|
 Forklift Attachments Massachusetts - The state of Massachusetts is situated within the New England region within the northeastern US. Massachusetts is bordered by the state of Connecticut and Rhode Island toward the south, New York towards the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Based on the 2010 Census, the residents of the state of Massachusetts was 6,547,629. The state features two separate metropolitan areas, the western Springfield metropolitan area and the eastern Boston metropolitan area. Approximately two thirds of the state's inhabitants lives in Greater Boston, the majority of which is either suburban or urban. Western Massachusetts features one urban area, the Knowledge Corridor along the Connecticut River, and a mix of college towns and rural areas. Massachusetts is the most heavily populated of the six New England states; the 3rd most densely populated state within the country, and also has the US' twelfth highest GDP per capita.
The state of Massachusetts played a vital historical, cultural, and commercial role in American history. Plymouth was the second permanent English settlement in North America, and Puritans settling Massachusetts during the 1630s dominated New England for numerous years. Harvard University, established during the year 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the country. In 1692, the towns nearby Salem experienced among America's most infamous cases of mass hysteria, the Salem Witch Trials. In the eighteenth century, the Protestant First Great Awakening, which swept the Atlantic world, began from the pulpit of Northampton, Massachusetts preacher Jonathan Edwards. In the late 18th century, Boston became known as the "Cradle of Liberty" for the agitation there which led to the Independence of the United States from Great Britain and the American Revolution.
Massachusetts was initially dependent on agriculture, trade and fishing, but moved towards a manufacturing base in the Industrial Revolution. The states economy in the 20th century shifted again from manufacturing to services. During the 21st century, Massachusetts is a leader in higher education, health care technology, financial services, higher technology, cannabis law reform, universal healthcare, and same-sex marriage.
In the year 2008, Massachusetts gross state product was estimated at $365 billion, as per the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis. During that same year, the per capita personal income was the 3rd highest in the nation at $50,735. 13 Fortune 500 companies are located in the commonwealth, the biggest of which are the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group and MassMutual Financial Services. CNBC's list of "Top States for Business for 2010" has recognized Massachusetts as the fifth best state within the nation. Sectors vital to the Massachusetts economy include higher education, biotechnology, finance, health care, and tourism.
There were 7,700 farms in the state of Massachusetts in the year 2005. The total area of the farms totaled 520,000 acres or 2,100 km2, which is an average of 68 acres or 0.28 km2 for every farm. During 2007, almost 2,300 of the state's 6,100 farms grossed below $2,500. Some agricultural products of note consist of livestock, tobacco, and fruits, tree nuts, and berries, for which the state is nationally ranked 11th, 17th, and 16th, respectively. Massachusetts is the 2nd largest cranberry producing state in the union, behind the state of Wisconsin.
| |
