map of MA

Industry

Metal products, machinery, electric equipment, technical instruments, shipping, printing and publishing, tourism

Agriculture

Seafood, greenhouse and nursery items, nursery stock, dairy products, apples, cranberries, vegetables

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• The first subway system in the US was built in Boston in 1897..
• Lowell was the first planned industrial city in America, making way for the American industrial revolution.
• Norfolk County is the birthplace of four United States presidents: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and George Herbert Walker Bush.
• The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in Plymouth in 1621.
• The first college established in North America was Harvard in 1636.

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/mass.htm