Massachussetts
by Carina F.
Massachusetts is a very popular and bustling place. It is located in the northeastern region of the United States. Rhode Island and Connecticut are located on the south. The Empire State is to the west. To the north it is surrounded by the states of New Hampshire and Vermont. The east is a coast formed by the Atlantic Ocean.
There are many interesting facts about Massachusetts. The climate in Boston is 50° F in the winter. In Worchester it is 48° F in the winter.
Massachusetts’s size is very small compared to other states. The exact size of it is 7,826 square miles. Its’ population is rather large though. In July of 1997 the population was 6,117,520! The capitol and 2 important cities are Boston, Quincy, and Plymouth.
Massachusetts has many state symbols. The state flower is the Mayflower and the state bird is the chickadee. Did you know that the state tree is the American Elm? There are also very unusual state symbols. For example, the state horse is the Morgan Horse and the state dog is the Boston Terrier. Also the state fish is the Cod. Another interesting fact is that there is a state insect and a state beverage, which are the ladybug and Cranberry Juice. This state has a state fossil and it is the dinosaur track. Massachusetts' number of senators is 2 people and the number of representatives is 160 people! Our state song is "All Hail to Massachusetts!" Also the state motto is "By the sword we seek peace but, only under liberty." The last state symbol is the state colors, which are blue and gold.
Massachusetts has many rivers, ponds, mountains, and other landforms. For example, one landform is Cape Cod. It is a very popular place. Some other popular landforms are the Appalachian Mountains, Plymouth Rock, Burkshire Hills, and Walden Pond. Mount Greylock is 3,491 feet above sea level. The main river of Massachusetts is the Connecticut River. Some other rivers are the Tauton, Charles, Concord, Marrimac, Nashua, Deerfield, Westfield, Housatonic, Blackstone, Chickopee, Miller and Hoosic River.
History is a very important part of Massachusetts. Between the years 1620-1630 the events are the pilgrims founded Plymouth in 1620. The Puritans founded Salem in 1628 and Boston in 1630. In the years between 1630 - 1675, the events were the Puritans founded the Boston Latin School in 1635. In 1647 the Massachusetts Bay Colony passes a law that was the start of America’s Public School System. The years 1675 - 1692 events of the past are the colonists win "King Phillip’s War" in 1675-1676. The first newspaper in the thirteen colonies only lasted for one issue! The Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies united to make The Massachusetts colony which was ruled by England, of course, and the Salem witchcraft trial begins. At the turn of the century bloody wars and battles began from 1754-1775. In 1754-1763 American colonists helped England defeat France in the French and Indian War by paying their taxes. Next Boston’s Sons of Liberty started a riot by going against the Stamp Act. After those years pasted some other things happened. The Boston Massacre in which the British killed 5 Americans happened in 1770. On April 19th, 1775 the Revolutionary War began. After that year a very important event happened. John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence. Soon after that the Americans won the Revolutionary War! After that Massachusetts became the 6th state. Almost 10 years later John Adams became the 2nd president. His son, John Quincy Adams became our 6th president in 1825. In 1861-1868 about 150,000 men helped win the Civil War. A man named James A. Naismith invented the sport we all know Basketball. In 1920 women gained their right to vote. In 1938 a tragic thing happened, a hurricane struck Massachusetts and killed hundreds. Massachusetts 200th birthday was in 1988.
There are many things to do and see in Massachusetts. In Boston three places that you could visit are the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Minuteman National Park, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library. Two places for vacation are Cape Cod and Salem. In Cape Cod you can rent a summerhouse. Another place you can visit is Frederick Olmsted’s home. He was a garden designer who designed the layout for Central Park.
There are many famous people from Massachusetts. Edward Kennedy, the brother of John F. Kennedy is a senator from Massachusetts.
Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, publisher, and a statesman who lived there. Emily Dickinson was a writer who writes about nature. Her poems are really lovely. Silvio O. Conter was an educational Congressman. Theodore Seuss Geisel was the writer of "The Cat in the Hat" which I know most children know that story. Susan B. Anthony was a fighter for Women’s rights. She also lived in Massachusetts.
There are not that many products that are manufactured in Massachusetts. The printing and of books is an important manufacturing product. Scientific instruments that are made in Massachusetts are used in hospitals. Much of the machinery and electric equipment that is used in building is produced in Massachusetts.
There are many natural resources in Massachusetts. Two things that are above ground are forests and fish. Many people fish both in the saltwater ocean and freshwater lakes. Some people earn a living from fishing. Three recourses that are mined is limestone, peat, and gravel.
The people of Massachusetts grow and raise many things. For example, some vegetables that are grown are corn, potatoes, cabbage, and butternut squash. Another product they grow is fruit. Two of them are apples and cranberries. Remember that next Thanksgiving. Things that are raised are beef cattle, hogs, and other poultry.
Massachusetts is indeed is a very interesting state. It was one of the first states and has a great history. I would love to visit it and tour the many interesting sites.
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