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Massachusetts Almanac

The Massachusetts Almanac presents a general overview of the State of Massachusetts.

Category Information

Sources...

The United States Census Bureau, July 10, 2001.
Massachusetts. M. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 1988. 272. Print.
Carpenter, Alan, and Carl Provorse. The World Almanac of the U.S.A.. Mahwah: World Almanac Books, 1996. Print.

Admitted to Union February 6th, 1788, [ Find out more... ]
Capital Boston, [ Find out more... ]
Nickname Bay State, Old Colony State, Baked Bean State, [ Find out more... ]
Motto Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem, [ Find out more... ]
Total area including land and water 10,555 square miles Rank among states 44th
Land area 7,838 square miles Rank among states 45th
Water area 2,717 Rank among states 17th
Greatest distance East to West 183 miles
Greatest distance North to South 113 miles
Highest point 3,487 feet (Mount Greylock) Rank among states 31st
Lowest point Sea level (Atlantic Ocean) Rank among states 3rd
Mean elevation 500 feet Rank among states 42nd
Highest recorded temperature 107 degrees on August 7, 1975 at Chester and New Bedford
Lowest recorded temperature -35 degrees on January 12, 1981 at Chester
Highest monthly average temperature 81.8 degrees Rank among states 47th
Lowest monthly average temperature 15.6 degrees Rank among states 19th
Average yearly precipitation (rain & snow) 45 inches Rank among states  
Population
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)
6,349,097 Rank among states 13th
Population per square mile
(Population/Land area)
601.5 Rank among states 4th
Ten largest cities by population
State Capital in red
(U.S. Census, April, 2000)

1. Boston 589,141 6. Brockton 94,304
2. Worcester 172,648 7. New Bedford 93,768
3. Springfield 152,082 8. Fall River 91,938
4. Lowell 105,167 9. Lynn 89,050
5. Cambridge 101,355 10. Quincy 88,025
Median age 33.6
Average lifetime (1979-1981) 75.01 Rank among states 12th
Total crimes reported per 100,000 people (1992-1993) 4,893.9 Rank among states 26th
Violent crimes reported per 100,000 people 804.9 Rank among states 11th
Property crimes reported per 100,000 people 4,089.0 Rank among states 33rd
Per capita income (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$37,704 Rank among states 2nd
Disposable per capita personal income (income minus taxes) (2000)
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
$30,587 Rank among states 3rd
Median household income (1993) $37,064 Rank among states 7th

Additional Information

Massachusetts Encyclopedia

Massachusetts Encyclopedia (Two volumes), by Jack Tager (Editor), Jennifer L. Herman (Editor). 1001 pages. Publisher: State History Publications (December 2008)

The Massachusetts Encyclopedia, in two volumes. is the definitive reference work on Massachusetts — a single source reference dedicated to the history and geography of Massachusetts. The noted historian Dr. Jack Tager, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachuetts, Amherst, has contributed to articles on Introduction to Massachusetts History, Early History of Massachusetts and Massachusetts History. These articles cover the history of Massachusetts, from the early explorers to twenty-first century events. The major sections in volume one of this reference work are

  • Introduction to Massachusetts history,
  • Early history,
  • History from colonial to present,
  • Massachusetts symbols and designations,
  • Chronology of historic events,
  • Geography and topography,
  • Profiles of governors,
  • Dictionary of places,
  • and a Massachusetts pictorial.

Volume two includes

  • State Executive Officers,
  • State Agencies, Departments, and Offices,
  • Massachusetts State Senators, Assembly Members,
  • U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives from Massachusetts,
  • Directory of historic places,
  • Massachusetts Constitution,
  • Bibliography of recommended by Dr. Jack Tager,
  • and a detailed index.

Visit the NETSTATE Massachusetts State Book Store for additional Massachusetts related books, including Massachusetts Reference Books, History, Biographies and Cookbooks.

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