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Massachusetts: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Bay State • the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Capital Boston
Population1 (2020) 7,029,917; (2025 est.) 7,154,084
Governor Maura Healey (Democrat)
Date Of Admission Feb. 6, 17882
U.S. Senators Ed Markey (Democrat) • Elizabeth Warren (Democrat)
State Nickname Bay State • Old Colony State
State Motto "Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem (By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty)"
State Bird3 black-capped chickadee • wild turkey
State Flower mayflower (trailing arbutus)
State Song “All Hail to Massachusetts”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 9 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT − 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 27,336
Total Area (Sq Mi) 10,554
1Excluding military abroad.2Original state; date shown is that of ratification of Constitution.3The wild turkey is the state game bird.

Photos and Videos

Massachusetts
The state seal of Massachusetts features a blue shield with a Native American holding a bow and arrow, a white star near his head, and a crest above showing an arm holding a sword. A Latin motto appears on a ribbon, and the outer ring reads Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis.
The mayflower is the state flower of Massachusetts.
Political map of Massachusetts showing state and county boundaries, major cities, and county seats. The map includes neighboring states-New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island-and highlights Boston as the state capital. An inset provides a detailed view of the Greater Boston area, and a locator map shows Massachusetts' position in the northeastern United States.
View of a sandy beach with flowering plants and grasses in the foreground, and numerous sailboats anchored in calm water at Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod.
Map of the United States highlighting the location of Massachusetts in the northeastern region, with Boston marked by a dot. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water, including Canada, Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean, are also shown.
Boston: Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
Boston
Physical map of Massachusetts showing major rivers, lakes, reservoirs, mountain ranges, and dams, with state boundaries outlined. Features include the Berkshire Hills, Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. An inset provides a detailed view of the Boston area, and a small locator map shows Massachusetts' position in the northeastern United States.
Map of the New England region in the northeastern United States, showing state boundaries, major cities, state capitals marked with stars, and physical features such as lakes, rivers, islands, and mountain ranges. States included are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, bordered by Canada to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south.
The Irish flag with vertical green, white, and orange stripes, featuring a large green four-leaf clover in the center.
See the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, home to some of the world's greatest masterpieces
Explore the Boston Children's Museum, a pioneer in hands-on, object-based exhibit experiences for children
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

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