Outline of Massachusetts#History of Massachusetts

{{Short description|1=Overview of and topical guide to Massachusetts}}

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File:Map of USA MA.svg in the United States of America]]

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

Massachusetts – U.S. state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately two-thirds of the state's population lives in Greater Boston, most of which is either urban or suburban. In the late 18th century, Boston became known as the "Cradle of Liberty" for the agitation there that led to the American Revolution and the independence of the United States from Great Britain. Massachusetts is also home to Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S., founded in 1636.

General reference

File:Map of Massachusetts NA.png]]

Names
Common name: Massachusetts
Pronunciation: {{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Massachusetts.ogg|ˌ|m|æ|s|ə|ˈ|tʃ|uː|s|ᵻ|t|s}}
Official name: Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Abbreviations and name codes
Postal symbol: MA
ISO 3166-2 code: US-MA
Internet second-level domain: .ma.us
Nicknames
Baked Bean State
The Bay State[http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ma_intro.htm Introduction to Massachusetts], 50 States, retrieved April 24, 2009.
Old Colony State[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/368402/Massachusetts Massachusetts (state, United States)], Britannica Online, retrieved April 24, 2009.
Pilgrim State
The Spirit of America (currently used on license plates)
Taxachusetts (colloquial)Andrew Ryan,
The People's Republic of Massachusetts (colloquial)

[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/04/report_taxachus.html Report: 'Taxachusetts' label remains part of Massachusetts' past], Boston Globe, April 6, 2007.Daniel J. Flynn, [https://www.forbes.com/2008/10/22/massachusetts-income-tax-oped-cx_df_1022flynn.html 'Taxachusetts' no more?], Forbes, October 22, 2008.[https://www.foxnews.com/story/taxachusetts-voters-may-eliminate-state-income-tax 'Taxachusetts' Voters May Eliminate State Income Tax], Fox News, October 7, 2008.Michael D. Shear, [https://web.archive.org/web/20111130155622/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2007/12/12/giuliani_backers_attack_taxach.html Giuliani Backers Attack 'Taxachusetts Romney'], The Washington Post, December 12, 2007.[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4111010 Slate's Chatterbox: The Myth of 'Taxachusetts'], National Public Radio, October 15, 2004.

Adjectival: Massachusetts
Demonyms
Bay Stater
Massachusettsan
Massachusite
Masshole (derogatory; reclaimed)

Geography of Massachusetts

Massachusetts is: a U.S. state, a federal state of the United States of America
Location:
Northern hemisphere
Western hemisphere
Americas
North America
Anglo America
Northern America
United States of America
Contiguous United States
Eastern United States
East Coast of the United States
Northeastern United States
New England
Northeast megalopolis
Population of Massachusetts: 6,547,629 (2010 U.S. Census{{cite web

| url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html

| title = U.S. Census Bureau State & County QuickFacts Massachusetts

| access-date = 2011-11-18

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150821061951/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html

| archive-date = 2015-08-21

| url-status = dead

}})

Area of Massachusetts: {{convert|10555|sqmi|km2}}
Atlas of Massachusetts

= Places in Massachusetts =

= Environment of Massachusetts =

== Natural geographic features of Massachusetts ==

= Regions of Massachusetts =

File:Massachusetts major regions.png

Central Massachusetts includes Worcester County and far northwestern Middlesex County
Blackstone Valley
Montachusett-North County
South County
Eastern Massachusetts includes Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, most of Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk Counties
Central Eastern Massachusetts:
Greater Boston
MetroWest
Northern Eastern Massachusetts:
Cape Ann
Merrimack Valley
North Shore
Southern Eastern Massachusetts:
Cape Cod
South Shore
Southeastern Massachusetts (a locally named region that does not encompass the entire southeastern geographical area of the state)
South Coast
Western Massachusetts includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties
The Berkshires
Connecticut River Valley
Quabbin Valley