Massachusetts

Population
	2000	2007
Population	6,349,097	6,449,755
State Rank	13	14
Median Age	36.5	38.5
Total 8 year-olds	86,868	76,266
Boys	44,448	38,929
Girls	42,420	37,337
Total 9 year-olds	90,298	77,498
Boys	46,448	39,389
Girls	43,850	38,109
Total 10 year-olds	90,706	77,873
Boys	46,613	39,765
Girls	44,093	38,108
Total 11 year-olds	86,781	79,677
Boys	44,206	40,823
Girls	42,575	38,854
Total 12 year-olds	86,425	81,928
Boys	44,328	41,982
Girls	42,097	39,946

How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone	74%	73%
Car Pool	9%	8%
Public Transportation	9%	9%

Geography
Capital	Boston
Largest City	Boston
Second Largest City	Worcester
Persons per square mile	810

Business
	2000	2006
Dentist Offices	2,946	3,084
Amusement Parks	19	6
FastFood Restaurants	5,806	6,448
Toy Stores	306	239
Video/Disc Rental Stores	481	363
Zoos & Botanical Gardens	11	19
Candy & Nut Stores	136	108
Pet & Pet Supply Stores	195	172
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers	24	23

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

Date of Statehood: February 6, 1788
Population 1800: 422,845
Population 1850: 994,514
Population 1900: 2,805,346
Population 1950: 4,690,514

I never knew that! *

Nickname: Bay State
Flower: Mayflower
Tree: American Elm
Bird: Chickadee
Dessert: Boston Cream Pie
Cookie: Chocolate Chip Cookie
Fruit: Cranberry

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.