The licensed sale of recreational marijuana became legal on July 1, 2018; however, the lack of state-approved testing facilities prevented the sale of any product for several weeks. If at least 50 percent of the residents of the building qualify as low income, energy efficiency improvements like those available through Mass Save are available. Also see theList of Town Numbers and NamesandTowns Index Map. [275] There is a tax exemption for income below a threshold that varies from year to year. Massachusetts has 71 elementary school districts, 35 secondary school districts, and 210 unified school districts. [66] The state's public-school students place among the top tier in the world in academic performance. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. There were changes to the boundary between Connecticut and Massachusetts in 1804 and between Rhode Island and Massachusetts in 1862, and a resurvey of the latter boundary in 1897, resulting in generally the same boundary as the present state. For more information, please visit the 2021 5-year ACS Comparison Guidance page. In total, 21.07% (1,287,419) of Massachusetts's population5 and older spoke a first language other than English. These warmer temperatures will also increase the prevalence of mosquitos, a carrier of the West Nile virus. The coastline boundary was then appended to the town boundary (TOWNSSURVEY_ARC). This datalayer, except the coastline, was created by MassGIS. Small offshore islands and beaches are home to roseate terns and are important breeding areas for the locally threatened piping plover. Plymouth, Massachusetts is the largest town in Massachusetts. The city is also home to the oldest and highly prestigious institution of higher education in the United States, Harvard University. Boston, the capital city of Massachusetts, is also the biggest city in the state as well as the most populous city in the New England region. [152] There are 219 endangered species in Massachusetts. [101], The Battles of Lexington and Concord initiated the American Revolutionary War and were fought in the eponymous Massachusetts towns. The Census Bureau classifies towns in Massachusetts as a type of "minor civil division" and cities as a type of "populated place". [91] This established Massachusetts's southern border in the west,[92] though this became disputed territory until 180304 due to surveying problems. 1. [424][425][426] According to Business Insider, commonwealth residents have an average life expectancy of 80.41 years, the fifth-longest in the country. [265] Greenhouse, floriculture, and sod products including the ornamental market make up more than one third of the state's agricultural output. Massachusetts capital city is Boston. By the 1920s, competition from the South and Midwest, followed by the Great Depression, led to the collapse of the three main industries in Massachusetts: textiles, shoemaking, and precision mechanics. [334] Each branch consists of several committees. Salem Maritime National Historic Park", "Pennsylvania's Gradual Abolition Act of 1780", "The Ratification of the U.S. Constitution in Massachusetts", "Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Regiment", "State Compulsory School Attendance Laws", "Stock Market Crash Heralds Great Depression", "Acts and resolves passed by the General Court", "Job Loss, Shrinking Revenues, and Grinding Decline in Springfield, Massachusetts: Is A Finance Control Board the Answer? [384] Other orchestras in Massachusetts include the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra in Barnstable, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra,[385] and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. The TOWNSSURVEY_POLYM layer was created by dissolving the TOWNSSURVEY_POLY feature class; a subset of the attribute table was retained, and the AREA and SQUARE_MILES fields were calculated for the entirety of each town. The Boston/Manchester market is the fifth-largest in the United States. [238] In 2013, Massachusetts scored highest of all the states in math and third-highest in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The city has a population of 111,670 making it the fifth-largest city in the state. [300] This overlaps with the service areas of neighboring regional transportation authorities. An official website of the United States government. Plymouth Rock, marks the disembarkation site of the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. [401] The Boston Marathon is also a popular event in the state drawing more than 30,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators annually. The city is home to the largest concentration of retail and trade centers alongside the major presence of the banking, legal, medical and manufacturing sectors as well. Measuring America's People, Places, and Economy, Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021), Population Estimates, July 1 2022, (V2022), Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2022), Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2021), Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2022, (V2022), Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2021, (V2021), American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017-2021, Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017-2021, Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2017-2021, Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2017-2021, Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017-2021, Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017-2021, Households with a computer, percent, 2017-2021, Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2017-2021, High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021, Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021, With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2017-2021, Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent, In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021, In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021, Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000), Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000), Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000), Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2017-2021, Median household income (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021, Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021, Total employment, percent change, 2019-2020, Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017, Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017, Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017, Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017, Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017, Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017. [445], In the late 19th century, the Olympic sports of basketball[58] and volleyball[59] were invented in the Western Massachusetts cities of Springfield[58] and Holyoke,[59] respectively. [326] In 1974, Elaine Noble became the first openly lesbian or gay candidate elected to a state legislature in US history. How each boundary arc was developed is identified in the arc attributes, as described below. [144], On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voted in favor of the Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Question 4. Land was granted to Dedham in return for giving up Natick. [316] Some airports receive funding from the Aeronautics Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration; the FAA is also the primary regulator of Massachusetts air travel. The same company also operates seasonal service between Boston and Provincetown. Horace Mann made the state's school system a national model. Joins to the table on town number should be based on TOWN_ID. . 2012-08-18 05:13:11. [343] Like most states, Massachusetts's electoral votes are granted in a winner-take-all system. What Animals Are Illegal To Own In Massachusetts? Eastern section of town was part of the Dorchester New Grant of 1637. [449], Massachusetts is also the home of rowing events such as the Eastern Sprints on Lake Quinsigamond and the Head of the Charles Regatta. This tablemay be joined to the Municipalities polygon layers on the TOWN_ID field: TOWNS_POLY_AREACODE[download dBASE fileas self-extracting .exe] stores telephone area codes for each municipality and reflects the addition of four new "overlay" codes in Massachusetts which took effect on April 2, 2001. [104] On the coast, Salem became a center for privateering. Massachusetts is a global leader in research, higher education, and finance among others. [191] Population growth was largely due to a relatively high quality of life and a large higher education system in the state. The water area figures include inland, coastal, Great Lakes, and territorial sea water. A lock icon ( The most common varieties of American English spoken in Massachusetts, other than General American, are the cot-caught distinct, rhotic, western Massachusetts dialect and the cot-caught merged, non-rhotic, eastern Massachusetts dialect (popularly known as a "Boston accent"). [334], Aside from the governor and Executive Council, the executive branch also includes four independently elected constitutional officers: a secretary of the commonwealth, an attorney general, a state treasurer, and a state auditor. Looking for a list of cities, counties or zips in Massachusetts? [336] At the same time, the state treasurer manages the state's cash flow, debt, and investments as chief financial officer, whereas the state auditor conducts audits, investigations, and studies as chief audit executive in order to promote government accountability and transparency and improve state agency financial management, legal compliance, and performance. [389] The state has also been the birthplace of the rock bands Staind, Godsmack, and Highly Suspect, since these bands all were formed in Massachusetts cities such Springfield, Lawrence, and Cape Cod respectively. [334] Leaders of the House and Senate are chosen by the members of those bodies; the leader of the House is known as the Speaker while the leader of the Senate is known as the President. These are the 50 tiniest towns in Massachusetts. [89][90], In 1641, Massachusetts expanded inland significantly. [122] In 1852, Massachusetts became the first state to pass compulsory education laws. Suffolk County and Boston city are governmentally consolidated and have a single set of officials. [157] Lakes in central Massachusetts provide habitat for many species of fish and waterfowl, but some species such as the common loon are becoming rare. Note that the 351 communities are the official municipal names, not including "villages" or other sections of towns. As of the summer of 2013 the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority in collaboration with the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is operating the CapeFLYER providing passenger rail service between Boston and Cape Cod.[301][302]. [321] A massive undertaking to bring I-93 underground in downtown Boston, called the Big Dig, brought the city's highway system under public scrutiny for its high cost and construction quality. 7,174,604. [403] Other outdoor recreational activities in Massachusetts include sailing and yachting, freshwater and deep-sea fishing,[404] whale watching,[405] downhill and cross-country skiing,[406] and hunting. Blame John Adams", Massachusetts secretary of state's website, "New hypothesis for cause of an epidemic among Native Americans, New England, 16161619", "Why Was the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter Revoked? New Jersey", "#26 The Governors Academy, Byfield, Mass", "Harvard Plans to Name First Female President", "These Are the Best Private High Schools in America, According to a New Ranking", "How States Are Spending Money in Education", "Are the nation's twelfth-graders making progress in mathematics and reading? [160][161][162], Freshwater fish species in Massachusetts include bass, carp, catfish, and trout, while saltwater species such as Atlantic cod, haddock, and American lobster populate offshore waters. Demographically, the center of population of Massachusetts is located in the town of Natick. [331], In a 2020 study, Massachusetts was ranked as the 11th easiest state for citizens to vote in. The Massachusetts Bay banished dissenters such as Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams due to religious and political conflict. [147] Along with twelve national historic sites, areas, and corridors, the National Park Service also manages the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Some municipalities, however, still refer to themselves as "towns" even though they have a city form of government. [438] The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School is located in Worcester. [52] The rebellion was one of the major factors in the decision to draft a stronger national constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. Some estimates presented here come from sample data, and thus have sampling errors that may render some apparent differences between geographies statistically indistinguishable. Buddhists, Pagans, Hindus, Seventh-day Adventists, Muslims, and Mormons may also be found. The state as a whole has not given its Electoral College votes to a Republican in a presidential election since Ronald Reagan carried it in 1984. MassGIS used the state plane coordinates to "generate" points in ArcGIS. Massachusetts is the most populous state to be represented in the United States Congress entirely by a single party. The museum is located inside the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the most unique attraction and the largest of its kind in the whole country. The state is officially called the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Ticks can transmit the disease once temperatures reach 45 degrees, so shorter winters will increase the window of transmission. The smallest town in the state is Gosnold in Dukes County, with a population of just 75 people. [334] Members of both bodies are elected to two-year terms. [156], Massachusetts is located along the Atlantic Flyway, a major route for migratory waterfowl along the eastern coast. [364], Massachusetts is one of the most pro-choice states in the Union. In 2004, Massachusetts senator John Kerry who won the Democratic nomination for President of the United States lost to incumbent George W. Bush. The land was granted to Dedham in 1649. Area is calculated from the specific boundary recorded for each entity in the Census Bureaus geographic database (see "MAF/TIGER Database"). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [187][217], Massachusetts was founded and settled by Brownist Puritans in 1620[86] and soon after by other groups of Separatists/Dissenters, Nonconformists and Independents from 17th century England. [332], The Government of Massachusetts is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. [311][312], Boston Logan International Airport served 33.5million passengers in 2015 (up from 31.6million in 2014)[255] through 103 gates. All settlements in the District of Maine were ceded when the state of Maine gained its independence from Massachusetts in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise. Warmer temperatures will also disrupt the migration of birds and the blooming of flora. This Atlas series, and updates since it was published, describes the legal boundary for each of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. miles. [133] Government contracts, private investment, and research facilities led to a new and improved industrial climate, with reduced unemployment and increased per capita income. Area is calculated from the specific boundary recorded for each entity in the Census Bureaus geographic database (see "MAF/TIGER Database"). If theres a table service area in a bar where food is also available, kids are. For communities with a coastal boundary, MassGIS collaborated with theMassachusetts Water Resources Authorityand theDepartment of Environmental Protectionto complete a 1:12,000 scale coastline. What town in Massachusetts has the most land? MassGIS staff collaborated closely with staff from the Survey Section during the development of this data layer. ", American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, "2015 State Scorecard RankMassachusetts", "Boston Takes Top Spot Again in City Energy Efficiency Scorecard", "Massachusetts Regional Planning Agencies", "Edaville The New England Classic Family Theme Park", "U.S. Streetcar Systems- Massachusetts Lowell", "Air Travel's Hassles Drive Riders to Amtrak's Acela", "Chinatown Bus: Fung Wah Bus, Boston New York Bus", "T announces summer Cape Cod train service", The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, "Massachusetts Passenger and Freight Rail", "Massachusetts State Rail Plan, May 2018", "Massachusetts State Fact Sheet: Rail Fast Facts For 2017", "Public Use Airports Locations | Mass.gov", "2018 Massachusetts Road Inventory Year End Report", "Gerry Studds Dies at 69; First Openly Gay Congressman", "Massachusetts Set to Offer Universal Health Insurance", "Massachusetts Makes Health Insurance Mandatory", "Florida is about to ban sanctuary cities. 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