| Demographics |
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Statehood: February 6, 1788, the 6th state Capital: Boston
Total Area: 45th
among states, 27,336 sq km (10,554 sq mi)
Water Area: 3,634
sq km (1,403 sq mi)
Highest Point: Mount
Greylock, 1,063 m (3,495 ft)
Total Population:
14th
among states
2010 census - 6,547,629
Population Density in 2010: 839.4
people per sq
mi
Distribution in 2000:
90.5% Urban, 9.5% Rural
Economy:
Gross State Product - $377.7
billion (2010)
Personal income per Capita - $49,875 (2009)
Largest cities in 2010:
Boston: 617,594
Worcester: 181,045
Springfield: 153,060
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Boston
claims first to many of the nation’s firsts.
Boston Common became the first public park in 1634. Boston
Latin School became the first secondary school in 1635.
Harvard, the first college, was founded in 1636. The first
post office, free public school and public library were all founded
in Boston. The first newspaper, lighthouse, and subway were all
started in Boston. The
sewing machine was also invented in Boston in 1845.
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The
3rd Monday in April is a legal holiday, Patriot’s Day,
in Massachusetts.
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The
Peabody Essex Museum has over 500 original documents of the Salem
witch trials in 1692.
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James
Naismith invented basketball in Springfield in 1891. He taught physical education and wanted an indoor sport for
his students during the winter months.
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William
Morgan invented volleyball in Holyoke in 1895.
It was first called “Mintonette,” and later changed to
volleyball.
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The
Boston University Bridge on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is the
only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving
under a car driving under an airplane.
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There
is displayed a giant milk bottle at the Children’s Museum in
Boston that if it were real could hold 50,000 gallons of milk and
8,620 gallons of cream.
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In
1838 the Boston & West Worcester Railroad was the first railroad
to charge commuter fares.
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Quincy
is home to the first Dunkin Donuts and the first Howard Johnson’s.
- James
Michael Curley was the first mayor of Boston to have a car.
The license plate number was “576,” the number of letters
respectively in his name. Today,
the mayor of Boston’s official car still has the same number on
its license plate.
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In the 1840s the potato famine drove many Irish to Massachusetts, and they
eventually became the state's largest ethnic group.
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Harvard
University, the nation's oldest college, was chartered in Cambridge in
1636.
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The
Handel and Haydn Society, one of the nation's
oldest continually performing musical groups, was formed
in Boston in 1815 by Gottlieb Graupner.
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Among
the many attractions of Boston is the Old
South Meeting House, and the Old North
Church, where lanterns signaled the start of Paul Revere's ride.
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