Facts and Information for Massachusetts

Map of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuges in Massachusetts

Reference: www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/Massachusetts.html

Official Massachusetts State Website	http://www.mass.gov/
State Capital	Boston
Origin of State Name	Massachusetts takes its name from the Massachusett tribe of Native Americans, who lived in the Great Blue Hill region, south of Boston. The Indian term supposedly means "at or about the Great Hill".
Joined the Union	Massachusetts became the 6th state on February 6, 1788
State Bird	Black-Capped Titmouse also known as Black-capped Chickadee Penthestes atricapillus
State Game Bird	Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
State Fish	Cod Gadus morrhua
State Horse	Morgan Equus cabullus morganensis
State Dog	Boston Terrier Canis familiaris bostenensis
State Cat	Tabby Felis familiaris
State Marine Mammal	Right Whale Eubabalena Glacialis
State Reptile	Garter Snake
State Insect	Ladybug also Lady Beetle, Ladybird, Ladyfly, etc. Most common in the state is the Two-Spotted Lady Beetle Adalia bipunctata
State Tree	American Elm Ulmus Americana
State Flower	Mayflower Epigaea regens
State Berry	Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
State Bean	Navy Bean
State Mineral	Babingtonite
State Rock	Roxbury Puddingstone sometimes called Roxbury Conglomerate
State Explorer Rock	Dighton Rock
State Historical Rock	Plymouth Rock
State Building Rock	Granite
State Gem	Rhodonite
State Soil	The Paxton Soil Series
State Shell	New England Neptune Neptuna lyrata decemcostata
State Folk Dance	Square Dance
State Sport	Basketball Invented in 1891 by a Springfield, Massachusetts teacher, Dr. James Naismith.
State Fossil	Dinosaur Tracks
State Song	"All Hail to Massachusetts" words and music by Arthur Marsh
State Folk Song	"Massachusetts" words and music by Arlo Guthrie
State Glee Club Song	"The Great State of Massachusetts" words by George A. Wells, and music by J. Earl Bley
State March Song	"Road to Boston" Composer is unknown
State Ode Song	"Ode to Massachusetts" by Joseph Falzon
State Patriotic Song	"Massachusetts - Because Of You, Our Land Is Free" words and music by Bernard Davidson,
State Polka Song	"Say Hello to Someone from Massachusetts" by Lenny Gomulka
State Peace Statue	Peace Statue located in Memorial Park, South Main St., Orange, MA 12-foot bronze memorial to veternas of WWI and the official Peace Statue of Massachusetts
State Motto	"By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty"
State Poem	"Blue Hills of Massachusetts" by Katherine E. Mullen of Barre
State Nickname	"The Bay State"
State Author	Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
State Folk Hero	Johnny Appleseed
State Heroine	Deborah Samson Gannett
State Inventor	Ben Franklin
State Colors	Blue, Green and Cranberry
State Beverage	Cranberry Juice
State Cookie	Chocolate Chip Cookie
State Muffin	Corn Muffin
State Doughnut	Boston Cream Donut
State Desert	Boston Crème Pie
State Vessel	Schooner Ernestina
State Citizenry	Bay Staters
State Vietnam War Memorial	Located in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.
State Southwest Asia War Memorial	Located in the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.
State Korean War Memorial	Located in the Shipyard Park of the Charlestown Navy Yard
State MIA / POW Memorial	Located in the town of Bourne at the Massachusetts National Cemetary
State Children's Book	"Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey
State Children's Author and Illustrator	Theodor Geisel Better known as Dr. Seuss
State Blues Artist	musician Henry St. Clair Fredericks better known as Taj Mahal
Time Zone Location	EST - Eastern Standard (GMT - 5 hours)
Population projected estimate for year 2010 based on U.S. Census 2000 results.
Male	3,196,785
Female	3,452,656
Total	6,649,441
Crime Information	Crime Statistics for 1997 - 2006
Median Household Income (latest figures available)	$52,354
Unemployment Rate	4.3
10 Largest Cities by Population	Boston Worcester Springfield Lowell Cambridge Brockton New Bedford Fall River Quincy Lynn
Cities and Towns	Massachusetts Cities & Towns
Counties	Massachusetts Counties
Major Universities	Major Massachusetts Universities
Major Rivers	Major Massachusetts Rivers
Major Lakes	Major Massachusetts Lakes
Total Land Area	7,840.02 Square Miles
Total Water Area	2,714.55 Square Miles
Total of Both Land And Water Area	10,554.57 Square Miles
General Coastline	192 Miles
Lowest Elevation	Atlantic Ocean; sea level
Highest Elevation	Mount Greylock; 3,487 feet

REFERENCES
• Mass.gov, 2/16/2008, http://www.mass.gov/
• Citizen Information Service | Massachusetts Facts, 02/24/2008, http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm
• NWRS - Refuge Locator Map, 2/16/2008, http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/
• Interim Projections of the Male Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/16/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA2.pdf
• Interim Projections of the Female Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/16/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA3.pdf
• United States Crime Rates 1960 - 2006, 2/16/2008, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
• History of Massachusetts, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Massachusetts&oldid=190772995 (last visited Feb. 17, 2008).