Massachusetts

Jennifer Gates
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 Table of Contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………. page 3

General ……………………………………………………………………………………………… page 3
Climate ……………………………………………………………………………………………… page 5
Landforms ………………………………………………………………………………..………. page 6
Natural Resources …………………………………………………………………….………. page 6
Industries ……………………………………………………………………….…………………. page 7
Historical Site ……………………………………………………………………………………. page 7
Closing ………………………………………………………………………..……………………. page 8
Fun Facts …………………………………………………………………….……………………. page 8
Map …………………………………………………………………………………………………. page 10
Sources Used ………………………………………………………………………..…………. page 10

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 Introduction
There is lots of history in the state of Massachusetts. From the Native Americans
in their Wampanoags to the Pilgrims and Puritans settling south of current day
Boston. Much of the history we study in school began in Massachusetts. It is the
birth place of America and from Massachusetts people traveled west to start new
lives. People now continue to help Massachusetts grow
Can you imagine a state where you get to enjoy all four seasons? Winters are
blustery with snow, spring is scattered with showers, summer can be hot and
humid, and in the fall you can see the leaves change.

General
Massachusetts is located in the Northeast region. Its capital is Boston which
is on the eastern coast of the state. Other major cities in Massachusetts are
Worcester and Springfield. The current population of Massachusetts as of 2014, is
6,745,408 people. Massachusetts became a state on February 6, 1788. It was the
6th state to become a state.

Geography
The boundaries of
Massachusetts include the states
Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and New York.
Another boundary is the Atlantic
Ocean which is on the eastern
coast.

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 The Names of Massachusetts
Massachusetts was also the name of a
Native American tribe that used to be located
south of the current city of Boston.
Massachusetts means “Great Hill”.
Massachusetts has two nicknames. The first
one is “The Bay State” which got its nickname
because of the geography of the state. The
second one is “The Baked Bean State” which
got its nickname from the times of the Puritans. They were not allowed to do
anything on Sundays so the women cooked baked beans on Saturday and then on
Sunday morning they would reheat them and that is all they would eat that day.

Massachusetts’s State Symbols

The state bird of Massachusetts is the
Chickadee. These birds do not migrate so residents of
Massachusetts are able to enjoy seeing these birds all
year.
The state flower of
Massachusetts is the Mayflower. In 1918, the state
asked students to make the decision as to what the
state flower would be and the Mayflower was what they
chose. It also happens to be the name of the ship
Christopher Columbus
sailed on.
The state tree of Massachusetts is the
American Elm. This is the tree that General
George Washington stood beneath on
Cambridge Common when he took command of
the Continental Army in 1775.

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 Climate
Massachusetts is located in New England which is in the northeast part of the
United States. This gives it some of the most unique climate in the entire country.

Seasons
Enjoying each of the four distinct seasons, the weather in Massachusetts moves
from the warm sun of summer to cold, snowy winters. The overall pattern
described as a "humid continental climate".

The Massachusetts climate of typical summer weather averages a high of 80°F

with comfortable nights of 60-65°F. Winter brings temperatures that hover right
around the freezing mark of 32°F, give or take five degrees.

Precipitation
Massachusetts gets 47.7 inches of precipitation each year. This can come in the
form of rain, sleet, hail, snow, and fog. The average precipitation for each month
is around 4 inches.

Storms
As with many states, Massachusetts has its fair share of summer thundershowers,
around 30 or so per year. These storms roll through very quickly and weather is
back to normal in no time.

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In the winter, Massachusetts can
experience blizzards. This can bring the
state around 44 inches of snowfall each
year.

The next three storms are very

uncommon for Massachusetts but the state has experienced hurricanes,
earthquakes and a tornado. These types of storms do not happen frequently.

Landforms
There are many general landforms in Massachusetts. The eastern side of the state
is edged in coastline. There are many beaches on the coast. The Atlantic Ocean is
off the coast of Massachusetts. The land on the eastern side of the state is flat
with some hills, lakes, streams, and rivers. The Berkshire Hills and the Taconic
Mountain Range are located in the western part of the state.
There are also many specific landforms in Massachusetts. The state is cut down
the middle by the Connecticut River Valley which also has the Connecticut River.
There are two other major rivers in the state. In the west there is the Housatonic
River and in the northeast there is the Merrimack River. There is a total of 4,000
miles of rivers that run through the state.
The western side of the state is mountainous. The Appalachian Mountains run
through the state. Mt. Greylock is the state’s highest point at 3,487 feet. The
Quabbin Reservoir is also located in the western part of the state and is a total of
27,794 acres.

Natural Resources
There are many natural resources in Massachusetts. One natural resource is the
Fertile Connecticut River Valley soil. This is a nonrenewable resource that
provides great soil, rich in peat, for crops in Massachusetts. Another resource are
the deposits of sand and gravel, glacial stones and boulders (granite, marble).
These resources are also nonrenewable, once they are gone we will not be able to

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 get more. Massachusetts’s ocean coastline is another resource that is non-
renewable. It brings in many tourists to the state which brings in money.
Forests are also renewable and the wood is used for the wood industry. Forests
provide clean air, habitats, water quality and money. Farmland is another
resource which is renewable. Many crops are planted and cattle are bread. This
brings in money to the state and food for the people of Massachusetts. A third
renewable resource is commercial fishing. New Bedford accounts for about half the
scallops produced in the nation. Massachusetts' commercial fishing industry delivers
a broad range of product including cod, flounder, haddock, lobster, ocean perch,
whiting, clams, crabs, hake, herring, pollock, squid, swordfish and tuna.

Industries
There are many industries in Massachusetts. Manufacturing is one industry that
brings Massachusetts a lot of money. Computer and electronic products and
metal products are some of the items that are manufactured in Massachusetts.
Mining is another industry. Sand, gravel, crushed stone, clay, and granite are all
mined in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is one of the leading fishing states. Some
of the fish that are caught in the state are herring, swordfish, and tuna. There are
also a lot of services in the state. Massachusetts is one of the world’s most
important medical research centers. Boston
is home to the Boston Stock Exchange and is
considered one of the country’s financial
centers.

Historical Site
This is Plimoth Plantation – There are many historical sites in
a snapshot of life in the
year 1627. Massachusetts. One Historical Site that is
worth visiting is Plimoth Plantation. It is located in Plymouth, Massachusetts near
the cape. It is a permanent exhibit that shows the lives of two cultures - English
and Native in the year 1627.

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When you visit you can see a 17th-Century English Village, a Wampanoag Home
site, the Plimoth Grist Mill, and Mayflower II.
This site is important to Massachusetts’s history because it tells us about the
Plymouth Colonists and the Natives who lived here. The people you meet at
Plimoth Plantation and the Wampanoag site are in costume to help you get a real
feel for what life was like in the 17th century.

Closing
There are many sites to see in Massachusetts so pick a season and make sure to
come and visit. Even though Massachusetts is small, you might need to come a
few times so you are able to see all of the wonderful sites!
If you ever get a chance to come and visit Massachusetts here are some of the
places you should visit:
Plimoth Plantation
Boston Aquarium
Sturbridge Village
Berkshire Hills for Skiing
Six Flags
The Big E

Fun Facts
 The Fig Newton was named after Newton, Massachusetts.
 1891: The first basketball game was played in Springfield. The Basketball
Hall Of Fame is located in Springfield.
 1634: Boston Common became the first public park in America.
 The first U.S.Postal zip code in Massachusetts is 01001 at Agawam.

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 The official state dessert of Massachusetts is Boston cream pie.
 The official state cookie of Massachusetts is the chocolate chip cookie.
 The Massachusetts State Quarter is the first commemorative quarter of the
new millennium and displays the only design to date determined by the
children of the state. The "Minuteman" statue stands in tribute to the
regular farmers and colonists that were prepared to drop everything at a
moment's notice to take arms against the British.

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 Map

Sources Used
https://www.50states.com/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/states/us-states-hub/

http://www.ducksters.com/geography/usgeography.php

http://www.usa4kids.com/states/

http://www.teachersfirst.com/share/states/

http://www.netstate.com/index.html

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