Massachusetts Public Libraries by County

Located in News-England and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Massachusetts is bordered to the north by Vermont and New Hampshire, to the south by the State of Rhode Island and Connecticut, and to the west by the State of New York.

Massachusetts is divided into four regions: to the west, the Appalachian Mountains (Green Mountains) culminate at 1,064 m; the Connecticut River Valley dominates to the east, a very fertile low floodplain, then a very valleys plateau, slightly sloping towards the Atlantic coastal plain. This one, covered by glacial deposits, includes, to the south, the Cape Cod and the nearby islands that result ennoyage postglaciaire. The main rivers are Merrimack and Connecticut. Forests - birch, beech, maple, larch and PIN - cover 55 p. 100 of the territory. The climate is humid continental.

• ALLCITYPOPULATION.COM: Get a list of Massachusetts cities and towns by population based on latest data from U.S. Census.
• Countryaah: Offers a full list of counties and county equivalents in Massachusetts featuring the oldest, newest, largest and smallest counties by population and area, as well as county seals and political map of Massachusetts.
• AbbreviationFinder: Presents the abbreviations and acronyms that stand for Massachusetts. Also includes other English words or phrases that have the same initials as state name of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts is one of the New England states and extends over an area of ​​27,336 km², the capital and largest city of the state is Boston with over 617,000 residents.

The name of the state is derived from the language of the Massachusetts and means "near the great hills". This means the Great Blue Hill in the Reservation State Park. In 1788, Massachusetts became part of the United States.

Massachusetts is bounded to the north by New Hampshire and Vermont, to the west by New York, to the south by Connecticut and Rhode Island. The eastern part lies on the Atlantic Ocean.

Historical events Massachusetts

The Plymouth Colony was founded by the English in 1620 on what is now Massachusetts's territory and lasted until 1691.

The Boston Tea Party in 1773. Boston citizens poured East Indian tea into the sea in the harbor as an act of resistance to British colonial policy. This was the trigger for the War of Independence of 1776, which resulted in America's state independence. An economic boom followed and Massachusetts became an important industrial location.

In 1780 the Massachusetts Constitution, which is still in force today, was passed. Massachusetts was one of the 13 colonies that rebelled against British rule.

In 1788, Massachusetts became a US state.

In 1820, Maine, then part of Massachusetts, split off. The reason was the admission as a non-slave state.

The geography of Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a highland and is dominated by mountain ranges such as the Berkshire Mountains and foothills of the Taconix and Hoosac Ranges and other smaller mountains on the border with New York. Only on the approximately 660 km long Connecticut River is the landscape determined by the Pioneer Valley and to the west by the Housatonic Valley. The Housatonic River flowing through there is approx. 240 km long. Mount Greylock at 1,064 meters is the highest mountain. On the Atlantic coast is the approximately 100 km long Massachusetts Bay, which is bordered to the north by Cape Ann. Cape Cod Bay connects to the south. Boston is located on the far west of the bay.

The wildlife of Massachusetts

Nature in general is very dominant in New England, including Massachusetts. Here one encounters large deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests. The Indian Summer is a tourist magnet with its splendor of colors in autumn. The predominant tree species are maples, oaks, poplars, beeches and chestnuts in numerous subspecies. There are around 800 species of trees in total. The White Mountains and the Berkshires are particularly worth a visit.

In the forests in particular one encounters wolves, black bears, coyotes, elk, foxes, weasels and various types of lynx. Many birds have their habitat on the coast and inland, such as puffins, fulmars, shearwaters, bald eagles, golden eagles, various owl species and hen harriers. The lakes and rivers are rich in fish.

Whales and lobsters frolic in the coastal waters.

Leisure activities in Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a varied landscape with mountains, forests, beaches, islands, lakes and rivers. And there is also a lot to discover in the historical and cultural area.

There are 143 state parks in Massachusetts, ideal for all kinds of outdoor pursuits.

There are very good hiking opportunities, especially in the Berkshires and the Blue Hills. The many hiking trails are well signposted with the duration and difficulty of the route. Hiking maps are distributed free of charge in the visitor centers or from the park rangers. The Appalachian Trail is a particular challenge for advanced hikers. Those who prefer bike tours can rent bicycles e.g. B. Borrow from Boston Bike Tours. Bicycles are also delivered by some rental companies.

Winter sports enthusiasts will find ideal conditions in the White Mountains and the Berkshire Hills.

Since Massachusetts has numerous rivers and lakes, you have the opportunity to do a variety of water sports such as sailing, rowing, fishing, surfing or canoeing, especially on the Connecticut River. For swimmers, there are several recreational areas with lakes and long beaches in the Boston area. Whale watching is available in Provincetown, Gloucester between April and October. Whales can be seen rearing their young and playing and eating.

Cultural and historical sights

• The Trinity Church in Boston, built in 1877 in the French Romantic style. There are beautiful frescoes in the church.
• The Freedom Trail in Boston, a three-mile line that leads to the major sites of the independence movement.
• The Boston Public Library, built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1888-1895.
• The replica of the Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor.
• The John Hancock Tower, at 241 meters the tallest building in Boston
• The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, here you can marvel at works of art by artists such as Paul Gaugin, Rembrandt or van Gogh.
• Nantucket Island, here are observatories, museums and aquariums.

Climatic conditions

The climate in Massachusetts is not uniform and can be divided into different zones: the eastern part is maritime in nature with cool, humid summers and mild, humid winters. Inland, i.e. westwards, the temperature differences increase, the summers are hot and dry, the winters cold and dry. The climate here becomes more continental. In the coastal region, especially in the bays, there is often windy weather and hurricanes or tornadoes are not uncommon. Spring in general is difficult to bloom. May to October is the best time to travel. Especially October because of the Indian Summer.