JOINED UNION: February 6, 1788
STATE BIRD: Chickadee
STATE FLOWER: Mayflower
MEANING OF STATE NAME: Named after local Indian tribe whose name means "large hill place"
1992 POPULATION: 5,998,375
RANK FOR POPULATION: 13
LAND AREA: 7,838 square miles
ECONOMY: Electronics, communications equipment, cranberries, trade, leather goods, wood products

HISTORY: When the Pilgrims landed near Plymouth in 1620, local Massachusetts Indians helped them survive their first winter, introducing them to native foods like turkey, corn, and squash. Soon, relations with Indians changed and fighting between them and settlers was intense in King Philip's War in 1675-76, with the colonists winning. The Massachusetts towns of Boston, Concord, and Lexington were sites of key activity before and during the Revolution including: the Boston Massacre in 1770, Boston Tea Party in 1772, and "the shot heard round the world" in Lexington in 1775. One of the key figures in shaping America's early government and Constitution, America's second president, John Adams, lived in Massachusetts along with his wife, Abigail, who was an early supporter of rights for women.

Massachusetts is said to be the heart of New England. It's the sixth smallest state, but it stands among the leaders in many fields. It ranked among the nation top manufacturing states. Boston, the capital and largest city in Massachusetts, is a major U.S seaport and air terminal. The many great universities in and around Boston such as Harvard and MIT make the area one of the world's largest educational, research, and culture centers. A wealth of historical landmarks makes Massachusetts one of America's main tourist spots. The land of Massachusetts is a series of hills and valleys. From sea level near the Atlantic Ocean, the state reaches a height of about 3,500 feet on Mt. Greylock in Berkshire county near its western border.