The name Massachusetts comes from Algonquian Indian words that mean the great mountain, an apparent reference to the tallest of the Blue Hills, a recreation area south of the town of Milton.

Massachusetts is nicknamed the "Bay State", for the early settlement on Cape Cod Bay. Like other New Englanders, Bay Staters are popularly referred to as Yankees. (Not if they are Red Sox fans!)

Much of the American heritage is embodied in Massachusetts. The windswept seacoast of this small northeastern state may have been the first part of what is now the United States seen by Europeans.

Norse explorers probably landed on Cape Cod more than 1,000 years ago. The Mayflower colonists who reached Plimoth (Plymouth) in December 1620 (in the words of Governor William Bradford) found it “fit for shipping; and marched into ye land, and found diverse cornfields, & little running brooks, a place fit for situation". These Pilgrim leaders were refugees from religious persecution that had already driven them to another alien land. The English-speaking colony they founded became the New World's hub of liberty and culture, its cradle of commerce and industry.

Many visitors are drawn to the historic and cultural richness of Massachusetts. Through-out the state, and especially in Boston and the other coastal cities and towns, the past is preserved for the future in historic buildings, monuments, museums, and libraries.

Fun Facts:
Capital: Boston
State Bird: Chickadee
State Dog: Boston Terrier
State Cat: Tabby
State Fish: Cod
State Insect: Ladybug
State Mammal: Right Whale
State Cookie: Toll House
State Flower: Mayflower

Massachusetts Sport Teams

College
• Boston College Eagles - Boston
• Boston University Terriers - Boston
• Harvard Crimson - Cambridge
• Massachusetts Minutemen - Amherst
• Northeastern Huskies - Boston

Professional
• Boston Bruins (NHL) - Boston
• Boston Celtics (NBA) - Boston
• Boston Red Sox (MLB) - Boston
• New England Patriots (NFL) - Foxboro
• New England Revolution (MLS) - Foxboro

Take a Tour of our wonderful area
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Massachusetts State Flag

On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. Around the shield is a blue ribbon with the motto: " By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty". Above the shield is a arm and sword, representing the first part of the motto.

Massachusetts State Map

Massachusetts State Motto
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty

Origin of State's Name
Named after local Indian tribe whose name means "a large hill place"

Economy
Agriculture: Seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, cranberries, vegetables.
Industry: Machinery, electric equipment, scientific instruments, printing and publishing, tourism.

What Do Others Say About Massachusetts?

1. rdubbs293 , on 10/11/2005 8:50:00 PM, said:
Massachusetts- the birthplace of America, and the American dream. Basketball, Volleyball, and yes Baseball were all invented with 30 minutes of each other. I have lived in the western part of the state all of my life, and the places and people never cease to amaze me. It's not fair to say everyone in Mass is stupid or w/e because they have an accent,

I certainly dont. Damn straight we're arrogant, we have to be in order to put up with inconsiderate, ignorant, narrow-minded right-wing nut jobs, like some of you are. If you have never been here, then you do not have the right to judge me or my fellow citizens, and in return i will not judge texas (coughs)...I'm a masshole, and damn proud of it!

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2. fezzador , on 9/24/2005 7:22:00 PM, said:
Great history, great colleges, and great sports. Boston is a city I wouldn't mind moving to.

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3. caphillsea77 , on 8/25/2005 5:38:00 PM, said:
Massachusetts is an awesome state. No other state can hold a candle to it's richness in history. It's towns and cities are very scenic with great archetecture and nice homes with decent sized yards unlike the rancid cookie cutter development on the west coast. Cape Anne is beautiful with it's rocky shores, lighthouses, and fishing village character.

Cape Cod really does have some of the worlds nicests beaches and much of it is unspolied with Cape Cod National Seashore. The North Shore of Boston is so cool with charming towns like Newburyport, Ipswich, and Salem with a number of houses dating back to the 1700's, beautiful green marshland, and wonderful sandy beaches. I love the quintesential New England character in all the little towns with the old houses and town commons.

The food selection in Mass is wonderful with great seafood, Italian restaurants, Irish Pubs and a lot of Mom and Pop joints with less chain restaurants than most states. Western Mass is very pretty with rolling green hills and college towns like Northampton that resemble Vermont. Then there are the world famous islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Both have outstanding beaches, quaint little villages and a character not found anywhere else. Boston is one of America's great cities with loads of history, world renound universites like Harvard and MIT, grand archetecture with lots of brick and a very European feel. Boston is reeking with atmosphere.

Unfortunately the cost of living in Mass is astronomical on so many levels. Real Estate, healthcare, insurance ranks among the highest in the country. Politics here are beyond corrupt with monumental amounts of wasted taxdollars on projects like the Big Dig. As a result the tolls collected on the roads approching Boston are very high, on par with New York.

Taxes and tolls are high here which is unjustified as the roads throughout the state are in horrible condition. Yes it is true the people in Mass are not very polite or friendly but if you break the ice with them and get a conversation going you'll find these people are very genuine and passionate. Massachusetts can be a very difficult place to live but is a great place to call home.

Interested to read more? Please visit RateitAll for over 50 reviews on the State of Massachusetts. (Clicking on this link will open a new window)

* Data and Photos courtesy of 50states.com and Census.gov