According to babyinger, Massachusetts is located in the northeastern region of the United States and is bordered by Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and the Atlantic Ocean. The state covers an area of 10,554 square miles (27,336 km2) making it the third smallest state in size.
The geography of Massachusetts can be divided into three main regions; The Coastal Lowlands, Central Uplands and the Berkshire Hills. The Coastal Lowlands are located along the eastern coast of Massachusetts and consist of flat land with many small rivers flowing through them to meet up with larger rivers such as the Merrimack River before entering into the Atlantic Ocean. This region includes parts of Cape Cod as well as Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Islands.
The Central Uplands are located in western Massachusetts and consist mostly of rolling hills and low-lying mountains which form part of the Appalachian Mountains range. This region includes parts of Worcester County as well as Franklin County which is home to Mount Greylock which at 3491 feet (1064 m) is the highest peak in Massachusetts.
Finally, the Berkshire Hills are located in western Massachusetts near Vermont border and are part of a range known as The Berkshires or Taconic Mountains. This area consists mainly of wooded hills with deep valleys between them which provide excellent opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. Some notable towns in this region include Williamstown, Great Barrington and Stockbridge among others.
The climate across most parts of Massachusetts is humid continental with hot summers and cold winters with snowfall occurring during winter months, particularly across higher elevations such as Berkshires or Taconic Mountains.
Administrative Regions in Massachusetts
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, Massachusetts is divided into 14 counties, each headed by an elected county government. The counties are organized into 14 sub-regions known as County Planning Districts (CPDs). Within each CPD there are multiple towns and cities. The CPDs were created in 1966 and are responsible for local planning, zoning, economic development and other regional activities.
The State of Massachusetts is divided into 351 municipalities or towns which make up the majority of the state’s administrative regions. Each town is governed by a board of selectmen or selectwomen and is responsible for local services such as schools, public safety, roads and libraries. In addition to these towns there are 56 cities in Massachusetts which have their own city councils and mayors.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts also has 10 congressional districts which correspond to the state’s 14 counties (with some overlapping). Each district is represented by one Member of Congress who serves on the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition to these administrative regions there are also five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in Massachusetts; Boston-Cambridge-Newton MSA, Worcester MSA, Springfield MSA, Barnstable Town MSA and Pittsfield MSA. MSAs are defined by the U.S Census Bureau as areas with populations of 50,000 or more that contain at least one urbanized area with a population of at least 50,000 inhabitants as well as several adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration with the core urban area.
Finally, Massachusetts is made up of eight Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) which provide regional planning services such as land use planning, transportation planning and economic development within their respective regions across the state. These RPAs are responsible for coordinating with local governments on various projects such as housing development and transportation infrastructure maintenance.
Demographics of Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to a diverse population that is currently estimated at 6.9 million people. Of this number, approximately 79% identify as white, 8% identify as Black or African American, 8% identify as Hispanic or Latino, 7% identify as Asian, and 2% identify as another race or two or more races. Approximately 5.4% of the population identifies as having Native American heritage. The majority (73%) of the population resides in metropolitan areas and the remaining 27% in rural areas.
In terms of age distribution, 23.2% of the state’s population is under 18 years old, while 13.1% are over 65 years old. The median age for Massachusetts residents is 39 years old and there are slightly more women than men living in the state at a ratio of 1:1 (50%).
In terms of language spoken at home, English is the most common language with 72%, followed by Spanish (10%), Portuguese (5%), Chinese (3%), French (2%), and other languages making up the remaining 8%. Approximately 11.3 % of Massachusetts residents speak a language other than English at home and 12 % are considered limited English proficient individuals who have difficulty communicating in English due to their native language background or lack thereof.
The Commonwealth also has a large immigrant population with approximately 17 % born outside the United States and an additional 7 % foreign-born naturalized citizens living in Massachusetts. The largest immigrant groups include those from El Salvador (7%), Dominican Republic (6%), China (5%), Haiti (4%) and India (4%). In addition to immigrants from other countries, there are also many refugees from various parts of the world living in Massachusetts who have been granted asylum by the US government.
In terms of educational attainment, 86 %of adults aged 25 years or older have obtained a high school diploma or equivalent while 36 % have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. In addition,the state has one of highest rates for college graduates earning degrees annually with an estimated 31 % earning an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate,or professional degree each year.
Finally,in terms of income level Massachusetts has one of highest median household incomes in nation with an estimated $88,780 per year. This figure represents double national median household income which stands at $57,652. Additionally,the state has one lowest poverty rates among states ranging between 9 -11 percent depending on location within Commonwealth.
Transportation in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is home to an extensive network of transportation options. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is the largest public transit system in New England, offering bus, subway, commuter rail, and ferry services throughout Greater Boston and beyond. The MBTA also operates a network of regional bus services that extend into neighboring communities. Additionally, Massachusetts boasts a comprehensive highway system with over 8,000 miles of roads that connect cities and towns across the state. For those looking to travel outside of Massachusetts by air or rail, Logan International Airport in Boston serves as the primary gateway for both domestic and international flights. Amtrak also provides rail service between Boston and other major cities throughout the Northeast region. Finally, travelers in Massachusetts can take advantage of ridesharing services like Uber or Lyft for a convenient alternative to public transportation.