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Massachusetts
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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.
At a Glance
Crowds of people walk among vendor stalls with purple awnings in the plaza between Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, with historic buildings and modern skyscrapers in Boston.
Massachusetts summary
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts The flag of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts

state, United States
Also known as: Bay State, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Written by
Martha L. Clark
Special Assistant to the Archivist, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston.
Martha L. ClarkAll
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

Massachusetts, constituent state of the United States of America. It was one of the original 13 states and is one of the 6 New England states, lying in the northeastern corner of the country. Massachusetts (officially called a commonwealth) is bounded to the north by Vermont and New Hampshire, to the east and southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Rhode Island and Connecticut, and to the west by New York. It is...

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