The Melting Pot of Massachusetts

Originally founded by Pilgrim settlers in 1620, Massachusetts is steeped in history. Plymouth, just north of Cape Cod and the original site of the Mayflower landing, is the oldest municipality in the United States. Having grown from that first settlement of several hundred people to a bustling commonwealth of approximately 6.6 million, Massachusetts has seen large changes in industry and growth over the last four centuries. Originally very agriculturally-oriented during the 17th and 18th centuries, Massachusetts became a world leader during the Industrial Revolution. Cities such as Boston, Lowell, Taunton, and Brockton became central hubs for the new-found industry, becoming known for the manufacture of textiles, furniture, machinery and other items. These booming industries created tens of thousands of new jobs, which were often manned by Irish and Italian immigrants seeking out better lives in the New World. Massachusetts remains a cultural melting-pot to this day, with Boston having the highest Irish-American population in the United States.

Massachusetts has grown from its modest roots into a state with enormous political clout. Such notables from Massachusetts include the Kennedy family, which hails from the town of Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, also came from Hyannis Port, along with many of his relatives who would shape the political landscape of the country for decades to come. Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe and Ralph Waldo Emerson were also born in Massachusetts, and have a number of local landmarks dedicated in their honor.

Massachusetts is also known as the center for academic excellence, with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) being two of the major Ivy League universities present in the state. Harvard is the oldest higher-learning institution in the United States, having been founded in 1636. It leads the nation in many areas of academics, although it is particularly recognized as the leader in law education. M.I.T., founded in 1861, is also a world-renowned institution, particularly for its research and development of new and emerging technologies.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to several professional sports teams. This includes the Boston Red Sox (Major League Baseball), the New England Patriots (National Football League) and the Boston Celtics (National Basketball Association). Massachusetts, particularly Boston, is known for almost rabid support of local sports teams, with many fans proudly wearing team hats, shirts and other merchandise during football, baseball, or basketball seasons.