Massachusetts Statistics

May 112011

My route while traveling through..

Information

Info:
Formed: 1768
Population: 6547629 people
Area: 27336 sq/ kilometres
Languages Spoken:
Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Two thirds of its population of 6.6 million lives in the Boston metropolitan area. The eastern half of the state consists of urban, suburban, and rural areas, while Western Massachusetts is mostly rural, except for the urbanized area along the Connecticut River Valley, surrounding its largest city, Springfield. Massachusetts is the most populous of the six New England states and ranks third among U.S. states in GDP per capita.

Culturally, historically, and commercially, Massachusetts has been significant throughout American history. Plymouth was the second permanent English settlement in North America. Many of Massachusetts’s towns were founded by colonists from England in the 1620s and 1630s. Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the (now) United States. In 1692, the towns surrounding Salem, Massachusetts experienced one of 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, originated 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 that led to the American Revolution and the independence of the United States from Great Britain. Before the American Civil War, Massachusetts was a center for the temperance, transcendentalist, and abolitionist movements. In 1837, Mount Holyoke College, the United States’ first women’s college, was opened in the Connecticut River Valley town of South Hadley. In the late nineteenth century, the (now) Olympic sports of basketball and volleyball were invented in the Western Massachusetts cities of Springfield and Holyoke, respectively. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize same-sex marriage. The state has contributed many prominent politicians to national service, including members of the Adams family and of the Kennedy family.

Originally dependent on fishing, agriculture, and trade with Europe, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution. During the 20th century, the state’s economy shifted from manufacturing to services. In the 21st century, the state is a leader in higher education, health care technology, high technology, and financial services.

My Experience

Only 2.5 days spent in the state showed that this is a BUSY place, with alot of people, but alot of picturesque areas to cycle through. The biggest city Boston is a bit of a mess to cycle through, but once outside the outskirts it is smooth sailing. Minimal hills and great roads with wide shoulders.

Total Days: 2	Total Cost: $16.50 ($8.25/day)
Distance: 101.53 km (Most: 2011-05-09 – 101.53 km)	Food Cost: $0.00
Ascended: 581 metres (Most: 2011-05-09 – 581 metres)	Drink Cost: $16.50
Energy Consumed: 4,192 calories (Most: 2011-05-09 – 4,192)	Equipment Cost: $0.00
	Transportation Cost: $0.00
	Lodging Cost: $0.00
	Entertainment Cost: $0.00
	Misc Cost: $0.00